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Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players

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 J SPORTS MED PHYS FITNESS 2010;50:395-9

Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players

B. M. BARONI 1, 2 , E. C. P. LEAL JUNIOR 3, 4

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Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aerobic capac- 1Laboratory of Human Movement, Sports Medicine
ity of male professional futsal players. Institute, University of Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS,
Methods. A total of 186 players (22 goalkeepers and 164 on- Brazil
court players) of three Brazilian futsal teams from first divi- 2Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical

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sion performed ergospirometric evaluations (incremental test
protocol) in a motorized treadmill. Data from maximal oxy-
gen uptake (VO2max) and second ventilatory threshold (VT2),
Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul,
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
3Center for Research and Inovation in Laser, Nove de
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as well as speed, heart rate (HR) and BORG scale were pre- Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil
4Section for Physiotherapy Science, Department of
sented in relation to total of sample and isolated by two main
futsal tactical positions: goalkeepers and on-court players. Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of
Results. The mean values to VO2max and VT2 observed in Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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futsal players were respectively 58.00±6.37 mL/kg/min

and 51.25±5.84 mL/kg/min. Players reached the VO2max at
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96.95±4.66% of HRmax and the VT2 at 90.07±5.02%. Goal-

keepers presented higher values (P<0.01) of body mass and ulated by FIFUSA) were merged with five-a-five
height than on-court players. On-court players presented soccer rules’ (regulated by FIFA - Fédération Inter-
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higher VO2max and VT2 in comparison to goalkeepers, and

reached these levels at higher exercise levels (speed) than
nationale de Football Association and widespread
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goalkeepers. in Europe) creating the sport named futsal.1, 2 Cur-

Conclusions. We conclude that goalkeepers are significantly rently, Futsal is regulated by FIFA.3
differents than on-court players regarding aerobic capacity. Futsal teams comprises five players (four on-
IN

In this perspective, these differences are relevant to coaches
when planning aerobic training sessions in futsal teams.
Key words:  Oxygen uptake - Ergospirometry - Ventilatory
threshold.
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court players and one goalkeeper) with an unlimited
number of substitutions, which lead to a high-level
exercise intensity during two 20-min half times of
a futsal match. Like the chronometer is stopped for

some events (such as time-outs, penalties, injuries,

F utsal was created in Uruguay in the 1930s by lack
of space for soccer practicing, which resulted in
an adapted game to be played in basketball courts. In
1970s was created the first international association
called Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón
(FIFUSA). In 1990, the rules of fútbol de salón (reg-
Corresponding author: B. Manfredini Baroni, Exercise Research La-
boratory, School of Physical Education School, Federal University of
Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Felizardo, 750 - Bairro Jardim Botânico, 90690-
200, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. E-mail: bmbaroni@yahoo.com.br
medical care, and others), futsal games usually take
about 75-85% more time than the expected 40-min-
utes.1, 2 Therefore, futsal is an intermittent sport
activity with high exercise intensity, which makes
needed a high aerobic capacity to players for prac-
tice at highest sport level.
Currently, the best way to assessment of aerobic
capacity in laboratory is the ergoespirometric test
(or ergospirometry). This is a direct evaluation of
respiratory changes during exercise with progres-
sive increasing of exercise intensity in a motorized

Vol. 50 - No. 4 THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS 395
BARONI Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players
treadmill (or cycle ergometer). Ergospirometry pro-
vides two important parameters of aerobic capacity
and sports performance: maximal oxygen uptake
(VO2max) and anaerobic threshold or second ventila-
tory threshold (VT2).
VO2max is the oxygen volume per unit of time that
a subject is able to capture, transport and use in cel-
lular level 4. Which is an useful parameter in sports
medicine and has been used for many years to plan-
ning and monitoring training season 4. VT2 is the
maximal exercise intensity where lactate production
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and removal are balanced (maximal lactate steady
state).5 In last years, VT2 has been taken more im-
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portance than VO2max to exercise planning,6 exercise
monitoring 7 and to assessment of exercise perform-
ance,8 specially in endurance sports.9
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In last years, aerobic capacity of soccer play-
ers has been investigated by a increased number of
studies involving professional,10-12 young 13, 14 and
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female players.15 In opposite way, it is possible to
observe a lack of scientific data related to aerobic
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capacity of futsal players. After a detailed search in
databases such as Scielo and PubMed employing the
word “futsal”, a scatered number of studies (only
three) 1, 16, 17 were found with data related to aerobic
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capacity in futsal players. Additionally, these studies
allow limited conclusions regarding aerobic capacity
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of futsal players, because they have investigated a
small sample size.
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In this perspective, we performed this study aim-
ing to describe the aerobic capacity profile of male
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professional futsal players, analyzing data from an
expressive number of ergoespirometric tests of high-
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level male futsal players.
Materials and methods
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Subjects
This retrospective study was performed with
agreement of all volunteers by an informed consent.
It was analyzed 186 ergoespirometric evaluations of
male professional players from three futsal teams of
Brazilian first division. A total of 22 goalkeepers and
164 on-court players were evaluated between years
2003 and 2007 in the Sports Medicine Institute of
University of Caxias do Sul, in Caxias do Sul, RS,
Brazil.
396 THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS December 2010
Inclusion criteria were: professional futsal players
(engaged with one of the participating futsal teams
of the study), without heart disease (previously as-
sessed by electrocardiogram), without respiratory
disease from two months before tests, without mus-
culoskeletal injuries (that could decrease the test per-
formance), correct performing in ergoespirometric
test (that should be finished due to exercise-induced
exhaustion and not for any other reason). All players’
assessments that do not meet the above described
criterias were automatically excluded of study.
Procedures
The exercise tests were performed in a standard
environment, with a controlled temperature of 24
°C. The progressive exercise tests were performed
employing a motorized treadmill (model Super ATL,
manufactured by Inbrasport®, Porto Alegre, Brazil),
with the gas analyzer system (model VO2000, manu-
factured by Inbrasport®, Porto Alegre, Brazil) at-
tached to players, that also had their heart rate moni-
tored during the tests (by a digital electrocardiograph
manufactured by Micromed®, Brazilia, Brazil).
The progressive exercise protocol consisted in
running on motorized tradmill with a constant in-
clination of 1%. After a three-minute adaptation
time of walking at 4.0 km/h, the test was started and
the speed was increased to 6.0 km/h. After the first
minute, the speed was increased in 2.0 km/h (to 8.0
km/h), followed by an increase of 1.0 km/h at each
minute during the remainder time of the test. The fin-
ish of the test was determined by the perceived ath-
lete’s exhaustion. For this purpose, before tests play-
ers were instructed to signaled to the evaluator when
reached maximal exhaustion (felt as “impossible to
continue exercise”), who hence started the recovery
phase with initial speed of 4.0 km/h, kept as long as
necessary until the players reached the stabilization
of heart rate and blood pressure.
Outcomes
Data analysis of each evaluation was performed
by a professional of sports medicine with experi-
ence in this area. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
was the peak value measured by gas analyzer system
during the ergoespirometric test. The second venti-
latory threshold (VT2) was identified by equivalent
Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players BARONI

ventilatory of carbon dioxide (VE/VO2), in analyze Table I.—Anthropometric and physiological characteristics of
performed before plotting metabolic data in graphic futsal athletes.
form, considering the players anaerobic threshold Futsal Athletes (n = 186)
the abrupt increase of VE/VO2, according criteria Age (years) 23.78 ± 5.38
proposed by McLellan.18 Body Mass (kg) 75.84 ± 9.1
Height (cm) 176.82 ± 5.83
VO2max (L/min) 4.37 ± 0.55
Statistical analysis VO2max (mL/kg/min) 58.00 ± 6.37
Speed in VO2max (km/h) 16.94 ± 1.12
All data were expressed using standard descriptive HF in VO2max (bpm) 190.14 ± 8.42
statistics (mean±standard error). Since the group of %HRmax in VO2max (%) 96.95 ± 4.66
goalkeepers and on-court players showed a homoge- VT2 (L/min) 3.87 ± 0.53

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neous distribution in all outcomes, evaluated through VT2 (mL/kg/min) 51.25 ± 5.84
Speed in VT2 (km/h) 14.45 ± 0.99
by Levene’s Test, each outcome was compared be-
HR in VT2 (bpm) 176.67 ± 9.88

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tween goalkeepers and on-court players through a %HRmax in VT2 (%) 90.07 ± 5.02
Two-Sided Unpaired t-test. All analysis were per- %VO2max in VT2 (%) 88.51 ±5.83
formed using the software SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc.,

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Chicago, IL, USA), and the significance level for
was set at 5% (P<0.05).
(% of expected HRmax, considering HRmax = 220-age)

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Results
when VO2max and VT2 were reached; and percentage
of VO2max when the VT2 was reached.
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Table I presents the anthropometric and physiolog-
The results are exposed in two tables, data are ical data of all evaluated futsal players (n=186). The
described as mean±standard deviations for: age (in mean values to VO2max and VT2 found were respec-
years); body mass (in kg); height (in cm); maxi- tively 58.00±6.37 mL/kg/min and 51.25±5.84 mL/
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mal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and second ventila- kg/min. Players reached the VO2max at 96.95±4.66%
tory threshold (VT2) in absolute values (L/min) and of HRmax and the VT2 at 90.07±5.02%.
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relative to body mass values (mL/kg/min); speed of Table II separates the sample by tactical positions
treadmill when VO2max and VT2 were reached (in (goalkeepers = 22; on-court players = 164) and com-
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km/h); heart rate (HR) when VO2max and VT2 were pare them. It was observed that goalkeepers presented
reached (in bpm); percentage of maximal heart rate higher values (P<0.01) of body mass (85.95±10.23
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Table II.—Comparison between goalkeepers and on-court players in relation to anthropometric and physiological characteristics.
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Goalkeepers On-court Statistically Significance

(n = 22) (n = 164)
Age (years) 22.77 ± 5.25 23.92 ± 5.40 p = 0.349
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Body Mass (kg) 85.95 ± 10.23 74.48 ± 8.11 p < 0.001 *

Height (cm) 180.04 ± 5.47 176.36 ± 5.75 p = 0.006 *
VO2max (L/min) 4.33 ± 0.56 4.38 ± 0.55 p = 0.725
VO2max (mL/kg/min) 50.66 ± 5.24 58.99 ± 5.86 p < 0.001 *
Speed in VO2max (km/h) 15.63 ± 1.00 17.11 ± 1.02 p < 0.001 *
HF in VO2max (bpm) 189.68 ± 5.36 190.20 ± 8.76 p = 0.696
%HRmax in VO2max (%) 96.20 ± 2.86 97.05 ± 4.85 p = 0.245
VT2 (L/min) 3.91 ± 0.60 3.86 ± 0.52 p = 0.660
VT2 (mL/kg/min) 45.61 ± 4.70 52.01 ± 5.56 p < 0.001 *
Speed in VT2 (km/h) 13.31 ± 1.04 14.60 ± 0.88 p < 0.001 *
HR in VT2 (bpm) 179.31 ± 6.84 176.31 ± 10.18 p = 0.182
%HRmax in VT2 (%) 90.95 ± 3.70 89.95 ± 5.17 p = 0.381
%VO2max in VT2 (%) 90.23 ± 6.27 88.28 ± 5.75 p = 0.143
* statistically significant difference, p<0.01.

Vol. 50 - No. 4 THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS 397
BARONI Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players
kg) and height (180.04±5.47 cm) than on-court play-
ers (74.48±8.11 kg and 176.36±5.75 cm). On-court
players presented higher VO2max (58.99±5.86 mL/
kg/min) and VT2 (52.01±5.56 mL/kg/min) in com-
parison to goalkeepers (50.66±5.24 and 45.61±4.70
mL/kg/min, respectively). Moreover, on-court play-
ers reached VO2max and VT2 levels at higher speeds
(17.11±1.02 and 14.60±0.88 km/h, respectively)
than goalkeepers (15.63±1.00 and 13.31±1.04, re-
spectively).
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Discussion
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The main purpose of this study was to fill an obvi-
ous gap in knowledge related to aerobic capacity of
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futsal players. Thus, our discussion will be focused in
comparison of our results with data from few studies
found regarding futsal players in searched databases.
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Propositions will be also made based in results of
this study itself, particularly the comparison between
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goalkeepers and on-court players.
Firstly, regarding VO2max and VT2 values observed
in present study, our data are similar than observed
before in previous studies involving futsal play-
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ers.1, 16, 17 However, we observed the VT2 occurring
in higher percentages of VO2max than previously re-
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ported,1 it may be due to differences in criteria to
determine the VT2. Lima et al.16 evaluated 13 profes-
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sional futsal players with mean age of 18.6 years,
they observed VO2max of 62.8 mL/kg/min in direct
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measuring (ergospirometry) and 58.5 mL/kg/min in
indirect measuring (3200 meters field test). Leal Jun-
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ior et al.17 observed in 12 professional players (mean
age of 20.9 years) a mean VO2max of 55.7 mL/kg/
min. Additionally, Castagna et al.1 evaluated eight
professional on-court futsal players (mean age of
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22.4 years), and the authors observed VO2max of 64.8
mL/kg/min and VT2 of 46.0 mL/kg/min, which cor-
responds to approximately 71.0% of VO2max.
Although futsal be a sports modality with similar
motor tasks to soccer (e.g. the kick, heading and run-
ning), Leal Junior et al.17 already demonstrated that
these players are subjected to different physiologi-
cal demands in their sports practice. This previous
study 17 showed similar VO2max values between pro-
fessional futsal and soccer players, but authors ob-
served that futsal players reached the VT2 earlier in
a progressive treadmill protocol than soccer players.
398 THE JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS December 2010
Our results support that futsal players presents simi-
lar VO2max values (58.00 mL/kg/min) than soccer
players such as reported previously by other authors.
Al-Hazzaa et al.11 evaluated elite Saudi soccer play-
ers and found VO2max of 56.8 mL/kg/min, which also
agree with an extensive review that analyzed more
than 30 studies and conclude that soccer male play-
ers VO2max range between 50 and 70 mL/kg/min.19
On the other hand, our VT2 results (51.25 mL/kg/
min) seems to be higher than reported by Al-Hazzaa
et al.11 (43.6 mL/kg/min), which is the opposite than
previously reported by Leal Junior et al.17
Regarding the speed which VO2max and VT2 were
reached, it is not possible a comparison with previ-
ously data reported. Castagna et al.1 observed that
VO2max was reached at 18.3 km/h and the VT2 at
12.9 km/h, however the exercise protocol employed
in their study is different of used by us. At the same
way, it is not possible to compare the observed time
to reach VT2 reported by Leal Junior et al.17 (VT2
reached between 11 and 12 minutes of test), and our
data (VT2 reached between 7 and 8 minutes of test).
Barbero-Alvarez et al.,2 analyzed 10 professional
futsal on-court male players during four matches on
the season. The authors concluded that players acts
with a mean HR of 174 bpm, corresponding to 90%
of HRmax. Additionally, during 83% of match play-
ers perform high-intensity exercise (above 85% of
HRmax), during 16% intermediate-intensity exercise
(65-85% of HRmax) and during 0.3% low-intensity
exercise (below 65% of HRmax). Castagna et al.1
assessed VO2 during a simulated futsal match, in
this test players acts in a mean of 76% of VO2max,
reaching peaks corresponding to 99% of VO2max of
measured in laboratory tests. Even believe that these
assessments may be underestimated due an inhibi-
tion of performance caused by attached gas analyser
equipment,19 these data supports the high-intensity
of exercise required during a futsal match.
Although the analysis dividing players by several
tactical positions be very usual in soccer, the dynam-
ics of futsal practice makes the existence of only two
tactical positions: goalkeepers and on-court players.
The comparison between these two tactical positions
shows evident anthropometrics differences related to
body mass and height, with higher values observed
in goalkeepers in both variables. This increased body
dimension, especially in body mass, can perhaps ex-
plain the high VO2max and VT2 observed in on-court
 Aerobic capacity of male professional futsal players BARONI
players compared to goalkeepers when analyzed the
relative values to body mass (mL/kg/min). However,
there is no difference to these same parameters when
analysed and compared in absolute values (L/min).
Nevertheless, the higher aerobic fitness of on-court
players compared to goalkeepers is also supported
by speed to reach the VO2max and VT2 observed in
our data.
Conclusions
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The present study helps to fill a lack of knowledge
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about futsal, more specifically related to aerobic ca-
pacity of male professional players. Taking into per-
spective the number of participants and the competi-
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tive level that they act, we think that our results may
be used as base of comparison for further studies and
help coaches to analyze the physical and physiologi-
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cal aspects of their teams. We also demonstrated
that on-court players shown higher aerobic fitness to
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progressive exercise than goalkeepers. This finding
can be easily explained by different physiological
demands of each tactical position during the match,
which implies the necessity of specific training to
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these two tactical positions.
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