Futsal Intermittent Endurance Test (FIET) is an intermittent fitness test designed to assess the fitness of futsal players, created by Barbero et al. (2005). Futsal is an indoor version of 5-a-side soccer, which involves lots of high-intensity intermittent running.
In this test, players ran 45m (3 x 15m shuttle) with a 10 second rest, with occasional longer breaks. A study by Castagna & Barbero (2010) showed that FIET significantly emphasizes both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, to a degree similar to what is reported in the game of futsal.
Objective : To assess the ability of recovery and repetition of intermittent activities in futsal players.
Equipment needed: a clean flat area to conduct the test at least 25m long, audio recording of the test (can be created using Team BeepTest software), markers, tape measure.
Pre-test: Explain the test procedure to the subject. Perform health risk screening and obtain informed consent. Prepare the form and record basic information such as age, height, weight, gender, test conditions (surface, weather). Measure and mark the path. Make sure that the participants warm up enough.
Test layout: Mark the running area with markers placed 15 meters apart, then add 5 meters at both ends for the recovery area. You may also want to mark a control line 1.5 meters before each turn line.
Procedure: The test consists of a shuttle running over 45 m (3 x 15 m) performed at a progressive speed determined by a pre-recorded audio cue, to exhaustion. After every 45 meters, the active participants rested for 10 seconds. After every 8 x 45 m (except after the first group of 9 x 45 m), they passively rested for 30 seconds before continuing. The initial speed is set at 9 km/h. The speed increase during the first 9 x 45m fight is 0.33 km/h, after that a speed increase of 0.20 km/h after every 45 m. The test continues until exhaustion. The test ends when the participant cannot reach the finish line in time with two consecutive beeps.
Grading: The total distance covered is recorded as the test score.
Target population: This test was developed for futsal players, although it would be suitable for many players of intermittent sports, such as indoor hockey.
Advantages: this test is more relevant for intermittent sports than the commonly used beep test, and more specific for futsal players than the yo-yo test.
Weaknesses: this test is not commonly used so normative values are difficult to find. Also audio recordings will be difficult to make or buy without special software.
References:
- Barbero-Alvaréz JC, Andrín G, Méndez-Villanueva A. Futsal-specific endurance assessment of competitive players. J Sports Sci. 2005;23(11-12):1279-81
- Castagna, C., & Barbero Álvarez, J. C. (2010). Physiological Demands of an Intermittent Futsal-Oriented High-Intensity Test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(9), 2322–2329.