Home advantage and player nationality in international club football

Abstract

The home advantage effect was investigated at a team and player level in Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League football using in-depth performance and disciplinary variables. Performance analysis revealed that the home team scored more goals, had more shots on and off target, had a greater share of possession, and won more corners than the away team. There was an opposite trend for disciplinary variables, with the home team committing less fouls than the away team, and receiving less yellow and red cards. There were home advantage effects at player level for goals, total shots, shots on target, assists, and yellow cards, as found in the team analysis. In addition, foreign players demonstrated a home advantage effect for goals scored, whereas domestic players scored an equivalent number of goals at home and away venues. Results are discussed in relation to the home advantage literature and wider implications for the sport.     

Home advantage in soccer: a retrospective analysis

The existence of home advantage has been established for all major professional team sports in England and North America. The advantage was found to be greatest in soccer, with the home team currently obtaining about 64% of all points gained in the English Football League. Home advantage has changed very little since the formation of the League in 1888 and there are only small variations between the four Divisions of the League. The advantage is less marked in local derbies, in the FA Cup and in nonprofessional competitions. It is greater in the European Cup and increases as the stages of the competition progress. The allocation of three points, instead of two, for a win in the Football League has not changed home advantage, but its effect has been greatly reduced in the GM Vauxhall Conference where an away win gains more points than a home win. The statistical evidence suggests that crowd support and travel fatigue contribute less to home advantage in soccer than do the less easily quantifiable benefits of familiarity with conditions when playing at home. Further possible explanations for the advantage are discussed in the light of findings in other sports.     

Worldwide regional variations in home advantage in association football

Abstract

Home advantage plays an important part in determining the result of a game of football. Its existence and magnitude is well documented in England, but its causes are still not completely understood. In this study, reliable estimates of home advantage are calculated for the domestic leagues of all countries of Europe and South America, as well as a selection of countries from other continents. The results of all games during the last six seasons are used for each of these 72 countries. In Europe, home advantage in the Balkan countries, especially Bosnia and Albania, is much higher than average. It is generally lower than average in northern Europe, from the Baltic republics, through Scandinavia to the British Isles. In South America, home advantage is high in the Andean countries and lower elsewhere, especially in Uruguay. Home advantage is not unusually high or low in any of the countries from other continents. A multiple regression model for the 51 European countries, which included variables for geographical location, crowd effects and travel, accounted for 76.7% of the variability in home advantage. The large geographical variations can be interpreted in terms of territoriality being a contributing factor to home advantage.     

Home advantage in speed skating: Evidence from individual data

Home advantage is a well-documented phenomenon in many sports. Home advantage has been shown to exist for team sports (soccer, hockey, football, baseball, basketball) and for countries organizing sports tournaments like the Olympics and World Cup Soccer. There is also some evidence for home advantage in some individual sports, but there is a much more limited literature. This paper addresses the issue of home advantage in speed skating. From a methodological point of view, it is difficult to identify home advantage, because skaters vary in their abilities and the conditions of tournaments vary. There is a small but significant home advantage using a generalized linear mixed model, with random effects for skaters and fixed effects for skating rinks and seasons. Even though the home advantage effect exists, it is very small when compared to variation in skating times due to differences of rinks and individual abilities.     

中超联赛主场优势凸显因素的分析

运用文献资料、数理统计、逻辑分析等方法,对中超联赛四个赛季的706场比赛进行分析,结果表明：中超联赛主场优势客观存在。且主场胜率、效果量与国外不同性质的足球联赛相同;主场观众、裁判、心理差异、体育习惯是引起主场优势的主要因素：     

Home advantage in southern hemisphere rugby union: Nationaland international

Abstract

This study evaluates home advantages both for national (Super 12) and international (Tri-nations) rugby union teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, over the five-year period 2000 – 2004 using linear modelling. These home advantages are examined for statistical and practical significance, for variability between teams, for stability over time and for inter-correlation. These data reveal that the overall home advantage in elite rugby union has a mean of +6.7 points, and that this changes little from year to year. Closer scrutiny nevertheless reveals a high degree of variability. Different teams can and do have different home advantages, which ranges from a low of ?0.7 to a high of +28.3 points in any one year. Furthermore, some team home advantages change up or down from one year to the next, by as much as ?36.5 to +31.4 points at the extremes. There is no evidence that the stronger teams have the higher home advantages, or that a high home advantage leads to a superior finishing position in the competition.     

Equivalence of accelerometer data for walking and running: Treadmill versus on land

This study examined temporal trends in home advantage in the top two English football divisions and used change point analysis to test the hypothesis that home advantage has not remained constant over time. Regression analysis was used to model the impact of substitutions (a proxy for “information transfer”) and the points system on home advantage. The results suggest that changing from two points for a win to three points for a win has led to a 0.39 reduction (95% confidence interval = 0.21 to 0.56) in the ratio of home wins to away wins. Increasing the number of substitutions is associated with a small increase in the ratio of home wins to away wins, although this is not statistically significant. The evidence indicates that, in this particular context, the extent of home advantage has diminished. This contradicts most other published work, which suggests that home advantage is stable over time. I argue that this reduction is more likely to be the result of the introduction of three points for a win, which has lessened the incentives for away teams to settle for a draw, than an increase in “information transfer”. Research into temporal trends in home advantage is interesting in its own right but might, in addition, shed light on determinants of the home advantage phenomenon.     

Human versus virtual robotics soccer: A technical analysis

Abstract

Soccer is a team sport in which the performances of all team members are important for the outcome of a match. Even though the analysis of game events can be used to measure the team's performance, their perception, especially during the match, is extremely difficult, even for the involved agents. Soccer has been used as a simulation environment in many studies, mainly in the area of robotics. The RoboCup is an international robotics competition with an ambitious goal: in 2050 a robotics team will be capable of defeating the human world champion at the time. In this context, we compared technical similarities between human and robotics soccer. Based on an off-line automatic event detection tool, game statistics for the finals of both human and robotics soccer tournaments were collected and compared using the Wilcoxon test. The results show that the most frequent event in both forms of soccer is successful passes. Analysing the two types of passes considered (successful and missed), we conclude that there are significant differences between the two forms (W = 2, P=0.000354), with human soccer presenting a higher percentage of successful passes (77.89% vs. 66.97%). Of restart events (W=0, P=0.00048965), the most frequent one, in both forms, is the throw-in (human 59.91%, robotics 66.4%), and the least frequent is the corner (human 13.7%, robotics 14.09%). Regarding the frequency of shots, in the robotics environment “shots” were the most predominant type (43.27%), whereas in human soccer “shots on target” predominated (71.25%; W=64, P=0.000085641). Finally, the number of faults is minor in robotics soccer.     

基于非衡性赛程国际A级足球比赛主场优势的研究

以参加2002年世界杯足球赛32支球队为研究对象,通过对他们近10年中参加国际A级比赛的成绩进行量化分析,结果表明:具有非衡性赛程特点的国际A级足球比赛,存在较高的主场优势,其产生的主要原因是情景的熟悉性和旅途因素,而比赛的重要性对其客场劣势也存在较高的制约性。     

Home advantage in judo: A study of the world ranking list

Abstract

In 2009, the International Judo Federation established a ranking system (RS) to classify athletes and to distribute the competitor quotas of the Olympic Games. However, the RS does not consider the home advantage. This issue has not been studied in judo, and its implications for the RS have not been determined. The objective was to verify the home advantage in judo in terms of winning a medal or the number of matches won. Therefore, 25 competitions that computed points for the RS in 2009 were analysed. Logistic regression analysis and the Poisson generalised linear model were used for the analyses, which included the relative quality of the athletes. The sample was composed only of athletes who had competed both at home and away. The odds ratio for winning medals was higher for athletes who competed at home for both males and females. The association between the number of matches won and competing at home was significant only for the male athletes. The home advantage was observed in the competitions that used the judo RS. Thus, it is likely that athletes from countries that host competitions using the RS have an advantage in terms of obtaining their Olympic classification.     

Home advantage in the Australian football league

The results of this study on home advantage in Australian rules football demonstrate that individual clubs have different home advantages. Traditional measures of home advantage as applied to whole competitions such as percentage of games won, and alternative measures such as average margin of victory for the home team, are calculated. Problems with these measures are discussed. Individual home advantages for each team are obtained using a linear model fitted to individual match margins; the resultant home advantages are analysed, and variations and possible causes or groupings of home advantage are proposed. It is shown that some models allowing different home advantages for different clubs are a significant improvement over previous models assuming a common home advantage. The results show a strong isolation effect, with non-Victorian teams having large home advantages, and lend support to the conclusion that crowd effects and ground familiarity are a major determinant of home advantage.     

The second leg home advantage: Evidence from European football cup competitions

Abstract

The home advantage is a widely acknowledged sporting phenomenon, especially in association football. Here, we examine the second leg home advantage, an effect that is discussed in the public domain but which has received very little scientific attention. The second leg home advantage effect occurs when on average teams are more likely to win a two-stage knock-out competition when they play at home in the second leg. That is, both teams have a home advantage but this advantage is significantly greater for the team that plays at home second. Examining data from three different European Cup football competitions spanning 51 years, we show that the second leg home advantage is a real phenomenon. The second leg home team has more than a 50% probability to qualify for the next round in the competition even after controlling for extra time and team ability as possible alternative explanations. The second leg home advantage appears, however, to have decreased significantly over the past decade. Possible reasons for its existence and subsequent decline are presented.     

Validity of the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test in young soccer players

Abstract

The Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test is frequently used to assess aerobic endurance performance in young soccer players but only the logical validity of the test has been shown to date. The main ai m of this study was to assess the criterion (i.e. association with maximal aerobic capacity, [Vdot]O_2max) and construct validities of the test in young soccer players. A secondary aim was to examine possible shared variance of the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test with other physical capacities. Sixty-two soccer players (age 13.7±0.5 years) from an Under-14 team participated. All players performed a battery of fitness tests to assess [Vdot]O_2max, aerobic endurance performance (Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test), soccer dribbling endurance performance (Hoff dribbling test), and power performance (maximal vertical jump, 30-m sprint with 10-m split time). Results showed that the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test was strongly correlated with [Vdot]O_2max (r=0.63, P<0.001), thereby showing the test's criterion validity. Players with the best performance on the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test had significantly higher [Vdot]O_2max (P<0.001, large effect), and significantly better soccer dribbling endurance (P<0.001, large effect) and 30-m sprint times (P<0.05, medium effect). Logistic regression (r=0.79, P=0.0001) showed that Hoff dribbling test performance (explained variance=50.4%), [Vdot]O_2max (explained variance=39.7%), and 30-m sprint time (explained variance=14.4%) were significant independent parameters contributing to performance on the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test. Therefore, the Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test is a valid on-field aerobic endurance performance test for young soccer players, which can also be used to differentiate the maximal aerobic capacity, soccer dribbling endurance, and 30-m sprint performance of these players.     

Relative age effects in professional German soccer: A historical analysis

Abstract

Relative age effects (RAEs) refer to the specific selection, participation and attainment (dis)advantages which occur as a result of physical and cognitive differences within annual age-grouped cohorts. The present study tracked the existence of RAEs in professional German soccer by examining RAEs in players, head coaches and referees who represented professional soccer clubs or officiated in the Bundesliga from 1963/64 to 2006/07. An additional objective was to consider the social-cultural mechanisms responsible for RAEs, so for a similar period, population and soccer participation information was also obtained. When players were categorised into half decade groups, chi-square analyses predominantly showed RAEs across the history of the Bundesliga, irrespective of dates used for annual age grouping in junior/youth soccer. RAEs were also apparent for head coaches but not for referees. Participation data indicated consistent and progressive growth from 1950 to 1990. RAEs influence the likelihood of attaining professional player and coaching status in German soccer. With many coaches being former players, inequalities associated with annual age-grouping appear to extend beyond a playing career. Officiating was not affected, with referees suggested to emerge from an alternative development pathway. Increased popularity of soccer may have propagated RAEs over time, through intensification of competition and selection mechanisms.     

我国足球产业化进程中足球精神的缺失

20世纪90年代以来,我国足球产业化逐步展开,并得到了比较稳定的发展。但是在足球产业化的同时,暴露出足球精神严重缺失的问题,包括运动员体育精神的沦丧,裁判等工作人员公平公正精神的模糊与球迷缺乏健康向上、理智成熟的素养。我国足球精神的缺失主要由于功利主义思想泛滥和精神文明建设的松懈。     

第14届欧洲足球锦标赛西班牙队夺冠优势指标分析

采用文献资料法和数理统计法,对第14届欧洲足球锦标赛8强球队比赛15项指标与比赛结果的相关性进行分析,结果显示：对比赛结果影响较大的指标为：进球、失球、射门、射正、越位、传球、突破、任意球、控球率等9项指标;对西班牙队与其他各队9项指标进行多重比较发现：进球、失球、射正、传球、控球率等5项指标是西班牙队夺冠的优势指标。     

Comparative analysis of sequentiality using SDIS-GSEQ and THEME: A concrete example in soccer

Abstract

Within an observational design aimed at studying what type of soccer is better adapted to the possibilities of the 11–12 year-old child, a comparison was made of the results obtained using two fully consolidated analysis techniques in observational methods, and which form the basis in the development of two respective software programs: SDIS-GSEQ and THEME, which allow one to detect the existence of sequential patterns hidden in a data set. This work is intended to shed light on the comparison of results obtained using these two analysis techniques. In particular, the data used for the analysis are multicode event data (using the lexicon of the sequential analysis), and do not incorporate the duration parameter. Accordingly, for the detection of regular structures using the THEME program (T-patterns), a constant duration has conventionally been assigned to each occurrence. Using THEME, among the greatest number of sequential structures detected, diachronic and synchronic correspondence was observed (T-patterns reflecting identical multi-events) with each and every one of the sequential patterns obtained using the lag technique, by the SDIS-GSEQ software. This coincidence strengthens the link between the algorithms that support SDIS-GSEQ and THEME. The results indicate that 7-a-side soccer and 9-a-side soccer types facilitate the spatial mastery of the game by the child, compared with the adult form, 11-a-side soccer.     

主场比赛的优势及其发挥

通过文献综述和逻辑分析,认为观众因素、熟悉因素是影响主场优势最重要的两个因素,这两个因素将影响着比赛的3个主要参与者即运动员、教练员和裁判员的临界心理状态和行为状态,从而最终影响着比赛的结果。同时认为运动员(队)要想获得更大的主场胜率,必须善于充分利用主场比赛的一切有利因素,并进行专门、针对性的准备,才能最终将主场优势变成主场胜势。     

对我国甲A职业足球联赛主场优势的研究

对我国甲A足球队90名运动员进行了心理问卷调查,结合1995、1996年甲A职业足球联赛的技术统计对主场优势进行了研究。结果显示:我国甲A职业足球联赛存在主场优势并对胜率有重要影响。引起主场效应的基本因素为主场的条件效应、主场的竞赛效应和运动员的主客场心理感受差异效应。     

2009赛季中国足球甲级联赛各队攻防能力的分析

运用文献资料法、数理统计法,对2009赛季中国足球甲级联赛各球队攻防能力进行量化评价,结果显示：2009赛季中国足球甲级联赛各球队进攻能力南昌八一队最强,四川智谷队最弱;防守能力辽宁宏运队最高,四川智谷队最低;攻防RSR值与锦标赛名次具有显著负相关,RSR值越大,联赛名次越好。