Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Futsal players need peak strength, functional capacity, speed, and explosive lower-limb power for optimal performance. The aim of this study was to (i) characterize and compare anthropometric characteristics, lower limb strength/power, dynamic balance, linea...

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Main Authors: João P. Oliveira, Daniel A. Marinho, Tatiana Sampaio, Sílvio Carvalho, Hugo Martins, Jorge E. Morais
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/103
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author João P. Oliveira
Daniel A. Marinho
Tatiana Sampaio
Sílvio Carvalho
Hugo Martins
Jorge E. Morais
author_facet João P. Oliveira
Daniel A. Marinho
Tatiana Sampaio
Sílvio Carvalho
Hugo Martins
Jorge E. Morais
author_sort João P. Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Futsal players need peak strength, functional capacity, speed, and explosive lower-limb power for optimal performance. The aim of this study was to (i) characterize and compare anthropometric characteristics, lower limb strength/power, dynamic balance, linear sprint speed, COD performance, and COD deficit across young futsal age groups and (ii) identify key predictors of COD deficit. <b>Methods</b>: Thirty-three male futsal players from three age groups (U13, U15, and U17) were tested. <b>Results</b>: All anthropometric variables showed significant group effects with moderate to strong effect sizes, where U17 presented the largest values, followed by U15 and U13. Strength and power variables presented the same trend. The dynamic balance differed significantly across groups. Significant differences between groups with moderate effect sizes were noted in linear sprints (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.57), zigzag (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> = 0.002, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.35), and COD deficit (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.46). Post hoc tests revealed that U13 and U15 outperformed U17 in the COD deficit (<i>p</i> < 0.002). The COD deficit showed a quadratic relationship with age, initially improving but later declining in older players (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The body mass and the posteromedial relative difference predicted the COD deficit, with the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) explaining 39% of the COD variance. <b>Conclusions</b>: Coaches and practitioners should utilize COD drills to target various movement patterns and account for pubertal timing, as growth can impact performance.
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spelling doaj-art-b3f3b8a49af4462788ed6881a141f4e22025-08-20T03:24:36ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-03-0110210310.3390/jfmk10020103Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age GroupsJoão P. Oliveira0Daniel A. Marinho1Tatiana Sampaio2Sílvio Carvalho3Hugo Martins4Jorge E. Morais5Departamento de Ciências do Desporto, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, PortugalDepartamento de Ciências do Desporto, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, PortugalDepartamento de Ciências do Desporto, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, PortugalAssociação de Futebol de Bragança, 5300-091 Bragança, PortugalDepartamento de Ciências do Desporto, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalResearch Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Futsal players need peak strength, functional capacity, speed, and explosive lower-limb power for optimal performance. The aim of this study was to (i) characterize and compare anthropometric characteristics, lower limb strength/power, dynamic balance, linear sprint speed, COD performance, and COD deficit across young futsal age groups and (ii) identify key predictors of COD deficit. <b>Methods</b>: Thirty-three male futsal players from three age groups (U13, U15, and U17) were tested. <b>Results</b>: All anthropometric variables showed significant group effects with moderate to strong effect sizes, where U17 presented the largest values, followed by U15 and U13. Strength and power variables presented the same trend. The dynamic balance differed significantly across groups. Significant differences between groups with moderate effect sizes were noted in linear sprints (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.57), zigzag (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> = 0.002, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.35), and COD deficit (F = 19.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.46). Post hoc tests revealed that U13 and U15 outperformed U17 in the COD deficit (<i>p</i> < 0.002). The COD deficit showed a quadratic relationship with age, initially improving but later declining in older players (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The body mass and the posteromedial relative difference predicted the COD deficit, with the coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) explaining 39% of the COD variance. <b>Conclusions</b>: Coaches and practitioners should utilize COD drills to target various movement patterns and account for pubertal timing, as growth can impact performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/103futsalmaturationperformancechange of directionagility
spellingShingle João P. Oliveira
Daniel A. Marinho
Tatiana Sampaio
Sílvio Carvalho
Hugo Martins
Jorge E. Morais
Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
futsal
maturation
performance
change of direction
agility
title Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
title_full Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
title_fullStr Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
title_full_unstemmed Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
title_short Characterization and Comparison of Athletic Performance and Change of Direction Deficit Across Youth Futsal Age Groups
title_sort characterization and comparison of athletic performance and change of direction deficit across youth futsal age groups
topic futsal
maturation
performance
change of direction
agility
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/103
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AT silviocarvalho characterizationandcomparisonofathleticperformanceandchangeofdirectiondeficitacrossyouthfutsalagegroups
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