Physiological and Anthropometric Determinants of Performance Levels in Professional Futsal

Abstract

There is an evident lack of studies examining the pursuit of excellence in futsal. The aims of this study were to evaluate anthropometric and physiological variables that may contribute to distinguishing among performance levels in professional futsal players and to evaluate correlates of those variables. The participants were 75 male professionals (age = 25.1 ± 5.1 years, body height = 182.3 ± 6.2 cm, body mass = 80.8 ± 10.4 kg), who were divided into performance levels using two criteria: (i) starters (first teams) vs. non-starters (substitutes) and (ii) top-level players (members of the national team and players who participated in top-level team competition in Europe) vs. high-level players (team players competing at the highest national competitive rank). Variables included anthropometrics (body height and mass, BMI, body fat percentage), generic tests of physiological capacities [5- and 10-m sprints, countermovement jump, broad jump, 20-yard test, reactive strength index (RSI)], and futsal-specific fitness tests [kicking speed by dominant and non-dominant leg, futsal-specific tests of change of direction speed, and reactive agility (FSRAG) involving/not involving dribbling the ball]. Top-level players outperformed high-level players in RSI, broad jump, kicking speed, and FSRAG involving dribbling. Starters achieved better results than non-starters in fewer variables, including kicking speed and RSI. Body fat percentage negatively influenced FSRAG involving dribbling, and RSI. FSRAG, RSI, and kicking speed were significantly correlated, indicating the similar physiological background of these capacities. The findings suggest that enhanced reactive strength and the ability to rapidly change direction speed in response to external stimulus while executing futsal-specific motor tasks (e.g., dribbling), along with players’ ability to kick the ball speedily, can be considered essential qualities required for advanced performance in futsal. Consequently, futsal strength and conditioning training should be targeted toward lowering relative body fat, maximizing lower-body reactive strength and including futsal-specific skills (e.g., dribbling, shooting) in reactive agility drills.

Effects of acute caffeine ingestion on futsal performance in sub-elite players

“…In futsal, ball kicking velocity is one of the performance variables more closely related to futsal-specific performance [4,32] and a common and determinant attacking skill which allows players to score. In the current investigation, the effects of caffeine on kicking ball velocity were measured with a complex futsal specific test that included a sprint, a pass, and a powerful shot at the goal.…”

Decision-making, contextual intelligence, maximum oxygenconsumption and explosive strength in futsal players during COVID-19

“…Sobre esto, Rubio-Arias et al, (2015) manifiestan que una selección adecuada de los alimentos y líquidos consumidos, teniendo en cuenta los requerimientos de la práctica deportiva, pueden beneficiar notablemente la salud del atleta, suministrando el aporte calórico suficiente, manteniendo un adecuado peso corporal y maximizando el rendimiento deportivo. Adicionalmente sobre este tema, Sekulic et al, 2021 afirmaron que una reducción de la masa corporal puede favorecer significativamente la fuerza relativa, produciendo mejores respuestas en acciones de aceleración y desaceleración, saltos y agilidad, situación que debe ser tenida en cuenta dado los resultados encontrados en el presente estudio donde se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el IMC y la fuerza explosiva. Igualmente, las medidas de aislamiento tomadas para mitigar la transmisibilidad del Covid-19 pudieron contribuir negativamente en la alimentación de los deportistas, tal y como lo afirma Pillay et al, (2020), quienes encontraron un aumento significativo en el consumo de carbohidratos, gaseosas, carnes rojas y alimentos procesados durante el confinamiento.…”

“…Los deportistas de futsal deben presentar una condición aeróbica óptima para poder tolerar las demandas fisiológicas de alta intensidad presentadas tanto en entrenamiento como en competencia, el nivel en el consumo máximo de oxígeno (VO2max) ha sido relacionado con un mayor número de sprint realizados, mayor distancia recorrida, mayor contacto y participación con balón, con menor fatiga y menos stress cardiovascular durante el juego (Matzenbacher et al, 2014). Por su parte la capacidad de salto es un gesto básico y determinante en la práctica deportiva (Portilla et al, 2019), así mismo Sekulic et al, (2021) plantean que medir el rendimiento del salto es esencial para la valoración de la potencia de los miembros inferiores, la cual está relacionada con acciones de juego específicas de alta intensidad como el sprint, saltos y cambios de dirección.…”

Generic motor abilities and anthropometrics are poorly related to futsal-specific agility performance; multiple regression analysis in professional players

“…As the reduced court size put players under constant pressure from opposing players, fast decision making and superior agility capabilities are strictly necessary for keeping or getting the ball [4,18]. Indeed, research shows that agility is an important determinant of overall success in futsal [8,18,28] Agility has been defined as "a rapid whole-body movement with change of speed or direction in response to a stimulus", and it can be observed in terms of non-reactive agility and reactive agility (RAG) [9,31]. While non-reactive agility (i.e., pre-planned agility) involves the active change-of-direction speed (CODS) with advance knowledge of the directional change, RAG (i.e., non-planned agility) involves the ability to rapidly change direction while responding to an unpredictable visual and/or audio stimulus [27].…”

“…In futsal, sport-specific tests that simulate basic movement patterns in real-game situations should involve controlling and dribbling the ball. However, so far, only two studies have utilized such tests to assess CODS and RAG among professional futsal players [26,28]. Briefly, in their studies, Sekulic et al aimed to analyse differences in futsal-specific CODS (FS_CODS) and RAG (FS_RAG) according to various performance levels (e.g., juniors vs seniors, starters vs non-starters, top-level vs high-level).…”