Multivariate analysis of goalkeeper actions in youth football

There is a lack of studies investigating youth goalkeepers that implement variables that can allow researchers and coaches to better understand the performances of the goalkeepers. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to identify key performance indicators of youth football goalkeepers both defense and attack. The sample was composed of 902 defensive and 896 offensive actions from a convenience sample of 32 matches of 19 teams from the Spanish National Championship of Regional Teams U12. A notational analysis was carried out using an ad hoc instrument to register the technical-tactical actions. Validity was higher than .84. In addition, intra-observer reliability was higher than .90. Classification tree analysis was used to investigate which variables were best predictors of technical actions in defense and precision in attack actions of the goalkeepers. Results showed that in the attacking phase the actions that achieve higher values of precision were those when the ball was played to zone A length and both right and left sides (X-6(2) = 542.034; p = .000). In defense, when the goalkeeper achieve higher values of saves were those when the shot was taken from out of the penalty area and no jump or drop was performed. The present findings contribute to evidence-based practice in fostering young goalkeepers.