Combining High-Intensity Interval Training and Game-Based Approach to Enhance Aerobic Endurance in Amateur Futsal Athletes

Background. Futsal players require a holistic training model that combines high-intensity interval training with a game-based approach, addressing their need to cover a total distance of 4000 meters at maximum aerobic speed. Objectives. This study aimed to analyze the effect of combining high-intensity interval training with a game approach on the aerobic ability of amateur futsal athletes. Materials and methods. This study used an experimental method. A total of 32 male futsal athletes from amateur clubs participated in this study, with an age of 17.00 ± 1.10 years, a height of 167.19 ± 3.80 cm, a body mass of 58.81 ± 3.80 kg, and a BMI of 21.05 ± 1.26. Data analysis used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann‑Whitney U test, with a significance level of 0.05. The total distance covered and the VO₂max level of the sample were measured using a 12-minute Cooper test instrument. Results. The statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests revealed that the Experimental Group (EG) showed significant enhancements in both Total Distance (TD) and VO₂max (p < 0.0001 for both), while the Control Group (CG) did not (p = 0.0747 for TD, p = 0.0701 for VO₂max). The Mann-Whitney test confirmed that the EG’s improvements were significantly more marked than the CG’s (p < 0.0001 for both variables). The percentage improvements between the pre-test and post-test show that in the EG, TD increased by 8.12 %, and VO₂max increased by 10.44 %. In contrast, the CG demonstrated only a 1.11 % increase in TD and a 1.44 % increase in VO₂max. Conclusions. These findings concluded that combining a high-intensity interval training model with a game approach had a positive effect on the aerobic endurance of amateur futsal athletes.