Different Pathways Leading up to the Same Futsal Competition: Individual and Inter-Team Variability in Loading Patterns and Preseason Training Adaptations

Abstract

During the preseason, futsal players deal with large internal load, which may result in a reduction in physical performance. The aims of this study were to compare the session rating of perceived exertion training load (s-RPE TL) during the preseason between two teams; and to analyze the changes on the delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), aerobic- and speed-power characteristics in players accumulating different s-RPE TL (Low (LTL) vs. High (HTL)). Twenty-eight players (Team A, n = 15; Team B, n = 13) were recruited. The s-RPE TL was monitored throughout the preseason phase (five weeks) in both teams. The coaches of each team planned the activities that comprised their training programs, without any interference from the researchers. Team A evaluated countermovement jumps (CMJ) and DOMS weekly. Team B performed squat jumps (SJ), CMJ, 5 m and 15 m sprints, and a futsal intermittent endurance test (PVFIET) before and after the preseason. Team B accumulated an almost-certainly greater s-RPE TL than Team A. In Team A, the CMJ height was likely to almost certainly improved for the HTL group from week 3. In Team B, the 5 m and 15 m sprint likely decreased after the preseason. Changes in 5 m (r = −0.61) and 15 m (r = −0.56) were correlated with total s-RPE TL. Changes in PVFIET were positively associated with changes in sprint, but inversely related to the baseline. s-RPE TL differed between both teams, and substantial gains in neuromuscular performance were observed for the HTL group in Team A. Slower and faster players in Team B showed distinct intermittent-endurance and speed adaptive responses during the high-volume preseason.

Monitoring Workloads of a Professional Female Futsal Team over a Season: A Case Study

“…The training contents showed a logical distribution in accordance with periodisation principles [2,8,19], where the conditional contents were more prominent in pre-season than in the other mesocycles. During the pre-season, Teixeira et al [8] reported 50% of the time focused on technical-tactical contents, giving them more importance than in our study, and reporting double the time on power and strength. Conversely, technical-tactical tasks had more weight during the in-season mesocycles, similar to other studies, reaching over 60%-70% of training volume [11] or even up to 90% [20].…”

“…Strength training was one of the most important contents during the pre-season, with the sessions being reduced in volume during the subsequent mesocycles, as reported by previous authors [11,20]. However, as said above, other studies with professional male futsal players reported much more time dedicated to this capability during the pre-season [8], which could indicate the need to increase the volume of strength training in female futsal teams due to its relevance of sport performance. This shows some differences in contents distribution according to sex, with more relevance of strength training in men.…”

“…The training contents showed a logical distribution in accordance with periodisation principles [2,8,19], where the conditional contents were more prominent in pre-season than in the other…”

“…Analyses of the training load over a complete season in professional futsal players have shown large variations, particularly with a decrease of loads during the second half of the season [11,12]. Also, different patterns were registered during the pre-season in comparison with the in-season [8]. Likewise, other studies have found an inverse correlation among a lower RPE and higher performance levels in U20 professional futsal players [7].…”

“…Several studies in futsal have analysed workloads using some of the aforementioned variables, such as heart rate, lactate, ventilatory threshold or heart rate variability in elite futsal players [4,5]. However, the most commonly used tool to measure training load in futsal is session-RPE (sRPE) [6][7][8][9], which has been shown to have acceptable reliability and internal consistency [10].…”