Assessment of the performance of novice futsal players in the execution of futsal-specific motor skills

Purpose
To compare the performance in the execution of specific motor skills among novice futsal players in 3 competitive categories (U-7, U-9, and U-11) and to compare their performance in specific motor skills during the offensive and defensive phases of the game.

Methods
Ten specific motor skills were investigated, including 6 offensive actions and 4 defensive actions, in 49 futsal players aged 6–11 years. Technical performance was analysed in terms of the number of actions, the effectiveness of the action (successful or unsuccessful), and where the action occurred (offensive or defensive midfield). One-way ANOVA was used with the Tukey test, when appropriate, or Student’s t-test, with a significance level of 5%.

Results
Players in the older categories were more effective defensively than those in the younger categories (F_2,46 = 6.04, p < 0.01, η² = 0.21). The two older groups had an approximately two- and three-fold greater chance, respectively, of executing successful defensive technical actions (OR = 1.82, p < 0.05; OR = 2.83, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the players were more technically effective in the offensive phase of the game than in the defensive phase (M = 41.35, SD = 21.53 and M = 16.47, SD = 7.90, respectively; t96 = 7.60, p < 0.01, d = 1.69).

Conclusions
Players in older competitive categories were more effective, and players were more effective offensively than defensively.