Anthropometric and motor performance profile of elite futsal athletes

The purpose of the present study was to identify the anthropometric and motor performance profile of futsal (indoor soccer) athletes in the second and third-placed teams in the Parana state championships (Brazil). Anthropometric (body mass, stature and skinfolds thickness) and motor performance (modified abdominal test, shuttle run, race of 30 m and 40 s) measures were obtained from twenty-seven male athletes (24.7 plus or minus 6.4 years; 73.6 plus or minus 7.6 kg; 174.8 plus or minus 6.6 cm). For data analysis, athletes were grouped according to game positions. ANOVA one-way was used for comparisons between different positions, followed by Scheffe's post hoc test, with p < 0.05. Significant differences were detected in body mass (midfielder < goalkeeper, p < 0.01), stature (midfielder < forward and goalkeeper, p < 0.01) and lean body mass (midfielder < goalkeeper, p < 0.01). No significant differences in motor performance were detected between the athletes studied. The results of this study show that futsal athletes playing in different positions exhibit similar anthropometric and motor performance, in the majority of variables.