Goal-scoring in futsal A scoping review of trends and knowledge gaps to advance performance analysis in research and practice
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Abstract
Although goal scoring is widely conceived as a key performance indicator in futsal, a comprehensive understanding of how this phenomenon has been conceptualized and investigated in the scientific literature remains limited. This study aimed to systematically map, synthesize, and critically examine research on goal scoring in futsal, identifying thematic and methodological patterns, conceptual orientations, and knowledge gaps to clarify the current state of the field and support the advancement of performance analysis research and practice. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases (Scopus, EBSCO, SciELO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed publications in Portuguese, Spanish, and English in which goal scoring was treated as a dependent or independent variable. From 3,786 records, 98 studies met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive and bibliometric analyses were conducted to characterize publication trends and methodological features. Results indicate that research on goal scoring in futsal emerged in 2008 and is largely produced in Brazil and Spain, focusing on elite adult male players. The predominance of observational and descriptive designs limits explanatory insights into goal-scoring processes. This review outlines conceptual and analytical directions to support more integrative and process-oriented approaches in research and applied performance analysis.
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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Grant numbers 160774/2021-7 -
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Grant numbers Code 001
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