Relationship between sprint and vertical jump force-time metrics in elite male professional futsal players

While sprinting capabilities are crucial for success in futsal, there is a lack of research on how they relate to countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) force-time metrics during both the eccentric and concentric phases of the movement. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between short-distance sprint speed and acceleration capabilities over 5m and 10m sprint distances and CMJ performance within a group of professional athletes. Twenty-two male futsal players competing in the top-tier national league volunteered to participate in this study. Following completion of the warm-up protocol, athletes stepped onto a uni-axial force plate and performed two non-consecutive CMJs with no arm swing, followed by two 10m sprints. The body mass-dependent force-time metrics were analyzed in both absolute and relative terms, while sprint analysis included 5m and 10m sprint speed and average acceleration over 0-5m and 5-10m sprint distances. Pearson product-moment correlation coeffi  cients ( r ) were used to examine the strength of the relationship between performance parameters of interest ( p <.05). The results revealed that 10m sprint speed was positively associated with CMJ concentric peak velocity ( r =.455; p =.032) and jump height ( r =.457; p =.033). Besides providing sports practitioners working with this specific group of athletes with referent values about sprint and jump performance characteristics, the findings of this study suggest that athletes capable of generating greater CMJ concentric peak velocity and jump height tend to attain greater 10m sprint velocities.