COMPARISON OF AEROBIC PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OF SOCCER AND FUTSAL ATHLETES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soccer and futsal have similar technical movements that are used within different spatial dimensions and game dynamics. The possible physiological differences between players of each sport were unknown. The main purpose of this study was to compare the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and ventilatory thresholds (VT) of soccer and futsal players. VO2max and VT of 32 athletes (soccer: n = 15; futsal: n = 17) were obtained by ergospirometry in a progressive treadmill test. VO2max was similar between groups. VT occurred later and at higher running speeds in the soccer players. The similarities found in VO2max may be related to the fact that the evaluations were carried out in the pre-season. The fact that the VT was reached later in the soccer players suggests a longer capacity for aerobic exercise and greater resistance to lactate production. Moreover, soccer players appear to be conditioned to withstand increased running times and speeds, until exhaustion. Players of both sports reached the second VT at similar intensities, suggesting no prevalence of anaerobic metabolism. Soccer and futsal players have similar VO2max, but their VTs occur at different times, and at different running speeds. Level of Evidence III; Cross-sectional study.