CHANGING
THE GAME
![[Original size] AFF Final Logos - Red White and Blue.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0fb974_6069cc0346bf4aa08f35a0c60af51707~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_137,h_138,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/%5BOriginal%20size%5D%20AFF%20Final%20Logos%20-%20Red%20White%20and%20Blue.png)
CHANGING
THE
GAME
RESEARCH
Bone Mass Density and Content
Journal of Human Kinetics
Futsal produces a high stimulus in bones as it involves high-impact and odd-impact ground reaction forces applied to the play surface during the development of different game actions, being suggested as beneficial to calcium deposition and bone modeling.
Futsal activates a wide range of body muscles and involves a high number of jumps and unorthodox body movements resulting in higher bone mass density and content.
Cognitive and Motor Skills
Frontiers in Psychology
Futsal players learn to orient their bodies relative to both the moving ball and to their teammates' positions. This perceptual-motor coordination development involves constant calculations involving velocity, trajectory, geometry, and spatial assessment.
A futsal ball's low bounce coupled with the hard playing surface contribute to a futsal player's automated control of the ball during the moment that requires the highest attentional demands.
Physical and Mental Engagement
American Futsal Foundation Research Project
Youth futsal players enjoy constant engagement with the game. A youth futsal player will touch the ball more than 30 times in a 5-minute time frame.
​
Youth players will transition between offense and defense more than 20 times in a 5-minute time frame.
Confidence and Happiness
Journal of American Medical Association Pediatrics
Futsal gives all children a simple, fun, and effective way to participate in team sports.
Children who participate in team sports are less likely to have depression or anxiety. Futsal, through its team sport environment, teaches life lessons, improves social and psychological well-being, lowers stress, and improves self-esteem. Players learn to work hard; they learn responsibility and accountability; they learn to win, and more importantly they learn to lose; they develop resiliency
Cardiovascular Benefits
Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness
Healthy hearts are developed through cardiovascular training through Futsal. Youth players spend 80-90% of their playing time in their target heart rate zone, with 10-15% of the time spent playing at the highest level of aerobic exercise. (Theory of Change Info)
Total distance covered at high-intensity and max speed is greater than soccer, basketball, or handball. Players change locomotor activities every 3.3 seconds.
Improving Overall Fitness
Scandanavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
Futsal players can see a 20-25% improvement in fitness test scores after 3-6 months of regular play, with some players improving beyond those levels.
More importantly, youth players' perceived exertion is less than running alone. This means that futsal helps children engage in high levels of physical activity for longer periods of time without the pressure of performing or stress of traditional fitness activities.