The purpose of this study was to measure and characterise the distances covered by Brazilian professional futsal players. The trajectories of 93 players during five matches were obtained using an automatic tracking method. The distances covered were analysed for different game conditions: over the entire game and during the times when the ball was out of play and in play separately. When the entire game was considered, the results showed that there was a reduction in the total distance covered per minute from the first [median ± IQR (interquartile range): 97.9 ± 16.2 m/min] to the second half (median = 90.3 m/min; IQR = 12.0), and when only the in-play time was considered (first half: 136.6 ± 17.2 m/min; second half: 129.2 ± 16.7 m/min). The percentage of distance covered in the standing and walking velocity range was higher in the second half than in the first when considering the entire game (30.8% and 28.0%, respectively) and during the in-play time (19.3% and 16.2%, respectively). In conclusion, this study verified that futsal players reduced the physical performance during the second half.

The best attacking players in professional soccer are those that can score goals. Talent scouts travel the world to identify the next top goal scorer, and the world's most expensive players are almost always great goal scorers. Identifying those traits that can predict goal-scoring success should be of immense interest to players, coaches, talent scouts, and team owners. 1-3 No scientific studies have explicitly aimed to identify the multi-dimensional traits associated with goal-scoring success. 1,4,5 The simple defining feature of goal-scoring success is the number of goals scored, but the actual underlying traits responsible for such success is likely to be complex. 2,6 First, there is likely to be more than one strategy to becoming a great goal scorer. 3,7-9 Some players find small amounts of space using tight and close technical skills to shoot, others use their enormous physical strength to create their own space, while others still use

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the time series of team spread during futsal official matches in the frequency domain for different categories. Using an automatic tracking method, trajectories of 258 players (excluding goalkeepers) were obtained, composed of 79 players from the under-15 (U15) category, 86 from the under-18 (U18), and 93 from the professional. We calculated the team spread defined as the Euclidean norm of the distancebetween-player vector as a function of time. We applied the Fast Fourier Transformation method and calculated the median frequency for each time series of spread. The results of mean ± SD of the median frequency of the time series of spread from the first to the second half were significantly different only for the U15 category (first half, 1.04 ± 0.46, second half 1.40 ± 0.34). The frequency values differed significantly between the categories. The younger categories presented a higher frequency of spread oscillation than the professional category, which reflects the dynamics of the game between attack and defense sequences. The results provide insights into the features of the sport and present a basis for appropriate training interventions for players in each category, planning for future transition to the following category.

Resumo: O presente estudo objetivou analisar as respostas fisiológicas, físicas, técnicas e táticas de jovens futebolistas em função do resultado em jogos reduzidos. A amostra foi constituída por 39 jogadores (idade 15,9 ± 1,0 anos) agrupados pelo desfecho dos jogos, vitória (17), empate (6) e derrota (16). As respostas físicas e fisiológicas foram quantificadas por meio da utilização de um GPS portátil e um monitor cardíaco. A percepção subjetiva de esforço foi medida utilizando a escala de BORG 6-20. As respostas técnico-táticas foram avaliadas conforme a frequência e qualidade de execução de habilidades técnicas e princípios táticos fundamentais. Na análise foram empregados os testes de Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, U de Mann Whitney e a Regressão Logística Multinomial. A significância foi estabelecida em 5%. Jogadores que conquistaram a vitória ou o empate percorreram maiores distâncias em corrida de baixa-intensidade e menores distâncias em caminhada. O grupo empate realizou mais passes do que o grupo derrota (14,0 vs 10,0). O grupo vencedor apresentou maior eficiência de execução em três princípios ofensivos e três princípios defensivos em comparação com o grupo perdedor. Verificou-se que o aumento na eficiência de execução de princípios ofensivos e defensivos aumenta as chances de os jogadores estarem nos grupos empate (11 a 24%) ou vitória (10% a 21%) com relação a derrota. Conclui-se que as características fisiológicas, físicas, técnicas e táticas são fatores que exercem influência sobre o êxito competitivo, sendo que o aumento na eficiência tática resulta em mais chances para conquista da vitória ou empate. Abstract: The present study aimed to analyze the physiological, physical, technical, and tactical responses of young soccer players according to the result in small-sided games. The sample consisted of 39 players (15.9 ± 1.0 years of age) grouped by the outcome of the games, winning (17), drawing (6), and losing (16). Physical and physiological responses were quantified using a portable GPS and a cardiac monitor. The rating of perceived exertion was measured using the BORG 6-20 scale. Technical-tactical responses were assessed according to the frequency and quality of execution of technical skills and core tactical principles. Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney U and Multinomial Logistic Regression tests were used in the analysis. Significance was set at 5%. Players in the groups “winning” and “drawing” covered greater distances in low-intensity running and shorter distances in walking. The “drawing” group executed more passes than the “losing” group (14.0 vs 10.0). The “winning” group showed greater efficiency of execution in three offensive and three defensive principles compared to the “losing” group. It was found that the increase in the efficiency of execution of offensive and defensive principles increases the chances of the players being in “drawing” (11 to 24%) or “winning” (10% to 21%) groups in relation to “losing”. It is concluded that the physiological, physical, technical, and tactical responses influence competitive success, and the increase in tactical efficiency results in more chances to achieve winning or drawing. Resumen: El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las respuestas fisiológicas, físicas, técnicas y tácticas de los futbolistas jóvenes dependiendo del resultado en juegos reducidos. La muestra consistió en 39 jugadores (edad 15.9 ± 1.0 años) agrupados por el resultado de los juegos, victoria (17), empate (6) y derrota (16). Las respuestas físicas y fisiológicas se cuantificaron utilizando un GPS portátil y un monitor cardíaco. La percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo se midió utilizando la escala BORG 6-20. Las respuestas técnico-tácticas se evaluaron de acuerdo con la frecuencia y calidad de ejecución de las habilidades técnicas y los principios tácticos fundamentales. Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney U y pruebas de regresión logística multinomial se utilizaron en el análisis. La significancia se estableció en 5%. Los jugadores que han ganado la victoria o el empate han cubierto distancias más grandes en carreras de baja intensidad y distancias más cortas al caminar. El grupo de empate hizo más pases que el grupo de derrota (14.0 vs 10.0). El grupo victoria mostró una mayor eficiencia de ejecución en tres principios ofensivos y tres defensivos en comparación con el grupo derrota. Se encontró que el aumento en la eficiencia de la ejecución de los principios ofensivos y defensivos aumenta las posibilidades de que los jugadores estén en el grupo empate (11 a 24%) o victoria (10% a 21%) en relación con la derrota. Se concluye que las respuestas fisiológicas, físicas, técnicas y tácticas influye en el éxito competitivo, y el aumento de la eficiencia táctica da como resultado más posibilidades de lograr la victoria o el empate.