AUTHOR=Ribeiro João Nuno , Ferraz António , Gonçalves Bruno , Serrano Carlos , Coutinho Diogo , Ballester Rafael , Travassos Bruno 

TITLE=Training exercises, match demands, and variability in elite futsal

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1553046

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2025.1553046

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=IntroductionUnderstanding the physical demands of different training exercises is crucial for optimizing athlete performance. This study aims to compare high-intensity activities across different training exercises and official match-play scenarios. The analysis focuses on performance variations across training exercises and the variability observed within each format.MethodsAn observational study was conducted on a team competing in the 1st Division of the Spanish futsal league over three consecutive seasons. The training and match sessions were organized into mid-court exercises (20 × 20 m), three-quarters court exercises (28 × 20 m), and full-court exercises (40 × 20 m) and match.ResultsResults showed that the full court exercises presented the more demanding results, and the mid court exercises the less demanding results of external load for both acceleration, deceleration and sprints. The comparison between the training exercises and the match revealed distinct physical demands variability across exercise categories. Mid-court training exercises exhibited significantly higher variability compared to all other training formats and match scenarios. In contrast, match conditions demonstrated the lowest variability.DiscussionFindings highlight the importance of understanding the physical demands of each training exercise to balance intensity, variability, and contextual relevance to tailor training programs that ultimately optimizing athlete preparation for the multifaceted demands of competitive play.