Training load and well-being status variations of elite futsal players across a full season: Comparisons between normal and congested weeks

Physical Training Considerations for Futsal Players According to Strength and Conditioning Coaches: A Qualitative Study

The professionalization of futsal requires greater physical demands on players, requiring strength and conditioning coaches to manage loads, optimize performance, and prevent injuries. This study aimed to describe the current practices of high-level strength and conditioning coaches and determine the elements needed to optimize their performance. Two video-recorded focus groups consisting of eight strength and conditioning coaches from the Spanish futsal league's first and second divisions were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using a content analysis approach with open-ended questions on physical preparation and current practices. Results showed that strength and conditioning coaches prioritized five main areas: (1) competitive demands, (2) training load control and monitoring, (3) injury risk mitigation strategies, (4) contextual factors and interpersonal relationships, and (5) training methodologies to optimize performance. However, they also claim to deal with several limitations such as lack of time, limited resources and access to facilities, insufficient staff, problems related to combining sport with other activities (e.g., work), or the difficulty to individualize, which limits the optimization of their practices. Based on these findings, practical applications include implementing neuromuscular and strength training sessions at least twice a week, using cost-effective load monitoring tools (e.g., RPE and wellness questionnaires) to manage workloads, individualizing training programs to address the specific demands and characteristics of each player, and fostering close multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize performance and reduce injury risks. These insights can guide current and aspiring strength and conditioning coaches toward optimized practices. This study can assist novice strength and conditioning coaches in identifying the key focus areas of elite physical trainers and understanding their challenges and limitations, fostering collaboration among sports professionals to create a more optimized environment.

Does Total Playing Time Affect the Neuromuscular, Physiological, and Subjective Recovery of Futsal Players during a Congested Period?

The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of a congested period (three games in four days) on countermovement (CMJ) jump-landing metrics, heart rate variability (HRV), and total recovery quality (TQR) score in under-19 male futsal players, and to detect the differences between those who played for more minutes (HIGHMIN) and less minutes (LOWMIN). Fourteen youth futsal players (age: 17.5 ± 0.5 years; body mass: 70.2 ± 8.5 kg; height: 1.80 ± 0.1 m) participated. HRV, TQR questionnaire, and CMJ metrics (i.e., CMJ height, relative peak power (PPREL), eccentric and concentric impulse, braking time, and time to peak force) were registered. A linear mixed model and effect sizes (ESs) were used to assess the differences between groups and days. Considering the total sample, a significant decrease was found in the PPREL and TQR score (p = 0.001-0.013 and ES = 0.28-0.99) on Days 2, 3, and 4 when compared to Day 1. HIGHMIN group presented a significant decrease in PPREL on Day 3 (p = 0.004; ES: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.39-2.65) when compared to Day 1, and in the TRQ score on Day 3 (p = 0.002; ES: 1.98; 95% CI: 0.18-2.46) and 4 (p = 0.003; ES: 2.25; 95% CI: 0.52-3.38) when compared to Day 1. Non-significant differences were found for the rest of the metrics and in the group LOWMIN. In summary, neuromuscular performance (i.e., CMJ PPREL) and subjective recovery were impaired in players with higher playing minutes during a match-congested period when compared to those with less on-court time.

The Road to Becoming a World Champion in Futsal

PURPOSE

The aim of the current study was to report the training program and monitoring outcomes of the Portuguese national futsal team during the preparation and competition phases of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021™. For that, the variations in training load and wellness were measured, as well as their relationship.

METHODS

The study followed a retrospective cohort design. For all field training sessions, the volume, exercise structure, and area of play were identified. Player load, session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), and wellness were collected. Descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparison purposes. A visualization method was used for load and well-being.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in the number of training sessions, session duration, and player load between preparation and competitive periods. sRPE showed significantly higher values in preparation than in competition periods (P < .05, d = 0.86) and significant differences between weeks (P < .05, d = 1.08). Wellness showed a general statistical difference between periods (P < .001, d = 1.28) and weeks (P < .05, d = 1.17). The correlation analysis for the overall period revealed a general linear relationship within variables of training load and wellness (P < .001). Variations occurred for preparation and competition periods. The visualization method through quadrant plots allowed us to understand the adaptation of the team and the players over the specific period under analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Through this study, it was possible to better understand the training program and monitoring strategies of a high-performance futsal team over a high-level tournament.

Effect of Intensified Training Camp on Psychometric Status, Mood State, and Hematological Markers in Youth Soccer Players

During training camps, training load is purposefully intensified. Intensified training loads (TL) are associated with psychological variations, increased fatigue, insufficient recovery, decreased muscular performance, and biological changes in adult athletes, but whether these changes occur during training camps in youth athletes has not been established. The aim of this study was to assess changes in psychometric status, vertical jump performance (i.e., height), and hematological markers before and after an intensive training camp in youth soccer players. In this case, 15male youth soccer players (mean ± SD: age: 14.8 ± 0.4 years; height: 172.0 ± 6.9 cm, body mass: 60.8 ± 7.9 kg; training experience: 5.2 ± 0.7 years) completed a 2-week training program consisting of 1 week of moderate TL (MT) and 1 week of intensive training camp (TC). Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), TL, monotony, strain, and psychometric status (total quality of recovery (TQR) and well-being indices (sleep, stress, fatigue, and muscle soreness) were monitored before each first daily training session across two weeks. The profile of mood states (POMS), countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and blood markers (complete blood count, urea, and creatinine) were assessed before and after TC. TL (d = 5.39, large), monotony (d = 3.03, large), strain (d = 4.38, large), and well-being index (d = 7.5, large) scores increased and TQR (d = 4.6, large) decreased during TC. The TC increased tension, fatigue, and total mood disturbance and decreased vigor (all p <0.01). CMJ performance p < 0.01, d = 0.52, moderate), creatinine (p < 0.01, d = 1.29, large), and leukocyte concentration (p < 0.01, d = 1.4, large) and granulocyte concentration (p < 0.01, d = 1.93, large) increased after TC. Percentage of lymphocytes (p < 0.05, d = 1.17, large) and monocytes (p < 0.01, d = 1.05, large) decreased while the percentage of granulocytes (p < 0.05, d = 0.86, large) increased significantly. Well-being, quality of recovery, mood, granulocyte concentration, and creatinine were all altered during the week-long intensified training camp. These results may provide coaches with valuable information about psychometric status and physiological fatigue and recovery of youth soccer players to better prescribe and adjust training loads during intensive training periods.

A Practical Approach to Assessing Physical Freshness: Utility of a Simple Perceived Physical Freshness Status Scale

Background: Monitoring physical freshness is essential in assessing athletes’ conditions during training periods, training sessions, or competitions. To date, no single physical freshness scale has been successfully validated against training load variables and widely used scales measuring different facets of physical freshness. Objective: In this study, we develop and test the practical utility of a perceived physical freshness (RPF) scale to monitor the condition of the athletes and to prevent excessive fatigue and insufficient recovery during training sessions or competitions. Methods: Sixteen professional male soccer players (mean ± SD age 26 ± 4 years) were enrolled. Training load (TL), monotony, strain, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), well-being indices (sleep, stress, fatigue, and muscle soreness), total quality recovery (TQR) and RPF were determined each day for two weeks of training, including a week intensified training (IW) and a week taper (TW). The validity of the RPF scale was assessed by measuring the level of agreement of a player’s perceived physical freshness relative to their TL variables, recovery state and well-being indices during each training phase (IW and TW) and during the overall training period (TP). Results: RPF increased during the TW compared to IW (ES = 2.31, p < 0.001, large). For the TP, IW and TW, weekly RPF was related to weekly TL (r = −0.81, r = −0.80, r = −0.69, respectively), well-being (r = −0.91, r = −0.82, r = −0.84, respectively) and TQR (r = 0.76, r = 0.91, r = 0.52, respectively), all p < 0.01. For the TP, IW and TW, daily RPF was related to TL (r = −0.75, r = −0.66, r = −0.70, respectively), well-being (r = −0.84, r = −0.81, r = −0.78, respectively) and TQR (r = 0.82, r = 0.81, r = 0.75, respectively), all p < 0.01. Conclusions: RPF was effective for evaluating the professional soccer players’ physical freshness and may be a strategy for coaches to monitor the physical, psycho-physiological, and psychometric state of the players before training session or matches.

The Most Demanding Exercise in Different Training Tasks in Professional Female Futsal: A Mid-Season Study through Principal Component Analysis

The contextual factors related to training tasks can play an important role in how a player performs and, subsequently, in how a player trains to face a competition. To date, there has been no study that has investigated the most demanding exercise in different training tasks in female futsal. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the most demanding efforts during different training tasks in a cohort study conducted in professional biological women futsal players using principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 14 elite women futsal players (age = 24.34 ± 4.51 years; height = 1.65 ± 0.60 m; body mass = 63.20 ± 5.65 kg) participated in this study. Seventy training sessions of an elite professional women’s team were registered over five months (pre-season and in-season). Different types of exercises were grouped into six clusters: preventive exercises; analytical situations; exercises in midcourt; exercises in ¾ of the court; exercises in full court; superiorities/inferiorities. Each exercise cluster was composed of 5–7 principal components (PCs), considering from 1 to 5 main variables forming each, explaining from 65 to 75% of the physical total variance. A total of 13–19 sub-variables explained the players’ efforts in each training task group. The first PCs to explain the total variance of training load were as follows: preventive exercises (accelerations; ~31%); analytical situations (impacts; ~23%); exercises in midcourt (high-intensity efforts; ~28%); exercises in ¾ of the court (~27%) and superiorities/inferiorities (~26%) (aerobic/anaerobic components); exercises in full court (anaerobic efforts; ~24%). The PCs extracted from each exercise cluster provide evidence that may assist researchers and coaches during training load monitoring. The descriptive values of the training load support a scientific base to assist coaches in the planning of training schedules.

Relationships between perceived measures of internal load and wellness status during overseas futsal training camps

Exercise and sport practitioners frequently utilize rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to evaluate the players’ psychophysiological strains during training sessions. The subjective rating of physical exertion level during sports training has been shown to have a reciprocal relationship with wellness status during periodic training or competitive seasons. However, the relationship between subjective physical exertions and wellness status during short-term overseas training camps (OTCs) has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to examine the perceived responses of physical exertions [session-RPE (sRPE), training monotony, and training strain] and wellness status (fatigue, sleep, delayed onset muscle soreness, stress, and mood) measures in elite young adult futsal players from four separate OTCs with different training tasks. Twenty-seven U-20 male national team futsal players voluntarily participated in this study. The players recruited for OTCs were based on their performance during domestic training camps and the tactical demand of the team. The task of each OTCs was defined as: 1) 1st OTC = game-based camp (n = 14); 2) 2nd and 3rd OTC = training-based camp (n = 20 and n = 17, respectively); and 3) 4th OTC = pre-tournament camp (n = 14). The OTCs consisted of 11 training sessions (18.9 hours) and 16 friendly matches (23.8 hours). During daily training sessions and friendly matches, sRPE was used to quantify training load (TL). Additionally, a five-elements general wellness questionnaire was used to evaluate daily wellness status in the morning. The results demonstrated that the mean and sum sRPE in the game-based OTCs were significantly lower compared to the mean sRPE [p < 0.01, effect size (ES) = -4.8; p < 0.01, ES = -2.9] and sum sRPE in the training-based OTCs (p < 0.01, ES = -3.6; p < 0.01, ES = -3.1). The mean (p = 0.01; ES = -2.0) and sum sRPE (p < 0.01; ES = -3.4) in the game-based OTC were also lower than that in the pre-tournament OTC. Conversely, the wellness scores in the game-based OTC were higher compared to the training-based (p = 0.01; ES = 1.8) and the pre-tournament OTCs (p < 0.01; ES = 1.6). There was a negative relationship between mean and sum sRPE and all wellness scores (mean sRPE = r = -0.441 ~ -0.575, p < 0.001; sum sRPE = r = -0.41 ~ -0.559, p < 0.001). Our findings suggested that responses to training sessions, derived from mean and sum sRPE and wellness scores, are dependent upon the task-specific nature of OTCs among elite futsal players. Utilization of mean and sum sRPE and wellness measures to monitor the psychophysiological health during short-term OTCs is recommended.

Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit to Measure External Load: A Full-Season Study in Professional Soccer Players

The aim of this study was to describe weekly acute workload (wAW), chronic workload (wCW), acute: chronic workload ratio (wACWR), training monotony (wTM), and training strain (wTS) variations over a full season across playing positions. Twenty-one professional soccer players were daily monitored during 48 consecutive weeks. Total distance, sprint total distance (STD), high-speed running distance (HSRd), maximum speed, number of the repeated sprints, and body load (BL) were obtained during training and matches using a Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit. The wAW was determined for each external load measure. The wCW, wACWR, and wTM were calculated based on BL metric. Higher values of weekly STD were observed in lateral defenders/wingers (LDW) compared to central defenders/forwards (CDF) (p = 0.009; ES = Large) and midfielders (MDF) (p = 0.034; ES = Large). Additionally, weekly HSRd was higher in LDW vs. CDF (p = 0.016; ES = Large) and MDF (p = 0.011; ES = Large). The CDF presented a lower weekly number of repeated sprints than LDW (p = 0.021; ES = Large). In conclusion, weekly external load metrics were position-dependent over the season. Moreover, LDW a presented greater weekly STD, HSRd, and number of repeated sprints compared to other positions.

Effects of Congested Fixture on Men's Volleyball Load Demands: Interactions with Sets Played

The purpose of this study was to compare the external load, internal load, and technical efficacy between the first and the second matches (M1 and M2) occurring in congested fixtures (two matches in two days) using the number of sets as a moderating factor. An observational analytic research design was adopted. Data from official volleyball matches were collected during the first competitive period of the championship, comprising 14 competitive games within 10 weeks. Ten male elite volleyball athletes (age: 21.7 ± 4.19 years of age; experience: 6.2 ± 3.8 years; body mass: 85.7 ± 8.69 kg; height: 192.4 ± 6.25 cm; BMI: 23.1 ± 1.40 kg/m2) participated in this study. Players were monitored for external load (number of jumps and height of jumps) and internal load (using the rate of perceived exertion-RPE). Additionally, notational analysis collected information about attack efficacy and receptions made during matches. The mixed ANOVA revealed no significant interaction between time (M1 vs. M2) and number of sets for number of jumps per minute (p = 0.235; ηp2 = 0.114), mean jump height (p = 0.076; ηp2 = 0.193), RPE (p = 0.261; ηp2 = 0.106), attack efficacy (p = 0.346; ηp2 = 0.085), Positive reception (p = 0.980; ηp2 = 0.002) and Perfect reception (p = 0.762; ηp2 = 0.022). In conclusion, congested fixtures do not seem to affect the performance of volleyball players negatively.

Monitoring and Behavior of Biomotor Skills in Futsal Athletes During a Season

Futsal is a sport that presents alternation of high and low intensity moments, which lacks investigations regarding the effects of the organization of the training load on biomotor skills. In this sense, this study aims to verify the monitoring of the training load throughout the season and the behavior of biomotor skills in futsal athletes. Twelve futsal athletes (24.5 ± 4.9 years, 1.79 ± 0.6 m, 72.4 ± 9.4 kg, and 9.4 ± 4.3% fat) from the adult category who competed in the first division of the Paulista championship participated in the study. Throughout the season the internal training load (ITL) was calculated, through the relationship between volume (minutes) and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), monotony, and training strain. The training periods were divided into: preparatory, competitive and competitive II, for a total of four moments of evaluation: M1: at the beginning of the preparatory period; M2: 5th week, at the end of the preparatory period; M3: 13th week, in the middle of the competitive period; and M4: at the start of the competitive period II. The tests used were: (i) Power of lower limbs: counter movement jump (CMJ); (ii) Displacement speed, over the 10-meter distance (V10m); and (iii) Aerobic power, by the Carminatti test (T-CAR). The variables analyzed were compared at the different moments of evaluation, normally distributed variables (Volume, S-RPE, strain, and monotony) were analyzed using the ANOVA ONE-WAY variance test followed by the Tukey. Variables that did not show normality (lower limb power, speed, and aerobic power) were compared using the Friedman test followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test and was presented by median and interquartile interval. The significance value adopted was p < 0.05. A significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed in the power of lower limbs from M1 (37.5 ± 5.5 cm) to M3 (40.8 ± 5.7 cm), from M2 (38.9 ± 5.5 cm) to M3 (40.8 ± 5.7 cm), and from M1 (37.5 ± 5.5 cm) to M4 (40.2 ± 5.4 cm). Aerobic power showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) from M1 (12.1 ± 0.7 km/h) to M3 (12.7 ± 7 km/h) and from M1 (12.1 ± 0.7 km/h) to M4 (12.73 ± 1.04 km/h). The internal training load showed a difference between competitive I and II in relation to the preparatory period (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the proposed training organization was sufficient to improve the power of the lower limbs and the aerobic power.

Intra- and Inter-week Variations of Well-Being Across a Season: A Cohort Study in Elite Youth Male Soccer Players

This study describes the weekly variations of well-being ratings relative to fatigue (wFatigue), stress (wStress), delayed-onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), sleep quality (wSleep), and Hooper questionnaire (wHQ) throughout the season. In addition, the well-being variables for the playing position in different moments of the season were discussed. Twenty-one elite young soccer players U17 took part in this study. From the beginning of the pre-season, well-being status was monitored daily by the HQ method throughout 36 weeks, including four periods: (1) pre-season, (2) early-season, (3) mid-season, and (4) end-season. Players trained at least 3 times per week throughout the season. The main outcome was that, in weeks 33 and 28, the highest [wFatigue: 15.85 ± 3.38 arbitrary units (AU); wHQ: 48.86 ± 9.23 AU] and the lowest (wFatigue: 5.38 ± 1.88 AU; wHQ: 20.43 ± 5.49 AU) wFatigue and wHQ occurred, respectively, although the lowest level of wDOMS happened in week 28 (4.86 ± 2.15 AU), while the highest wDOMS was observed in week 5 (14.65 ± 4.16 AU). The highest wSleep (13.00 ± 2.12 AU) and wStress (11.65 ± 2.92 AU) were observed in weeks 8 and 34, respectively, while the lowest wSleep (5.81 ± 2.29 AU) and wStress (3.76 ± 0.94 AU) were marked in week 29 coincidentally. In the HQ between every weekday, except recovery day, and the day of the match (MD), considerable highest HQ was only revealed in 2 days after MD in contrast to overall team comparison. In the present study, we observed that the well-being changes between different phases of the season as well as between weeks and days of the week with the MD are significant. These results provide a great point of view for coaches and practitioners about well-being variations over a season in elite youth soccer level. As a result, coaches will be more aware about non-functional overreaching and taking measures to prevent it.

Athlete-Reported Outcome Measures for Monitoring Training Responses: A Systematic Review of Risk of Bias and Measurement Property Quality According to the COSMIN Guidelines

BACKGROUND

Athlete-reported outcome measures (AROMs) are frequently used in research and practice but no studies have examined their psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVES

Part 1-identify the most commonly used AROMs in sport for monitoring training responses; part 2-assess risk of bias, measurement properties, and level of evidence, based on the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guidelines.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Methodological quality of the studies, quality of measurement properties, and level of evidence were determined using the COSMIN checklist and criteria.

RESULTS

Part 1-from 9446 articles screened for title and abstract, 310 out of 334 full texts were included; 53.9% of the AROMs contained multiple items, while 46.1% contained single items. Part 2-from 1895 articles screened for title and abstract, 71 were selected. Most measurement properties of multiple-item AROMs were adequate, but content validity and measurement error were inadequate. With the exclusion of 2 studies examining reliability and responsiveness, no validity studies were found for single items.

CONCLUSIONS

The measurement properties of multiple-item AROMs derived from psychometrics were acceptable (with the exclusion of content validity and measurement error). The single-item AROMs most frequently used in sport science have not been validated. Additionally, nonvalidated modified versions of the originally nonvalidated items are common. Until proper validation studies are completed, all conclusions based on these AROMs are questionable. Established reference methods, such as those of clinimetrics, should be used to develop and assess the validity of AROMs.

Activity Profile and Physical Performance of Match Play in Elite Futsal Players

Understanding the physical demands of futsal requires a precise quantification of the players’ activities during match play. This study aimed to (1) describe external load, identifying the differences between the first and second halves in official futsal matches; (2) identify the most important external workload metrics to profile the players; and (3) identify the collinearity between variables in the analysis of physical performance of futsal players. Match external load data were collected from male players (n = 28) in six games of the Final Eight of the Portuguese Futsal Cup 2018. The players increased the distance covered per minute at 12–18 km/h in the second half (p < 0.01). Dynamic stress load also increased in the second half (p = 0.01). The variables that best predicted the physical profile of each player were decelerations (predictor importance, PI = 1), walking (PI = 1), sprinting (PI = 1), jogging (PI = 0.997), total distance covered per minute (PI = 0.992), and metabolic power (PI = 0.989). Decelerations showed the highest association with the clusters levels (p < 0.001; PI = 1); this suggests decelerations as a potential candidate for best analyzing the physical load of futsal players. Overall, the data from this exploratory study suggest that distance covered per minute (m/min), number of sprints (>18 km/h), decelerations (greater than-2 m/s), and metabolic power (W/kg) are the variables that most discriminate the load intensity of elite futsal players.

Psychobiological Changes during National Futsal Team Training Camps and Their Relationship with Training Load

The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to analyze the within-week variations of heart rate, session-rated of perceived exertion (sRPE), total distance, distance in 8.0–11.99 km/h⁻¹, recovery distance in 12.0–17.99 km/h⁻¹, distance in >18.0 km/h⁻¹, maximum speed, number of sprints, heart rate variability, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and fatigue during training camps of a national futsal team; and (2) to analyze the relationships between load and the well-being. Twenty-eight men from the Chinese Taipei U−20 national futsal team were analyzed. Comparisons of training days revealed that the total distance was significantly smaller on day 1 (d = −1.22) and day 6 (d = −1.95) than on day 3. The sRPE values were significantly lower on day 1 than days 4 (d = −1.53), 5 (d = −2.07), and 6 (d = −2.59). The relationships between training load and recovery parameters revealed moderate correlations between the DOMS and the sRPE recorded one (r = −0.321) and two days before training (r = −0.289). It is possible conclude that first day imposed a smaller external load and internal load, and that the internal load had a greater dependent relationship with reported DOMS and fatigue during the training camps.

Ultra-short-term and Short-term Heart Rate Variability Recording during Training Camps and an International Tournament in U-20 National Futsal Players

The aim of this study was to examine ultra-short-term and short-term heart rate variability (HRV) in under-20 (U-20) national futsal players during pre-tournament training camps and an official tournament. Fourteen male U-20 national futsal players (age = 18.07 ± 0.73 yrs; height = 169.57 ± 8.40 cm; body weight = 64.51 ± 12.19 kg; body fat = 12.42% ± 3.18%) were recruited to participate in this study. Early morning 10 min resting HRV, Borg CR-10 scale session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), and general wellness questionnaire were used to evaluate autonomic function, training load, and recovery status, respectively. Log-transformed root mean square of successive normal-to-normal interval differences (LnRMSSD) was used to compare the first 30 s, first 1 min, first 2 min, first 3 min, and first 4 min with standard 5 min LnRMSSD. Mean (LnRMSSD_mean) and coefficient of variation (LnRMSSD_cv) of LnRMSSD were used to compare the different time segments of HRV analysis. The result of LnRMSSD_mean showed nearly perfect reliability and relatively small bias in all comparisons. In contrast, LnRMSSD_cv showed nearly perfect reliability and relatively small bias from 2-4 min time segments in all study periods. In conclusion, for accuracy of HRV measures, 30 s or 1 min ultra-short-term record of LnRMSSD_mean and short-term record of LnRMSSD_cv of at least 2 min during the training camps are recommended in U-20 national futsal players.