Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal

IntroductionUnderstanding the physical demands of different training exercises is crucial for optimizing athlete performance. This study aims to compare high-intensity activities across different training exercises and official match-play scenarios. The analysis focuses on performance variations acr...

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Main Authors: João Nuno Ribeiro, António Ferraz, Bruno Gonçalves, Carlos Serrano, Diogo Coutinho, Rafael Ballester, Bruno Travassos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1553046/full
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author João Nuno Ribeiro
João Nuno Ribeiro
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Carlos Serrano
Diogo Coutinho
Diogo Coutinho
Rafael Ballester
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
author_facet João Nuno Ribeiro
João Nuno Ribeiro
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Carlos Serrano
Diogo Coutinho
Diogo Coutinho
Rafael Ballester
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
author_sort João Nuno Ribeiro
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionUnderstanding the physical demands of different training exercises is crucial for optimizing athlete performance. This study aims to compare high-intensity activities across different training exercises and official match-play scenarios. The analysis focuses on performance variations across training exercises and the variability observed within each format.MethodsAn observational study was conducted on a team competing in the 1st Division of the Spanish futsal league over three consecutive seasons. The training and match sessions were organized into mid-court exercises (20 × 20 m), three-quarters court exercises (28 × 20 m), and full-court exercises (40 × 20 m) and match.ResultsResults showed that the full court exercises presented the more demanding results, and the mid court exercises the less demanding results of external load for both acceleration, deceleration and sprints. The comparison between the training exercises and the match revealed distinct physical demands variability across exercise categories. Mid-court training exercises exhibited significantly higher variability compared to all other training formats and match scenarios. In contrast, match conditions demonstrated the lowest variability.DiscussionFindings highlight the importance of understanding the physical demands of each training exercise to balance intensity, variability, and contextual relevance to tailor training programs that ultimately optimizing athlete preparation for the multifaceted demands of competitive play.
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language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
spelling doaj-art-0688112bf7d040beaa73abc34fcaa27d2025-08-20T01:49:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-03-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15530461553046Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsalJoão Nuno Ribeiro0João Nuno Ribeiro1António Ferraz2António Ferraz3António Ferraz4Bruno Gonçalves5Bruno Gonçalves6Bruno Gonçalves7Carlos Serrano8Diogo Coutinho9Diogo Coutinho10Rafael Ballester11Bruno Travassos12Bruno Travassos13Bruno Travassos14Department of Sport Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, PortugalPolytechnic Institute of Guarda, School of Education, Communication and Sports, SPRINT, Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Guarda, PortugalDepartment of Sport Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, PortugalResearch Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, PortugalCIFD, Sports Research, and Training Center, Jean Piaget University of Angola, Luanda, AngolaDepartamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, Évora, PortugalComprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), University of Évora, Évora, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, PortugalUniversidad Europea de Madrid, Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Madrid, SpainResearch Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, PortugalDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Maia (UMAIA), Maia, Portugal0Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia “San Vicente Martir”, Valencia, SpainDepartment of Sport Sciences, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, PortugalResearch Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, Vila Real, PortugalPortugal Football School, Portuguese Football Federation, Oeiras, PortugalIntroductionUnderstanding the physical demands of different training exercises is crucial for optimizing athlete performance. This study aims to compare high-intensity activities across different training exercises and official match-play scenarios. The analysis focuses on performance variations across training exercises and the variability observed within each format.MethodsAn observational study was conducted on a team competing in the 1st Division of the Spanish futsal league over three consecutive seasons. The training and match sessions were organized into mid-court exercises (20 × 20 m), three-quarters court exercises (28 × 20 m), and full-court exercises (40 × 20 m) and match.ResultsResults showed that the full court exercises presented the more demanding results, and the mid court exercises the less demanding results of external load for both acceleration, deceleration and sprints. The comparison between the training exercises and the match revealed distinct physical demands variability across exercise categories. Mid-court training exercises exhibited significantly higher variability compared to all other training formats and match scenarios. In contrast, match conditions demonstrated the lowest variability.DiscussionFindings highlight the importance of understanding the physical demands of each training exercise to balance intensity, variability, and contextual relevance to tailor training programs that ultimately optimizing athlete preparation for the multifaceted demands of competitive play.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1553046/fullperformancephysical demandstechical-tactical traininggame analysisload variance
spellingShingle João Nuno Ribeiro
João Nuno Ribeiro
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
António Ferraz
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Bruno Gonçalves
Carlos Serrano
Diogo Coutinho
Diogo Coutinho
Rafael Ballester
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
Bruno Travassos
Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
performance
physical demands
techical-tactical training
game analysis
load variance
title Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
title_full Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
title_fullStr Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
title_full_unstemmed Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
title_short Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal
title_sort training exercises match demands and variability in elite futsal
topic performance
physical demands
techical-tactical training
game analysis
load variance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1553046/full
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