Changes in futsal activity profiles in a multiday tournament

Abstract

Aim. This study aimed to quantify the activity profiles of futsal players during a tournament, and detect changes in performance towards the final matches, focusing on changes in high-intensity activity. Methods. One team competing in the Australian National Futsal Championships was assessed over six matches across three days. Ball possession, activity profiles and match activities were monitored by means of video recording, enabling a comparison of notational analysis results between individual matches, as well as grouping matches to compare the first half of the tournament to the last. Results. There was a 26.8% decrease in the total raw sprinting distance (P<0.01), a 29% decrease in the sprinting duration (P=0.02), an increase in the number of successful passes (168.0±44.0 to 178.7±38.1, P=0.02) and a decrease in unsuccessful passes (24.0±11.5 to 21.3±2.08, P=0.04) when comparing matches 1-3 with matches 4-6. Further, there was a decrease in the total number of touches of the ball for the same grouped analysis (600.0±116.9 to 589.7±117.1; P=0.01). Conclusion. A decrease in sprinting activity and increase in walking activity was evident from the start of the tournament to the end, suggesting cumulative fatigue. Interestingly, these changes did not appear to influence the performance of match activities as the number of successful passes increased and the number of unsuccessful passes and total touches on the ball decreased towards the end of the tournament. It is likely that the coach's rotation of players contributed to the results observed, and when used correctly in situations of multiple matches in a short timeframe, can maximise overall team work-rate across a variety of team court sports.