The importance of the morphofunctional qualities to greater efficiency in sports has increased the interest on the improvement on the physical fitness levels of athletes. However, not many studies on the physiological variables of indoor soccer are available in the world scientific literature. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the existence of correlation between the direct and indirect VO2max measurement tests in indoor soccer players. Thirteen indoor soccer players with age of 18.6 ± 1.9 years, height of 177.1 ± 3.5 cm, weight of 68.5 ± 9.5 kg and body mass index (BMI) of 21.7 ± 2.3 kg/m² were analyzed. For the direct VO2max measurement, the computerized ergospirometric system was used (VO-2000, Aerosport, Medgraphics, St. Paul, Minnesota) and for the indirect VO2max measurement, the 3,200 m field test was performed. The statistical analysis was elaborated through the t-Student test for paired samples and through the Pearson correlation coefficient. The VO2max values obtained in the direct measurement test presented no significant differences in relation to the indirect measurement (62.8 ± 10.1 vs. 58.5 ± 8.5 ml/kg/min, respectively). When the VO2max values obtained in both tests were correlated, a strong correlation (r = 0.72) was observed. In short, the indirect measurement tests presented good acceptance among indoor soccer players due to the high correlation with the direct measurement tests, the low cost and the attainment of important information that will be helpful in the training prescription and follow-up.
Aerobic capacity; VO2max prediction tests
