This study aimed to compare the weekly natural log of the root-mean-square difference of successive normal inter-beat (RR) intervals (ln RMSSD) and its coefficient of variation (ln RMSSD) in response to 5 weeks of preseason training in professional male futsal players. A secondary aim was to assess the relationship between ln RMSSD and ln RMSSD. The ln RMSSD is a measure of cardiac-vagal activity, and ln RMSSD represents the perturbations of cardiac autonomic homeostasis, which may be useful for assessing how athletes are coping with training. Ten futsal players had their resting ln RMSSD recorded prior to the first daily training session on four out of approximately five regular training days · week. Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) was quantified for all training sessions. Despite weekly sRPE varying between 3455 ± 300 and 5243 ± 463 arbitrary units (a.u.), the group changes in ln RMSSD were rated as unclear (using magnitude-based inference), although large inter-individual variability in ln RMSSD responses was observed. The ln RMSSD in weeks 4 and 5 were likely lower than the previous weeks. A large and significant negative correlation (r = -0.53; CI 90%: -0.36; -0.67) was found between ln RMSSD and ln RMSSD. Therefore, monitoring individual ln RMSSD responses is suggested since large inter-individual variations may exist in response to futsal training. In addition, higher values of ln RMSSD are associated with lower oscillations of cardiac autonomic activity.

The aims of this study were to compare the training load intended by a coach with the training load perceived by the players, over a 45-week professional futsal team season and to compare the variation of session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) across different periods of the season. Eighteen Brazilian professional futsal players participated in the study. The players' rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and coach's rating of intended exertion (RIE) were collected daily throughout the study. To compare the sRPE variation, the season was divided into 4 periods as follows: preseason (PRE-SEASON), first competitive period (COMP1), intercompetition period (INTER-COMP), and second competitive period (COMP2). Based on the cluster analyses, the training sessions were classified into 3 different intensity zones (low, moderate, and high). In all the season periods and intensity zones, the players' RPEs were lower than the coach's RIE. In the low-intensity zone, the INTER-COMP demonstrated higher sRPE values than did the other periods. In the moderate-intensity zones, the INTER-COMP and COMP2 were similar. Finally, for the high-zone intensity, the PRE-SEASON demonstrated higher values than did the other periods. We concluded that the coach overestimated the training load reported by the players in almost all intensity training zones and season periods. The RPE scale does not seem to be a suitable tool when used by the coach for intended training load. Therefore, technical staff should constantly review the training goals in each season period through daily training load control, always taking into consideration the possibilities and limitations of the RPE method.

The aims of this study were to assess the speed-power characteristics of professional futsal players before and after a 9-week preseason and to explore possible relationships with internal training loads. Ten under-20 professional Brazilian futsal players performed unloaded (squat jump [SJ] and countermovement jump [CMJ]) and loaded (jump squat [JS]) jumps and a 20-m sprint test before and after the preseason. Weekly training loads as measured by session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) varied between 2,179 and 5,519 a.u. The magnitude-based inference statistics revealed that performance in the SJ, CMJ, and 20-m sprint very likely decreased (effect size [ES] = -0.64, -0.49, and -0.92, respectively), whereas mean propulsive power in the JS likely increased (ES = 0.42) in response to the preseason. The Pearson coefficient of correlation between velocity in the 20 m sprint test and s-RPE during the first 2 weeks of training was 0.66 (p ≤ 0.05) while no significant correlation was detected between total s-RPE (i.e., 9 weeks) and changes in the power-speed tests. The baseline 20-m sprint velocity was very largely and inversely (r = -0.90) correlated with the change in the 20-m sprint performance. In conclusion, futsal preseason training leads to impaired unloaded vertical jump and sprint test performance, with speed decreasing more in faster than slower players. In addition, because of the large correlation between baseline sprint ability and s-RPE, coaches are advised to assess sprinting performance at the beginning of the preseason to finely adjust the training stimuli to each athlete.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n1p50 The aim of this study was to verify and to analyze adaptations on physical and physiological variables of futsal athletes during the pre-competitive and competitive phases of a training macrocycle. The sample was composed of nine Under-18 futsal athletes who performed the following tests: vertical jump, 10 and 30-meter linear sprint, repeated sprint ability test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 and VO2máx. Based on the qualitative analysis of the change magnitude, it was possible to verify adaptations from training for the vertical jump test (certainly positive), 10-meter linear sprint (likely decrease), 30-meter linear sprint (irrelevant), repeated sprint ability test for best sprint (irrelevant), mean of sprints (likely decrease), fatigue index (likely decrease), YYIRI (likely increase), VO2máx (likely decrease) and speed of VO2máx (likely increase). Thus, it was possible to verify that training-induced adaptations were positive since athletes improved their performance for the most control tests for each physical capacities of futsal (vertical jumps, 10-meter linear sprint, and repeated agility sprint test for the mean of sprints and fatigue index and aerobic resistance. Therefore, data have shown that athletes improved their physical performance considering the characteristics of futsal during training throughout a macrocycle.

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