Futsal playing surface characteristics significantly affect perceived traction and change of direction performance among experienced futsal players

We aimed to clarify the effect of different futsal playing surface structural properties on the resultant change of direction (COD) performance, perceived traction and frictional properties. Twenty experienced male university soccer players performed a COD slalom-course test and perceived traction evaluation on three different types of playing surfaces (area-elastic: AE, point-elastic no.1: PE1 and point-elastic no.2: PE2). Frictional properties of these surfaces were mechanically evaluated against a futsal shoe, using a hydraulic moving force platform, and expressed as available friction coefficient (AFC). In the COD performance test, the participants performed significantly better on the point-elastic surfaces (PE1 and PE2) when compared to the area-elastic surface (AE) (p < 0.05). Also, the PE2 surface was found to have the highest perceived traction (p < 0.001). The findings suggest that the relatively higher (4%) AFC explains the improvement in performance and traction perception on the PE2 surface. In this study, we successfully demonstrated that the structural difference (AE or PE) of futsal playing surface has a significant impact on the COD performance of experienced futsal players and their perceived level of traction (PE2) and the frictional properties.