Original paper
Match demands of professional Futsal: A case study

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Abstract

Despite its popularity and competitive status there have been only few scientific studies that have examined Futsal in professional players. Consequently the aim of this study was to examine the physiological responses and activity pattern to Futsal simulated game-play in professional players. Eight full-time professional outfield Futsal players volunteered for this study: age 22.4 (95% CI 18.8–25.3) years, body mass 75.4 (60–91) kg, height 1.77 (1.59–1.95) m and VO2max 64.8 (53.8–75.8) ml kg−1 min−1. Physiological measurements were assessed during highly competitive training games (4 × 10-min quarters) and consisted of game VO2, game blood-lactate concentration ([la]b) and game heart rates (HRs). Game activities were assessed using a computerised video-analysis system. During simulated game-play players attained 75% (59–92) and 90% (84–96) of VO2max and HRmax, respectively. Mean game VO2 was 48.6 (40.1–57.1) ml kg−1 min−1. Peak game VO2 and HRs were 99% (88–109) and 98% [90–106] of laboratory maximal values, respectively. Players spent 46 and 52% of the playing time at exercise intensities higher than 80 and 90% of VO2max and HRmax, respectively. Mean [la]b was 5.3 (1.1–10.4) mmol l−1. Players covered 121 (105–137) m min−1 and 5% (1–11) and 12% (3.8–19.5) of playing time spent performing sprinting and high-intensity running, respectively. On average players performed a sprint every ∼79 s during play. These results show that Futsal played at professional level is a high-intensity exercise heavily taxing the aerobic and anaerobic pathways.

Introduction

Futsal is the indoor version of soccer that is officially sanctioned by soccer's international governing body (Federation de Football Association, FIFA). The game is growing in popularity all over the world and since 1989 the world championships have been contested by 16 national teams every 4 years.

Futsal is played 5-a-side and during the competitions unlimited substitutions are permitted. Consequently game physical demands may result very high.1 Analysis of movement demands has shown that Futsal is an intermittent high-intensity exercise mode locomotor activities changing every 3.28-s.2 Dragomaci and Watsford2 estimated that during competitive matches Futsal players cover at high intensity 26% of total game distance or time.

Recently Castagna et al.3 showed that recreational 5-a-side soccer elicited in young players (age 16.8 ± 1.5 years) a heart rate (HR) of 84 ± 5.4% of HRmax and an oxygen consumption (VO2) of 75 ± 11.2% of VO2peak. Higher average physiological responses (91 and 85% of HRmax and VO2max, respectively) were reported by Hoff et al.4 in adult professional soccer players playing training 5-a-side drills (2 × 4 min with 3 min active rest) over a 50 m × 40 m football pitch.

Potential reasons for the elevated intensity reported by these authors include that players were strongly encouraged to keep exercise intensity high by coaches and ball was replaced as fast as possible to avoid intensity decrements.4 In contrast, Castagna et al.3 reported that the mean intensity of young non-elite soccer players during a 12-min 5-a-side training drill (30 m × 15 m court) was 52 ± 11% of VO2peak. Probably skill level and motivation may be the cause of the reported difference in play intensity.5

Despite its popularity and competitive status there have only been a few scientific studies that have examined Futsal.6, 7 Furthermore the papers that are available in the international literature have only addressed game analysis or the physiological demands of small-sided versions of soccer played at recreational level1, 3 and with no standard rules. Consequently the actual physiological demands imposed to professional Futsal players during the game are unknown.

Given that the aim of this study was to examine the VO2, HR and blood-lactate concentration ([la]b) and game activities in professional Futsal players playing on standard-sized courts and official rules. It was hypothesised that Futsal match play under standard rules may induce different physiological responses from those previously reported.3

Section snippets

Methods

Eight fulltime well-trained (nine training sessions per week plus competition) professional Futsal players: age 22.4 (95% CI 18.8–25.3) years, body mass 75.4 (59.9–91) kg, height 177 (159–195) cm, from the Spanish second division volunteered to participate in this study. The local Institutional Review Board approved this study design and informed written consent was obtained from all players.

The present study was completed during the regular competitive season and the team involved were

Statistical analyses

Data is reported as mean and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Before using parametric tests, the assumption of normality was verified using the Shapiro–Wilkes W-test. One-way ANOVA with repeated measurements were used to assess group differences. Relationship between variables was assessed using Pearson's coefficient. Significance was assumed at 5% (p  0.05) a priori.

Results

The results of the treadmill test are shown in Table 1. Game mean VO2 and HR were 76% (59–92) and 90% (84–96) of maximal treadmill test values. The peak VO2 and HRs during the simulated game-play were 99% (88–109) and 98% (90–106) of VO2max and HRmax, respectively. Mean game VO2 was 48.6 (40.1–57.1) ml kg−1 min−1. Players spent 46 and 52% of the playing time at exercise intensities higher than 80 and 90% of VO2max and HRmax, respectively (see Fig. 1). Mean blood-lactate concentration was 5.3

Discussion

The main finding of this study was that during a Futsal game played by professional players, aerobic power was heavily taxed accounting for 76% of maximal individual values. The substantial physical demands of Futsal were evidenced by VO2 requirements in the range of 45–50 ml kg−1 min−1 and repeated high-intensity efforts (a sprint bout every 79 s of play).

Game intensity elicited average HR and VO2 values that were approximately 6% higher than the corresponding values at VT. These exercise

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