Endurance Training in Futsal: A Systematic Review of The Last Two Decades
Abstract
Futsal is a sport characterized by a high level of technical and tactical complexity. It requires exceptional endurance to maintain technical and tactical execution and quality throughout the match. To this day, coaches continue to seek out and develop effective endurance training methods for futsal. This study aims to synthesize the latest scientific literature from the past two decades regarding endurance training methods or types in futsal. This review follows the PRISMA guidelines. Research data from the Scopus database were included if the study involved endurance training methods or types in futsal, was a peer-reviewed article in English, was a final research publication, and was published between 2005 and 2025. The search yielded 124 studies; after removing duplicates and screening abstracts and full texts, 16 studies were included in this analysis. A qualitative narrative synthesis using a thematic analysis approach was used to integrate and analyze the findings from the included studies. The results identified several methods and types of training used to improve endurance capacity in futsal. These include skill-based training, coordination training, combination training, small-sided games, and generic training. Of these five methods or types of training, it was found that the most commonly used method to improve futsal players’ endurance is small-sided games. These methods and types of training have been proven to significantly improve the endurance of futsal players. However, recent research has focused on the principle of specificity in futsal training. Sports practitioners in the field, whether coaches or sports scientists, can prioritize training types specific to futsal.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jtikor.v11i1.102124
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