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The aims of this study were to analyze (1) the external match demands during a congested period (CP) (i.e., three games in eight days) and (2) the differences among games with two- or three-day intervals in professional futsal players. Eleven elite male futsal players were monitored during 15 official matches. Wearable accelerometers were used to record player load (PL), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), and changes of direction (COD) at different intensities (e.g., high, medium, and low) using two approaches (e.g., absolute and relative per minute). A linear mixed model and effect sizes (ESs) were used to analyze differences between matches and days of interval. Considering the external match load during CP, non-significant differences were found for all the variables ( p = 0.108-0.995; ES: 0.01-0.40). Comparing the interval days between games, players had significantly higher DEC HI ( p = 0.030; ES: 0.48), COD TOTAL ( p = 0.028; ES: 0.33), COD MED ( p = 0.024; ES: 0.40), and COD LOW ( p = 0.038; ES: 0.31) following 3 days of interval between the games when compared with 2 days. However, when analyzed relative to effective time, non-significant differences were found. In summary, CPs seem to not affect the match external load, but players performed better in terms of DEC and COD following 3 days of interval when compared to 2 days when analyzed with absolute values.

The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of a congested period (three games in four days) on countermovement (CMJ) jump-landing metrics, heart rate variability (HRV), and total recovery quality (TQR) score in under-19 male futsal players, and to detect the differences between those who played for more minutes (HIGH MIN ) and less minutes (LOW MIN ). Fourteen youth futsal players (age: 17.5 ± 0.5 years; body mass: 70.2 ± 8.5 kg; height: 1.80 ± 0.1 m) participated. HRV, TQR questionnaire, and CMJ metrics (i.e., CMJ height, relative peak power (PP REL ), eccentric and concentric impulse, braking time, and time to peak force) were registered. A linear mixed model and effect sizes (ESs) were used to assess the differences between groups and days. Considering the total sample, a significant decrease was found in the PP REL and TQR score ( p = 0.001-0.013 and ES = 0.28-0.99) on Days 2, 3, and 4 when compared to Day 1. HIGH MIN group presented a significant decrease in PP REL on Day 3 ( p = 0.004; ES: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.39-2.65) when compared to Day 1, and in the TRQ score on Day 3 ( p = 0.002; ES: 1.98; 95% CI: 0.18-2.46) and 4 ( p = 0.003; ES: 2.25; 95% CI: 0.52-3.38) when compared to Day 1. Non-significant differences were found for the rest of the metrics and in the group LOW MIN . In summary, neuromuscular performance (i.e., CMJ PP REL ) and subjective recovery were impaired in players with higher playing minutes during a match-congested period when compared to those with less on-court time.