Examining laboratory tests’ predictability of futsal players’ on-field physical performances: a simulated game analysis

Alvurdu S., Keskin K., Junior A. C. T., Dos-Santos J. W.

RETOS. NUEVAS TENDENCIAS EN EDUCACIÓN FISICA, DEPORTE Y RECREACIÓN, sa.72, ss.738-750, 2025 (Scopus)

Özet

Objective: This  study  aimed  to  identify  the  relationship  between  maximal  oxygen  uptake (VO2max)  and  Wingate  Anaerobic  Test  (WAnT)  parameters  with  movement  parameters  in  a simulated futsal game.Methodology: Sixteen  semi-professional  futsal  players  participated  in  the  study  (26.8  ±  2.2 years). Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation, with the significance level set at p < 0.05.Results: VO2maxpresented  a  very  strong  significant  correlation  with  low-(LIRD,  r  =  0.90,  p  = 0.001) and moderate-intensity running distance (MIRD, r = 0.97, p = 0.001), total distance (TD, r  =  0.94,  p  =  0.001),  and  player  load  (PL  from  training  impulse  [TRIMP],  r  =  0.94  p  =  0.001), moderate  correlation  with  acceleration  (ACC,  r =  0.57,  p = 0.022), and deceleration (DEC,  r = 0.61,  p  =  0.012),  whereas  the  velocity  at  anaerobic  threshold  (VAT)  correlated  strongly  with MIRD (r = 0.81, p = 0.001) and PL (r = 0.84, p = 0.001), and moderately with LIRD (r = 0.60, p = 0.015) and TD (r = 0.66, p = 0.005). Peak and mean powers correlated with sprint distance (SD) and TD—strong to very strong correlations (r = 0.76 to 0.92, p = 0.001); whereas the minimum power   significantly   correlated   with   MIRD,   SD,   PL,   ACC,   and   DEC—moderate   to   strong correlations (r = 0.51 to 0.72, p = 0.04 to 0.002).Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that VO2maxeffectively indicates long-duration, low-intensity  activities  in  futsal  players. Conversely,  anaerobic  peak  power  is  a  reliable indicator of high-intensity running distance and a significant predictor of sprinting ability.