Effects of a Creative Teaching-Based Training Programme on Tactical Knowledge, Technical–Tactical Efficiency and Game Performance in U11–U12 Youth Football: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background/Objectives: Contemporary football requires players to demonstrate advanced cognitive processing and rapid decision-making abilities, which are often insufficiently addressed within conventional training models. This study aimed to examine the effects of a dedicated training program grounded in creative pedagogical approaches on the development of tactical knowledge, the efficiency of technical–tactical actions under controlled conditions, and match-related performance in youth football players. Methods: The study involved 106 players from the U11–U12 age categories, divided into an Experimental group (E, n = 50) and a Control group (C, n = 56). Over the course of a one-year pedagogical intervention, the Experimental group was exposed to training based on creative teaching strategies, whereas the Control group followed a traditional, instruction-based training model. Evaluation was conducted using standardized assessments of tactical knowledge, tests of technical–tactical performance in isolated conditions, and analyses of simulated match play. The data were analysed using a 2 × 2 mixed-design ANOVA, with Group as the between-subject factor and Time as the within-subject factor. Results: The analysis revealed significant Group × Time interactions for tactical knowledge, F(1, 104) = 9.01, p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.080; technical–tactical effectiveness in isolated conditions, F(1, 104) = 60.32, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.367; and in-game performance, F(1, 104) = 5.30, p = 0.023, ηp2 = 0.048. In all assessed domains, the Experimental group demonstrated greater improvement from pre-test to post-test than the Control group. Conclusions: The findings indicate that, under the conditions of this quasi-experimental study, a training program incorporating creative teaching methods was associated with greater improvements in game-related competencies, including tactical understanding, technical–tactical effectiveness, and in-game performance, compared with a traditional instructional approach. Given the dynamic and context-dependent nature of team sports, the integration of active and creative methodologies should be considered in youth football development programs.