# Identification of Performance Variables in Blind 5-A-Side Football: Physical Fitness, Physiological Responses, Technical–Tactical Actions and Recovery Variables: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This review identifies key performance factors in blind 5-a-side football, including physical fitness, physiological responses, technical-tactical actions, and recovery.

## Contribution

The first systematic review analyzing performance variables in blind 5-a-side football for athletes with visual impairments.

## Key findings

- Aerobic capacity, cardiovascular response, and body composition are key physical and physiological variables studied.
- Technical-tactical focus includes shot effectiveness and actions like control, dribbling, and shooting.
- Sleep is the most studied recovery variable, highlighting its importance for performance.

## Abstract

Background: Blind 5-A-side football is an intermittent sport that requires the development of specific physical, physiological, and technical–tactical variables, making the identification of recovery processes such as sleep, well-being, and athletes’ perceptions key factors in performance. However, to date, no systematic review has analyzed the scientific evidence on performance variables in players with visual impairments. Objective: To identify performance variables in blind 5-A-side football through the analysis of physical fitness factors, physiological demands, technical–tactical actions, and recovery variables. Materials and Methods: The following databases were consulted: Scopus, PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. This systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines and those for conducting systematic reviews in sports science. The PICOS strategy was used to select and include studies. The quality of the studies was assessed methodologically using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. Results: The included studies evaluated multiple aspects of physical and physiological fitness in blind 5-A-side football, with a predominance of descriptive and observational research, although longitudinal interventions in national teams were also identified. The most studied physiological-physical variables are aerobic capacity and cardiovascular response; anthropometry and body composition; strength, power, and injury risk; external competition demands; balance; and postural control. The studies in the technical–tactical dimension focused on the effectiveness of shots on goal and on the characterization of control, dribbling, and shooting actions. The most studied recovery variable was sleep. Conclusions. The evidence suggests that training processes should integrate both improvements in physical fitness and physiological demands, as well as the refinement of decision-making and offensive actions. Despite advances, scientific output in this discipline remains limited, highlighting the need to promote studies with greater methodological rigor and sample diversity.