Change-of-Direction Deficit and Positional Physical Profiles in Youth Futsal Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Futsal Player Analysis

Background:

• Understanding anthropometric and performance differences across playing positions is crucial for talent identification and training in elite youth futsal.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the specific profiles of different futsal playing positions regarding physical characteristics and change-of-direction capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and assess differences in anthropometric and performance variables among futsal playing positions.
• To determine playing position profiles in elite young futsal players.
• To analyze the relationships between the change-of-direction deficit (CODD) percentage and other performance metrics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 98 elite Spanish youth futsal players (age 17 ± 1 years).
• Measurements included anthropometrics (height, body mass), performance tests (jumps, sprints), and change-of-direction (COD) tests (COD180, V-cut).
• Change-of-direction deficit (CODD) percentage and asymmetries were calculated and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Pivots and goalkeepers were significantly taller than left-wingers, right-wingers, and defenders (p < 0.05).
• Goalkeepers exhibited significantly slower COD performance compared to other positions (p < 0.05).
• A strong negative association was found between the 25m CODD and 25m sprint performance (r = -0.72, p < 0.001), indicating lower CODD correlates with faster sprints.

Conclusions:

• Elite young futsal players exhibit position-specific anthropometric differences, with pivots and goalkeepers being larger.
• Outfield players, excluding goalkeepers, did not show significant performance differences across positions.
• The CODD percentage is a key indicator of COD performance, suggesting its importance in futsal training programs.