In the area of youth football, the performance comparison is a form of competition aimed specifically at ambitious teams. Characterised by its specific focus, this tournament mode offers a platform on which sporting skills can be compared under optimal conditions. The performance comparison takes into account the needs of young talents by aiming at an efficient utilisation of playing time.

What is a performance comparison?

A benchmark is a small tournament characterised by a limited number of participants, usually between three and six teams. These teams compete in the standard "everyone against everyone" mode. The focus is on maximising playing time for the players and minimising waiting times between matches. The LV provides a platform for talented players to compete and develop in a focussed environment.

Advantages of the Performance Comparison

1. Focussing on the Development of Talent

The performance comparison lays the foundation for the intensive sporting development of young talents. Individual skills and team dynamics can be effectively improved through concentrated match practice against teams of equal strength.

2. Efficient Use of Playing Time

The special focus of the LV on the ratio of playing time to waiting time enables talented players to make the most of their time on the pitch. This is particularly important for their development, as they gain valuable experience by maximising their playing time and there is less risk of injury, especially in the older age groups, due to the shorter waiting times ("getting cold" muscles).

Fair and Comprehensive Performance Comparison

The "everyone against everyone" mode ensures that each team has to compete against all the others. This provides a fair framework for comparing skills and performances on the pitch. This allows talented players to recognise their strengths and potential for improvement in direct competition.

The Hammes Model

An alternative interpretation of the performance comparison is the Hammes model, developed by Ewald Hammes, a former professional player and later association sports coach. This model is characterised by dynamic match pairings based on the current table situation. In an LV, for example with four or six teams, the fixtures for the next match are derived from the current table to ensure that teams with similar performance levels meet.

Example: In a tournament with four teams, the first round begins with randomly drawn pairings. Based on the results of these matches and the resulting provisional table, the teams that are neighbours in the table meet in the second round - the leading team plays against the second team, the third-placed team against the fourth team. This principle continues in the following rounds, with two points being awarded for a win and one point for a draw. As a result, the two leading teams in the table play each other in the final game, which often decides who wins the tournament. The Hammes model thus promotes exciting competition by ensuring that the matches are always evenly matched and that there is the possibility that even a team that is initially placed lower can advance to the top rank through continuous performance.

The Tournament Plan

A mobile-optimised tournament plan software is particularly effective for coaches who are organising a performance comparison and actively participating with their team at the same time. The ease of use and direct access to important tournament information make organisation much easier and ensure that the performance comparison runs smoothly. The main advantage is the ability to enter and update results and match schedules directly via mobile phone. This allows the coach to remain mobile and concentrate fully on looking after the team without the need for a stationary tournament organiser. The CoachingArea tournament planner has been specially designed for this purpose.

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