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Background: Futsal is a high-intensity team sport taxing both the aerobic and the anaerobic pathways. Thus, this sport requires the development of some specific physical capacities such as: Sprinting, jumping, agility and endurance. Objectives: Examine the effect of three months specific training on physical capacities (speed, explosive strength, agility and endurance) of Iraq futsal players. Methods: Twenty males' professional futsal players (age: 19.73 ± 1.1 years, height: 172 ± 4.2 cm; body mass: 55.3 ± 8.9 kg) were divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 10) and a control group (CG; n = 10). Participants were selected from a first division team in Iraq. Before and after three months of specific training (at the pre-season phase), 5m and 15m sprint, counter movement jump (CMJ), change of direction [505 agility test (CODA)] and futsal intermittent endurance (FIET) tests were realized. During the three months, the CG continue their usual training and the EG used plyometric as well as technical and physical exercises. Results: For the sprint performance, although no-significant difference was reported between pre- and post-training for the 5 m sprint, the 15 m sprint performance was better at post- compared to pre-training (P< 0.05) for the EG. For jumping performance, CMJ was higher at post- compared to pre-training (P < 0.05) for the EG. Likewise, for agility and endurance, CODA performance and peak velocity during the FIET test were better at post- compared to pre-training (P< 0.05) for the EG. However, except a better performance for 15m sprint and peak velocity during the FIET test for the EG compared to CG at post-training (P < 0.05), no-significant differences were reported between pre- and post-training for the CG and between the two groups at pre- and post-training. Conclusions: In the light of these data, results have shown that improvement in physical capacities take into consideration the characteristics of futsal during training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-sided games (SSGs) are effective for soccer-specific aerobic endurance training. To date, no study has investigated the effect of stop-ball (SB-SSG) rule on the physiological responses to SSG. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of SB-SSGvs. small-goals (SG-SSG) rules on physiological responses during a 3vs.3 SSG in young soccer players. Twelve male amateur young soccer players (age, 14.0 ± 0.7 years; body mass, 51.8 ± 8.0 kg; height, 164 ± 7 cm) randomly performed either SB-SSG or SG-SSG for 4 × 4 min separated by 2 min of recovery on a 20 × 15 m pitch. During the SB-SSG, participants were instructed to stop the ball with the soles of their boots in a 15 × 1 m surface behind the pitch bottom line; whereas during the SG-SSG, the participants were instructed to score to a mini-goal (i.e., 1 × 0.5 m). During each test session, the mean heart rate (HR), the post-SSG rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores and blood lactate concentrations ([La−]) were recorded. Results showed that SB-SSG induced significantly higher mean HR (178 ± 3vs.174 ± 3 bpm;P< 0.05) and [La−] (4.66 ± 0.98vs.4.16 ± 1.02 mol · L–1;P< 0.05) than SG-SSG. However, there was no significant difference between SB-SSG and SG-SSG for the RPE scores. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the effectiveness of SB-SSG in SSG training. Indeed, SB-SSG can influence the effort intensity in SSG (i.e., resulted in a higher intensity than SG-SSG). Therefore, coaches have the possibility to choose between SB-SSG and SG-SSG rules during training sessions according to their physical and technical objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-sided games (SSGs) are effective for soccer-specific aerobic endurance training. To date, no study has investigated the effect of stop-ball (SB-SSG) rule on the physiological responses to SSG. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of SB-SSGvs. small-goals (SG-SSG) rules on physiological responses during a 3vs.3 SSG in young soccer players. Twelve male amateur young soccer players (age, 14.0 ± 0.7 years; body mass, 51.8 ± 8.0 kg; height, 164 ± 7 cm) randomly performed either SB-SSG or SG-SSG for 4 × 4 min separated by 2 min of recovery on a 20 × 15 m pitch. During the SB-SSG, participants were instructed to stop the ball with the soles of their boots in a 15 × 1 m surface behind the pitch bottom line; whereas during the SG-SSG, the participants were instructed to score to a mini-goal (i.e., 1 × 0.5 m). During each test session, the mean heart rate (HR), the post-SSG rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores and blood lactate concentrations ([La−]) were recorded. Results showed that SB-SSG induced significantly higher mean HR (178 ± 3vs.174 ± 3 bpm;P< 0.05) and [La−] (4.66 ± 0.98vs.4.16 ± 1.02 mol · L–1;P< 0.05) than SG-SSG. However, there was no significant difference between SB-SSG and SG-SSG for the RPE scores. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the effectiveness of SB-SSG in SSG training. Indeed, SB-SSG can influence the effort intensity in SSG (i.e., resulted in a higher intensity than SG-SSG). Therefore, coaches have the possibility to choose between SB-SSG and SG-SSG rules during training sessions according to their physical and technical objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]