Analysis of body composition, motor skills and mental health in the injury risk in youth soccer and futsal athletes

Abstract

Sports practice, particularly in the context of young athletes’ development, is essential for their overall growth, encompassing physical, psychological, and social dimensions. This study aimed to evaluate differences between football and futsal athletes, considering anthropometric, motor, and psychological variables, as well as exploring possible correlations between these dimensions. Male and female athletes from both modalities participated, and instruments such as the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) were used to evaluate motor competence, the Inquérito de Morbidade Referida (IMR) for injury assessment, and the Questionnaire of Psychological Characteristics Related to Sports Performance (CPRD) to analyse psychological variables. Body composition was also assessed through weight and height. The results showed that football athletes had a higher incidence of injuries compared to futsal players (p = .014), while motor performance was significantly higher in football for tests such as lateral jumps, horizontal jumps, and shuttle run (p < .001). Furthermore, both modalities achieved maximum percentiles in the throwing and kicking tests, reflecting the influence of the modalities’ specificity. Psychological characteristics showed limited relationships with motor competence, with only a few correlations observed in women’s football. In conclusion, the specificities of the modalities directly influence motor competences and injury incidence, highlighting the need for personalised and integrated training strategies to optimise performance and prevent injuries in each sports context.