Could futsal hold the key to developing the next generation of youth soccer players?

Abstract

This case study investigated injury risk and patterns in players newly transferred to a professional football club. Time-loss injuries were recorded prospectively over 8-seasons (2008-2015). Injury incidence overall, in match and training, and patterns (contact, non-contact, sprain, strain, overuse and re-injury) were compared in transferred players (n=25) across their first versus second seasons and with those in players currently at the club at the moment of the transfer (n=55 individual players, 134 in total). Incidence Rate Ratios [IRR] in transferred players in their first versus second competitive season ranged from a 0.9 lower risk in training to a 1.5 higher risk of sustaining a contact injury (respective p values: 0.74, 0.19, inferences: unclear, likely harmful) in the first season. IRR for transferred players in their first and second seasons compared to rates in the same seasons in current players ranged from a 0.5 lower risk of incurring an overuse injury to a 1.1 higher risk of match injury (respective p values: 0.18, 0.89, inferences: unclear, possibly harmful), both occurring in season 1. For the between season and group comparisons, effect sizes regarding mean injury layoff time and matches missed ranged from trivial to small (0.03-0.22). Although limited to one club, these findings are positive as generally there was no meaningful increase in injury risk or burden in newly transferred players. Potential explanations include systematic pre-participation screening and injury prevention protocols and player rotation strategies in place at the club.

Commentary: Long-term Practice with Domain-Specific Task Constraints Influences Perceptual Skills

“…In relation to the SSG “futsal,” there is a need for researchers to determine the impact of the specific constraints to which futsal exposes participants, thereby providing knowledge on its potential for transferal and acquisition of soccer-specific skills. Work by Oppici et al ( 2017 ) has sought to analyse some of these components providing knowledge on the impact of futsal “ constraints .” Their research adds empirical evidence to theoretical arguments on the potential for skills transfer recently presented (Travassos et al, 2017 ; Yiannaki et al, 2018 ).…”

Futsal task constraints promote the development of soccer passing skill: evidence and implications for talent development research and practice

“…It has been argued that practicing the passing skill with futsal task constraints can promote a player's ability to functionally couple perception and action, and to adapt to the dynamic changes of informational constraints that occur in a soccer game (Travassos, et al, 2017;Yiannaki, et al, 2018a). Relative to soccer, passing in futsal is performed in a smaller area, with shorter time to act, and with a ball that is relatively easier to control.…”

“…National soccer federations already scale the pitch dimensions, number of players and ball size to the children's age (e.g., Italian Football Federation, 2018), and the introduction of futsal might seem superficial. However, futsal is not a scaled form of soccer, and different elements, such as ball properties, pitch surface, style of play, and contextual variability set futsal and mini-soccer apart (Corrêa, et al, 2012;Travassos, et al, 2017;Yiannaki, et al, 2018a). The findings of the studies discussed indicate that this difference in constraints needs to be faithfully represented to optimise the development of soccer passing skill.…”

“…In this context, futsal, which is 5a-side indoor soccer (FIFA, 2012b), could be a key developmental activity to promote soccer talent. Elements of the futsal game, such as properties of the ball and dimensions of the pitch combined with a continuous change of the learning environment and sociological factors (e.g., high value of children's play time) are argued to enhance the acquisition of perceptual-motor skills and promote positive transfer to soccer (Araújo et al, 2010;Travassos, Araujo, & Davids, 2017;Yiannaki, Carling, & Collins, 2018a).…”

‘Four goals for three players’: using 3 vs. 3 small-sided games at school

“…The significant differences regarding the implication of the game matrix could be explained by the time spent practising among fifth and sixth grade students, who gained more practice than third and fourth grade students owing to the greater level of experience they had acquired during their longer lives [3,28]. Even though futsal is slightly different from soccer, this fact reinforces the idea that playing alternative sports in PE classes equalizes the skills of the students (because these are games that none of the students has practised before) and increases their motivation [29].…”