Relationship between offensive tactical efficiency and technical actions performed by school futsal players

Abstract

Purpose The aim was to analyse the significance and magnitude of the correlation between the offensive tactical efficiency and technical actions performed by schoolchildren practicing futsal during a reduced game in the GR3-3GR test format. Methods The sample was composed of 33 child and adolescent futsal players aged between 9 and 14 years – from elementary and middle schools – and divided into Under-10 (21 players), Under-12 (6 players), and Under-14 (6 players) categories. The players were filmed during the execution of a small-sided game (GR3-3GR). To assess tactical efficiency, core tactical principles of penetration, offensive coverage, depth mobility, width and length (with and without ball), and offensive unit were observed through the FUT-SAT test, while technical actions were analysed using an observational protocol, which recorded the occurrence of the actions ‘passing’, ‘shooting’, ‘receiving’, and ‘1:1 duel’. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to verify the degree of relationship of the analysed variables, followed by correlation-based network analysis. Significance was set at 5%. Results The results showed associations between efficiency in the execution of offensive tactical principles performed by the attacker with the ball and the execution of technical actions. The principle ‘penetration’ was positively correlated with ‘receiving’ ( r = 0.41), and the principle ‘width and length with ball’ was negatively correlated with the execution of ‘1×1 duel’ ( r = –0.34). Conclusions It is concluded that the technical quality when receiving and controlling the ball favours movements related to progression on the playing court. Players who are less skilled in direct confrontations tend to prefer to carry the ball to spaces with less adversary pressure.

Keywords

• youth sports
• sports
• team sports
• futsal