VO<SUB>2</SUB>max Changes in English Futsal Players after a 6-Week Period of Specific Small-Sided Games Training

Abstract

Futsal is a high-intensity, intermittent sport where accelerations and short sprints are performed at maximal or sub-maximal intensity. These efforts are interspersed by brief recovery periods, during 2 halves of 20 minutes stopping clock. Aerobic endurance inevitably plays a key role in the players' performance. The aim of this study was to analyse the VO2 max progression and the agility (with and without ball) of English futsal players during a 6-week period of small-sided games practice. Two teams volunteered to participate in this study; an experimental group (EG), which performed a specialised small-sided training regime and a control group (CG) (normal training regime). VO2max was estimated from the results of the 20-metre Multi-Stage Fitness Test. The VO2max of the futsal players in the EG improved significantly (58.73±2.41 ml/kg/min vs. 60.11 ± 2.99 ml/kg/min, p=0.04). The same player's agility and agility with ball performance did not report any significant changes in either group. The results showed that periodisation, training sessions and methods based on small-sided games, which implied a change in the number of players, the size of the pitch and the task constraints, were adequate to increase aerobic endurance.

3-min All-out Test to Evaluate Aerobic and Anaerobic Indexes in Court Team Sports

“…Indeed, the aerobic fitness level of our participants was lower than those observed in elite futsal players. Despite the similar values of V̇ O 2PEAK in semi-professional players (i. e. those participating in regional or state tournaments; ~ 46 mL·Kg -1 ·min -1 ) 24 , our participants demonstrated significantly lower values compared to elite players (~ 56 mL·Kg -1 ·min -1 ) 25 26 . Considering the predominance of aerobic demands during the 3-minute all-out test, particularly after the initial 30 seconds, it is reasonable to argue that higher aerobic fitness levels contribute to speed maintenance throughout the effort.…”

“…participants demonstrated significantly lower value in comparison to elite players (~ 56 mL•Kg -1 •min -1 ) [25,26]. Considering the predominance of aerobic demands during the 3-minute all-out test, particularly after the initial 30 seconds, it is reasonable to argue that higher aerobic fitness levels contribute to speed maintenance throughout the effort.…”

Changes of Technical Skills during an Official Futsal Game

“…kg -1. min -1 (Castagna et al, 2009) while other studies heightened the significance of VO 2 max concluding that physical performance discriminates players of different competitive level (Krustrup et al, 2003;Krustrup, Mohr, Ellingsgaard, and Bangsbo, 2005;Pedro et al, 2013). However, Berdejo-del-Fresno andcolleagues (2015) suggested that futsal coaches may increase aerobic capacity of their players throughout an adequate periodization of small sided games by modifying the field dimension and the number of players involved into each task and exercise (Berdejo-del-Fresno, Moore, and Laupheimer, 2015).…”

The effect of circuit training, fartlek, and small-sided games on maximum oxygen consumption capacity building in futsal players

“…It turns out that this exercise can equally improve the ability [29]. Researchers found in some research reviews that various exercises to increase VO2max can be performed by using a treadmill and running at speed [30], a 15-minute running exercise [31], the fartlek method [32][33][34][35], circuit training [20,36], and smallsided games exercises to increase VO2Max [37][38][39][40].…”