Futsal Performance Levels - Jorge Braz (Patreon)

Given the behaviours observed in relation to: (i) individual actions with and without the ball, (ii) knowledge of the game and objectives, (iii) positional and structural organisation and (iv) functional organisation and collective dynamics generated, Guilherme & Braz (2013) claim there are 4 performance qualitative levels. They are the basic level, the elementary level, the intermediate level and the specialisation level. When identifying these, we must know that they interact. Some plasticity in interpretation and execution should be preserved.

Basic Level - Individual actions with and without the ball:

Young children are egocentric. Playing football is the most important goal. The basic level is evident in their rudimentary relationship with the ball. They have major difficulties in executing technical actions with implications for engagement and participation in the match. Likewise, positional and functional organisation is minimal. The game becomes a set of individual, isolated actions with no intentional collective sequence. There is a constant agglomeration of several players around the ball. The game becomes individual and disorganised, with poor perception of the main objective: scoring goals.

Elementary Level - Knowledge of the game and objectives:

The elementary level is when the game starts to be understood as an exercise, but still with individual movements, with differentiated positioning and functionality. At this level, the individual relationship with the ball is better. This allows individual and collective game sequences to be created. However, there are unforced technical errors. Some positional and functional organization starts to occur in simple specific situations. Crowding around the ball is no longer so evident, but players still have individualistic tendencies, affecting the collective.

Intermediate Level - Positional and structural organisation:

At the intermediate level, the game is understood as a collective project. Individual actions are aimed to benefit the team. At the intermediate level, there are many uninterrupted actions with fewer unforced errors. The positional organisation in the different phases/moments is evident and the players are aware of the several structural positions and respective roles. The occupation of offensive and defensive areas is balanced according to the match phases/moments. Its evolution depends on the collective structure. This is where individual actions emerge, increasing the game dynamics.

Specialization Level - Functional organization and collective dynamics:

The specialization level is the ultimate collective project. It encompasses all the prerequisites to play with a complex structural and functional organisation, supported by a collective dynamic based on referential patterns. At this level, players often have constant mobility and positional balance. Mobility depends on specific movements of the different positions and positional changes - rotations - of this kind. The positional balance happens because the players can perform several defensive and offensive positions and roles.

Besides characterizing the performance levels, the authors have summarized the contents to be addressed in each performance level: