ABSTRACT
The interactional effects of deliberate practice and its task constraints are not sufficiently explained in the skill acquisition and developmental programs of young soccer players. Some studies argued that capacities and knowledge of skilled players are essentially related to the time spent and quality of sport-specific practice, rather than to the maturation process (e.g., Williams, 2000; Vaeyens et al., 2007; Ford and Williams, 2012). In a recent review, Ericsson (2006) suggested that the effects of mere experience differ greatly from those of deliberate practice (i.e., activities specifically designed to improve performance). We can assume that the time spent in these types of activities, which can be defined as deliberate practice experience, can be an important particularity in youth soccer developmental programs.
