AEROBIC FITNESS IN FUTSAL PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE LEVEL

Alvarez, JCB, D'ottavio, S, Vera, JG, and Castagna, C. Aerobic fitness in futsal players of different competitive level. J Strength Cond Res 23(7): 2163-2166, 2009-Recently the use of small-sided games (mainly 5 vs. 5) proved to be a valid training method to improve aerobic fitness in soccer. Thus, it could be hypothesized that professional futsal (soccer 5-a-side indoor version) players may possess a well-developed aerobic fitness as a consequence of training and game participation. The aim of this study was to examine maximal oxygen uptake ((V) overdotO(2)max), ventilatory threshold (VT), and running economy (RE, (V) over dotO(2)max at 8 km.h(-1)) of futsal players of different competitive levels to determine whether aerobic fitness is a discriminative variable for futsal success. Subjects were 24 male futsal players from a professional top-ranked second division team (PT, n = 11) and a semi-professional top-ranked third division team (ST, n = 13). Aerobic fitness was assessed with a running protocol performed on a motor-driven treadmill. Professional team and ST players' (V) over dotO(2)max were 62.9 +/- 5.3 and 55.2 +/- 5.7 mL.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively (p < 0.05). RE was 34.1 +/- 2.7 and 32.4 +/- 2.7 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) for PT and ST, respectively (p > 0.05). PT and ST attained VT at 70.5 +/- 2.7 and 71.3 6 +/-.2% of (V) over dotO(2)max, respectively (p > 0.05). Results showed that (V) over dotO(2)max may be considered a competitive-level dependent physical variable in futsal. VO(2)max values of or above 60 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) are advisable to play futsal at the professional level.