Abstract
Traditionally, the identification of talented soccer players has relied heavily on subjective methods, with coaches often depending on intuition and experience. While these approaches consider observable traits such as technical skills, physical attributes, and game performance, they lack the scientific rigor and objective data needed for a comprehensive assessment of a player's potential. This traditional approach can lead to the underdevelopment or loss of talented players, particularly in contexts where systematic monitoring and evaluation practices are absent.
Advances in sports science and technology now offer a more evidence-based approach to monitoring and evaluating training loads. Tools such as GPS tracking, heart rate monitors, and performance analysis software provide objective data on players' physical and physiological characteristics. This data-driven approach enables a more accurate assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and overall potential, helping coaches and sports scientists make informed decisions. However, in Zimbabwe, there is a lack of clear strategies for monitoring and evaluating training loads among youth soccer coaches and sports science practitioners, resulting in missed opportunities for player development.
This thesis aims to: i) establish the physical fitness levels of male youth soccer players, ii) investigate the practices and perceptions of training load monitoring among soccer coaches in Zimbabwe, iii) quantify training loads during small sided games, and iv) determine the effects of pitch dimensions and coach instruction or encouragement of small sided games performance metrics.
A total of 24 elite junior male soccer players (mean age: 15.90 ± 0.86 years), recruited from three community soccer academies competing in the Southern Region Soccer League, underwent physical fitness assessments and participated in a small-sided games study that varied pitch dimensions and included conditions with and without coach encouragement or instruction. A total of 75 soccer coaches (66 male, 9 female) from various competitive levels in Zimbabwe including the Premier League, Division One, Division Two, tertiary institutions, high schools, junior leagues, and other local leagues completed the questionnaire. The coaches had a mean age of 42.7 years and an average of 5.88 years of coaching experience...