The learning of decision-making on interception and passing in futsal

This study aimed to investigate the learning of decision-making on passing (experiments 1 and 2) and interception (experiments 3 and 4) in futsal. For this purpose, spatiotemporal information on interpersonal coordination (relative angle, the trajectory of ball passing, teammate displacement) was transformed into instructions. Experiments were conducted during physical education classes in which 139 females students aged between 12 and 15 years participated. Following to a phase of practice (acquisition), experiments involved futsal games of 10 min in the form of learning tests. Eleven games were filmed, from which sequences of games involving passes (N = 870) and interception (N = 152) were analysed. Experiment 1 involved a pre-test and post-test; in experiments 2, 3 and 4, a retention test was added. Passing and interception were successful scores and players' spatiotemporal interaction (passing angle and place/velocity of intercepting). Results showed there was no improvement in passing performance in experiments 1 and 2. Performance improvements were only observed regarding interception in a rondo practice condition (experiment 3). It was concluded that instruction on interpersonal coordination promoted learning of decision-making on interception but not on passing in futsal.