Purpose: Although women’s futsal has experienced great growth recently, few studies have analyzed the physical profiles of female futsal players. The objectives of this study were to determine the physical and anthropometric characteristics in elite women’s futsal using laboratory and field tests and to analyze the differences between the different playing positions. Methods: Forty-one female futsal players from the second division of the Spanish league (age 22.69 [4.76] y; body height 161.28 [6.03] cm; body mass 62.20 [10.34] kg) were evaluated for body composition with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry anthropometrically, lower-body power using a force platform (countermovement jump, squat jump, and drop jump), linear speed (5, 10, 15, and 25 m), changes of direction (505 modified, V-Cut, and L-Run), and repeated-sprint ability measured through photoelectric cells. Results: The results reveal that there are no significant differences between the physical profiles of players depending on playing position. Despite this, wingers seem to have the best physical profiles, and goalkeepers have the highest body mass index (26.9 [4.48] vs 23.3 [2.82]; P = .069) and fat percentage (31.9 [7.81] vs 29.96 [6.08]; P = .101), but they present very similar values to the other positions in all other tests performed, except for repeated-sprint ability (4.64 [0.45]; P = .009). Conclusion: Relevant descriptive data were presented to provide useful information for coaches to optimize their training programs, reporting that playing position does not identify different physical profiles in elite female futsal players.

The professionalization of futsal requires greater physical demands on players, requiring strength and conditioning coaches to manage loads, optimize performance, and prevent injuries. This study aimed to describe the current practices of high-level strength and conditioning coaches and determine the elements needed to optimize their performance. Two video-recorded focus groups consisting of eight strength and conditioning coaches from the Spanish futsal league’s first and second divisions were transcribed, translated, and analyzed using a content analysis approach with open-ended questions on physical preparation and current practices. Results showed that strength and conditioning coaches prioritized five main areas: (1) competitive demands, (2) training load control and monitoring, (3) injury risk mitigation strategies, (4) contextual factors and interpersonal relationships, and (5) training methodologies to optimize performance. However, they also claim to deal with several limitations such as lack of time, limited resources and access to facilities, insufficient staff, problems related to combining sport with other activities (e.g., work), or the difficulty to individualize, which limits the optimization of their practices. Based on these findings, practical applications include implementing neuromuscular and strength training sessions at least twice a week, using cost-effective load monitoring tools (e.g., RPE and wellness questionnaires) to manage workloads, individualizing training programs to address the specific demands and characteristics of each player, and fostering close multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize performance and reduce injury risks. These insights can guide current and aspiring strength and conditioning coaches toward optimized practices. This study can assist novice strength and conditioning coaches in identifying the key focus areas of elite physical trainers and understanding their challenges and limitations, fostering collaboration among sports professionals to create a more optimized environment.

The aim of this study was to compare the external load of each session along competitive microcycles on an elite futsal team, considering the positions and relationships of the players. The external load of 10 elite players from a First Division team in the Spanish Futsal League (age 27.5 ± 7 years, height 1.73 ± 0.05 m, weight 70.1 ± 3.8 kg) were recorded across 30 microcycles. The players’ external loads were monitored using OLIVER devices. To analyse the external load, Levene’s test was conducted to assess the homogeneity of variances, followed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify differences in dependent variables across the different microcycle days and player positions. Regarding external load during the microcycle, the day with the lowest external load was MD-1, and the days with the highest external load were MD-3 and MD-4. In addition, considering playing positions, pivots exhibited the lowest loads throughout the microcycle, whereas wingers and defenders exhibited the highest loads, depending on the variables analysed. By providing reference values from elite contexts, this study offers practical insights for S&C coaches to optimize microcycles. Furthermore, it contributes to workload management strategies within sport science and public health frameworks, promoting sustainable performance and athlete wellness in futsal.

Background: Lower limb asymmetry is a critical factor influencing performance and injury risk in football players. Despite the increasing popularity of women’s football, limited research has examined how asymmetry varies across different age categories. This study aimed to investigate countermovement jump (CMJ) and horizontal jump (HJ) asymmetry in female football players across four age categories (U14, U16, U18, and +18). Methods: Seventy-six female football players from the same club participated in the study. Players performed unilateral CMJ and HJ tests to assess inter-limb asymmetry. A one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were conducted to examine age-related differences in asymmetry levels. Results: CMJ asymmetry significantly varied across age groups (p < 0.001), with the highest asymmetry observed in U14 and the lowest in +18. In contrast, HJ asymmetry remained consistently low across all age groups (p = 0.113). No significant correlation was found between CMJ and HJ asymmetry. Additionally, asymmetry levels in CMJ were significantly associated with age (p = 0.003), whereas no such association was observed for HJ. Conclusions: CMJ asymmetry is more prevalent in younger female football players and tends to decrease with age, suggesting that neuromuscular development plays a role in reducing asymmetry over time. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring asymmetry levels across different age groups to optimize training interventions and injury prevention strategies.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of strength training combined with plyometric exercises and speed on junior padel players’ acceleration. Methods: Twelve young padel players (16,92 ± 0,90 years) were randomly divided in control group (CG, n=6) and experimental group (EG, n=6). The EG continued with their usual training, in addition to the implementation of a strength combined plyometric and speed training program, performing it twice a week for 6 weeks. Physical performance variables were measured before and after the intervention through various assessments: a bilateral countermovement jump test (CMJ), bilateral and unilateral horizontal jump tests, a 10-meter sprint, and a 5 + 5-meter sprint with a 180º change of direction with both legs. Results: The EG showed significant improvements in vertical and horizontal jumping (p= 0.01 - 0.03), but not in sprinting speed and change of direction, indicating an overall improvement in their performance after the intervention. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating a six-week combined training program to effectively improve vertical and horizontal jumping skills in young padel players.

This study aimed to describe and assess differences among playing positions, to determine playing position profiles, and to analyze the relationships between the change-of-direction deficit (CODD) percentage and the other anthropometric and performance variables. A total of 98 young futsal players (age: 17 ± 1 years) from the highest national level in Spain were assessed using a cross-sectional design. Anthropometric variables such as height and body mass were recorded. The performance tests included countermovement jumps; horizontal jumps; sprint tests (10 m and 25 m); change-of-direction (COD) tests, including a 10 m test with one COD of 180° (COD180) and a 25 m test with 4 CODs (V-cut); and the percentage CODD. Furthermore, asymmetries were recorded. The group comparisons were considered statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05 and were supported by the effect sizes and mean differences. Significant differences were found among playing positions, showing that pivots and goalkeepers were significantly taller than left- and right-wingers and defenders (p < 0.05, effect size (ES) = −1.42 to 0.72). Goalkeepers were significantly slower than the rest of the positions in COD180 to the left (p < 0.05, ES = 1.32 to 1.89). A very large association was found between the CODDs of 25 m and 25 m (p < 0.001; r = −0.72). These results suggest that pivots and goalkeepers are taller and larger than the other players. However, aside from goalkeepers, no differences in performance variables were observed among the outfield players. In addition, a lower %CODD is associated with a faster COD performance, highlighting its importance in training.