External match load and the influence of contextual factors in elite futsal

External Load Evaluation in Elite Futsal: Influence of Match Results and Game Location with IMU Technology

The purpose of this study was to assess the external load demands in futsal, considering both home and away matches and their outcomes, in order to plan microcycles throughout the season based on the external load of each match. The external load of 10 players from a First Division team in the Spanish Futsal League was recorded throughout 15 official matches in the first half of the league championship. The players' external load was monitored using OLIVER devices. To analyse the influence of the match outcome and location on the external load, a univariate general linear model (GLM) analysis was conducted with Bonferroni post hoc. There are no differences between the variables neither comparing results nor location factors, except for accelerations of 2 to 3 m/s2 (m) per minute and the number of accelerations of 2 to 3 m/s2 per minute, reporting higher value winnings at home than away (p < 0.05). The location and results are not factors that influence on external load in futsal matches, except the number and distance performed in accelerations and distance covered at a low to medium speed. These findings are important for planning microcycles and providing the appropriate dosage to each player to achieve optimal performance in matches.

Space and players' number constrains the external and internal load demands in youth futsal

Introduction

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of space and number of players manipulation on the external and internal load demands of youth futsal athletes.

Methods

Forty-two male U17 players (age = 15.62 ± 0.58 years) from three futsal teams participated in the study. In this cross-sectional study that lasted 8-week, the player's sample practiced six futsal tasks (T1-T6) and a futsal game played under the official rules (T7). From T1-T6, two task constraints were manipulated: (i) the number of players and, (ii) the space of play. The WIMU PRO™ Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tracking system was used to measure the external and internal load during the futsal tasks. External load was quantified using kinematic and mechanical variables extracted from positional data and, the internal load was quantified using Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Repeated measures ANOVA was used for comparison purposes.

Results

In general, the results showed high external (total distance, distance 18.1-21, above 21 Km/h, and high intensity acceleration and deceleration, p < 0.001) and internal load (heart rate average and rating of perceived exertion, p < 0.001) in the tasks with low number of players and high area. In relation to the match, the tasks with small relative area per player (GK + 2 vs. 2 + GK and GK + 3 vs. 3 + GK in 20 × 20 m) promoted low external load.

Conclusion

It was concluded that increasing the relative area by reducing the number of players involved in the tasks in the form of small-sided games (GK + 2 vs. 2 + GK and GK + 3 vs. 3 + GK), in relation to the futsal game (GK + 4 vs. 4 + GK), can be considered a pedagogical strategy to increase the external and internal load demands of young futsal players.

Descriptive analysis of injury types and incidence during futsal preseason across different competitive levels

Introduction

This study aimed to verify the typology and incidence of injury by comparing the different competitive levels of futsal during the preseason.

Methods

The sample consisted of 68 senior male futsal players (24.26 ± 4.63 years). Data were collected using an injury recording grid that examined the affected body part, anatomical region, type of injury, mechanism, and severity.

Results

It was found that the elite group has the lowest incidence rate of injury (4.8 injuries per 1,000 h of exposure) compared to the sub-elite (11.8 injuries per 1,000 h of exposure) and amateur groups (13.9 injuries per 1,000 h of exposure). However, at this level, there is the highest percentage of injury occurrence (38.5%), the lower limb was the most affected part of the body (30.8%), and ligament (23.1%) and muscle (15.4%) injuries are the most prevalent. The most frequent mechanism of injury was non-traumatic (30.8%), and the majority were moderate injuries in the elite (23.1%) and sub-elite (17.9%) groups and severe injuries in the amateur group (12.5%).

Discussion

The amateur futsal players had the highest incidence of injury during the preseason period compared to the other competitive levels. Still, it was at the elite level where the highest percentage of injuries occurred, most of them non-traumatic and of ligament origin, primarily affecting the ankle region. The results highlight the importance of adopting specific injury prevention programs for ligament and muscle injuries during the preseason phase, regardless of the competitive level.

Exploring countermovement jump variables across competitive levels and playing positions in futsal

Introduction

The aims of this study were to compare several countermovement jump (CMJ) kinetic variables between professional (PRO) and semi-professional (SEMI-PRO) futsal players and examine the differences amongst playing positions.

Methods

CMJ performance from 56 male futsal players (25.2 ± 4.8 years; weight: 74.4 ± 6.4 kg) was analysed. Players were separated into PRO (n = 29; 27.0 ± 4.4 years; 75.4 ± 6.0 kg) and SEMI-PRO (n = 27; 22.7 ± 4.3 years; 73.1 ± 6.8 kg), and according to playing position: defenders (n = 16; 25.4 ± 3.7 years; 75.2 ± 6.0 kg), wingers (n = 26; 23.5 ± 4.5 years; 72.0 ± 6.9 kg), and pivots (n = 14; 28.0 ± 5.6 years; 77.8 ± 4.3 kg). Linear mixed models and effect sizes were used for the analyses based on the mean of two jumps for each variable.

Results

PRO players presented a deeper center of mass (COM) displacement (p = 0.002, ES = 0.83), greater eccentric (Ecc) absolute (p = 0.019, ES = 0.61) and relative peak power (p = 0.046, ES = 0.52), and achieved greater Ecc peak velocities (p = 0.004, ES = 0.76) when compared to SEMI-PRO. Non-significant and trivial-to-small differences were observed in all the other CMJ variables according to the competitive level and playing position.

Discussion

Ecc capabilities (i.e., deeper COM displacement, greater Ecc absolute and relative peak power, and peak velocity) during vertical jump seem to differentiate PRO and SEMI-PRO players. However, CMJ variables do not discriminate amongst playing positions in futsal players.

Load monitoring, strength training, and recovery in futsal: Practitioners' perspectives

This study aimed to describe the current practices in futsal regarding a variety of topics related to performance and injury risk mitigation. Thirty-seven coaches from Spain and Portugal completed a questionnaire consisting of 28 closed questions organized in four categories: a) background information; b) training load (TL) monitoring and assessment of players' physical qualities; c) strength training (ST) practices; and d) recovery (REC) methods. The results showed that coaches varied in experience (1-8 years) and age (from 20 years to >50 years). Overall, 97.3% of the participants declared monitoring TL, with rating of perceived exertion, heart rate monitors, and wearable technology being used by 86.5%, 40.5%, and 37.8%, respectively. Neuromuscular and strength testing are the most common practices to evaluate performance and fatigue during the season. ST is a significant component of futsal, being performed 3 times/week during the pre- and in-season. ST is prescribed via %1RM - XRM (59.5%), velocity-based training (21.7%), repetitions in reserve (18.9%), until failure (10.8%), and circuit training (2.7%). 'Better Monitoring', 'More Individualized', 'Better Facilities', 'More Staff', and 'More Time' were the main aspects to improve ST. Multiple post-match REC strategies are used, with durations ranging from 0-15 to 16-30 min independently of game location.

Physical Demands in the Worst-Case Scenarios of Elite Futsal Referees Using a Local Positioning System

The aim of this study is to analyze the worst-case scenarios of professional futsal referees during the first and second half of official matches in the Spanish Futsal Cup using a Local Positioning System (LPS) for monitoring their movement patterns. Eight professional futsal referees (40 ± 3.43 years; 1.80 ± 0.03 m; 72.84 ± 4.01 kg) participated in the study. The external load (total distance, high-speed running distance and efforts, sprint distance and efforts, and accelerations and decelerations distances) of the referees was monitored and collected using an LPS. The results revealed significant differences in the worst-case scenarios of the futsal referees during the match according to the time window analyzed (p < 0.05). The longest time windows (120 s, 180 s, and 300 s) showed lower relative total distances in the worst-case scenarios (p < 0.05). The high-speed running distances were significatively higher in the first half for the 120 s (+2.65 m·min-1; ES: 1.25), 180 s (+1.55 m·min-1; ES: 1.28), and 300 s (+0.95 m·min-1; ES: 1.14) time windows (p < 0.05). No differences were found between the first and second half for the high-intensity deceleration distance (p > 0.05). These results will serve to prepare the referees in the best conditions for the competition and adapt the training plans to the worst-case scenarios.

Neuromuscular Performance Changes in Elite Futsal Players Over a Competitive Season

ABSTRACT

Spyrou, K, Alcaraz, PE, Marín-Cascales, E, Herrero-Carrasco, R, Cohen, DD, and Freitas, TT. Neuromuscular performance changes in elite futsal players over a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-A professional futsal season imposes a great amount of physiological and mechanical stress on players. The main aim of this study was to examine the changes in neuromuscular performance qualities across the season. Ten professional male players performed a 10-m sprint, standing long jumps (SLJs), and countermovement jumps (CMJs) during the competitive season (i.e., every ∼5 weeks from September to January). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc pairwise comparisons and effect sizes (ESs) were used to analyze potential differences among these assessments. A significant and large decline was found in concentric peak power (p = 0.040; ES = 1.24). A nonsignificant and moderate decrease was observed in sprint ability (p = 0.155; ES = 1.03), CMJ height (p = 0.175; ES = 1.00), and SLJ distance (p = 0.164; ES = 1.03). Regarding other CMJ kinetic variables, nonsignificant and moderate changes were found. In summary, considering the neuromuscular performance tests and variables assessed, only concentric peak power in CMJ decreased significantly across the season; however, nonsignificant decrements were observed in sprinting time, SLJ, CMJ height, and other kinetic metrics. CMJ variables during the jump-land cycle should be incorporated alongside more traditional measures (e.g., jump height) to monitor performance during the season.

How weekly monitoring variables influence players' and teams' match performance in elite futsal players

This study aimed to investigate how weekly training load constrains the performance of players and teams in official futsal competitions. Data from a professional male team were collected during two seasons (46 weeks). The applied monitoring system analysed the training load (as measured by session perceived exertion, sRPE), the total recovery status (TQR), the well-being score (WBs) and the variability of neuromuscular performance during each week (CMJ-cv). In addition, the performance was assessed for all the matches. A path analysis model was performed to test the associations across variables. Results from the path analysis model revealed that it explains 31% of the teams' performance. In general, the results show that previous team performance has no significant effects on the training week. A significant negative relationship was found between CMJ-cv and match performance (β = -.34; CI95% -.359 to -.070), as well as a significant negative relationship between players' match performance and the team's match performance (β = -.55; CI95% -.292 to .740). Regarding indirect effects, only a negative association between CMJ-cv and team match performance via players' match performance (β = -.19; CI95% -.342 to -.049) was identified. The small variation of the weekly CMJ (CMJ-cv) seems to be a key variable to monitor and explain both player and team performance. Based on this model, and only looking at the physical variables, it was possible to explain 31% of the team's performance. Longitudinal and multi-team studies should be conducted to integrate other technical, tactical and psychological variables that allow the level of understanding of players' and teams' performance to be improved.