Is there a real physiological and technical-tactical difference between futsal and football? A preliminary study with under-13 football players

Abstract

Futsal has been explored as a potential developer of talent for 11-a-side football through the transfer of skills developed due to its constraints. This study examined the physiological and technical-tactical behaviours of fourteen young male football players (12.90±0.36 years) during participation in two representative tasks designed to replicate the sport-specific environments. Participants performed six matches of 6v6 with a five-minute duration, interspersed with five minutes of passive recovery for both representative tasks in different sessions, with a familiarisation session for the futsal conditions. Technical and tactical data were recorded using a video camera and subsequently analysed using the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) and the Movement Awareness and Technical Skill Instruments (MATS). Only two players per game used the Zephyr^TM Bioharness, while all players reported a subjective perception of effort. The results for the comparison between representative tasks showed significant differences for the following variables: reception at first touch, pass at first touch, pass at first touch unsuccessful, unsuccessful pass, forward direction of the ball and side direction of the ball, showing a higher frequency of technical actions values for futsal than football. The results indicate that futsal could be a sport that promotes talent development for young football players.