Football Position Research Articles

The Role of Football in Everyday Life

Research on the nature of sports audiences has been predominantly concerned with those attending live events and overlooks how sport is consumed within people’s everyday lives.[1] Recent research into the nature of football fandom has offered ethnographic accounts detailing more complex relationships between supporters and their clubs[2] that indicate associations that go beyond match day scenarios. Forming the basis of a recent doctoral research project, this article offers a theoretical formulation of the embedded position of football as a part of the fabric of people’s everyday lives. In contrast to Robson’s[3] work on embodied football identities, a more fluid exploration of how football culture affects individuals’ notions of self identity, belonging and interpersonal relations is offered through the theoretical ideas of Baumah, Butler and Maffesoli.[4]

Globalisation and sports branding: the case of Manchester United

In 2005 Manchester United was taken over by US businessman Malcolm Glazer, in part because of the club's brand name prominence in the global sport of soccer. This paper examines how Manchester United rose to a pre-eminent position in world football through its on-field performances and its off-the-field management strategies. It shows how the club took its storied history into world markets to take full advantage of globalisation, the opportunities extended through the English Premier League's reputation and developments in global media technologies. Astute management of club resources is identified as the major factor in global brand management.

Poster 27: The Effects of Sports-Related Concussion in College Athletes

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity of a neuropsychologic test battery in detecting effects of concussion, to assess the time required for an injured athlete to return to baseline neuropsychologic performance, and to evaluate the incidence of mild traumatic brain injury across player positions in football. Design: Prospective study, repeated-measures design. Setting: University speech and hearing clinic. Participants: 266 athletes from 5 varsity sports at Miami University participated. Ages ranged from 17 to 22 (mean, 18.4) years.

THE BEST WARM-UP FOR THE VERTICAL JUMP IN COLLEGE-AGE ATHLETIC MEN

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of specific and nonspecific warm-ups on the vertical jump test performed by athletic men. Twenty-nine men (18–23 years) in athletics (speed positions in football) performed vertical jump tests on 4 separate days after completing 4 different warm-up protocols. The 4 warm-up protocols were (a) submaximal jump warm-up, (b) weighted jump warm-up, (c) stretching warm-up, and (d) no warm-up. The weighted jump warm-up protocol required 5 countermovement jumps onto a box, with the athletes holding dumbbells equaling 10% of their body weight. The submaximal jump warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform 5 counter-movement jumps at 75% intensity of their past maximum vertical jump score. The stretching warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform 14 different stretches, each held for 20 seconds. The no warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform no activity prior to being tested. Three vertical jumps were measured following each warm-up; the score for analysis was the best jump. The data were analyzed with a repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests. The Bonferroni post hoc tests showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the weighted jump warm-up and all other warm-ups. The effect size was 0.380 and the power was 1.00 for the statistical analyses. We concluded that utilizing a weighted resistance warm-up would produce the greatest benefit when performing the vertical jump test.

The Best Warm-Up for the Vertical Jump in College-Age Athletic Men

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of specific and nonspecific warm-ups on the vertical jump test performed by athletic men. Twenty-nine men (18-23 years) in athletics (speed positions in football) performed vertical jump tests on 4 separate days after completing 4 different warm-up protocols. The 4 warm-up protocols were (a) submaximal jump warm-up, (b) weighted jump warm-up, (c) stretching warm-up, and (d) no warm-up. The weighted jump warm-up protocol required 5 countermovement jumps onto a box, with the athletes holding dumbbells equaling 10% of their body weight. The submaximal jump warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform 5 countermovement jumps at 75% intensity of their past maximum vertical jump score. The stretching warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform 14 different stretches, each held for 20 seconds. The no warm-up protocol required the athletes to perform no activity prior to being tested. Three vertical jumps were measured following each warm-up; the score for analysis was the best jump. The data were analyzed with a repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests. The Bonferroni post hoc tests showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the weighted jump warm-up and all other warm-ups. The effect size was 0.380 and the power was 1.00 for the statistical analyses. We concluded that utilizing a weighted resistance warm-up would produce the greatest benefit when performing the vertical jump test.

Promoting Nutrition in Breastfeeding Women

Nurses have a vital role in providing nutritional education to breastfeeding women. In this article, the authors discuss the nutritional requirements for breast-feeding women in terms of micronutrients, macronutrients, and minerals. They provide recommendations for women with vegetarian diets and low-income women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children program who may have dietary deficiencies, and they present a directed case study to provide an example of how to perform a dietary assessment and the educational support that may be offered by nurses to breastfeeding women.

The overhead athlete: examination, testing, and treatment of shoulder instability

The overhead athlete places significant demands on the shoulder, and injuries are common. Sports at risk include baseball, throwing positions in football and soccer, racquet sports, swimming, and golf. Changes in flexibility and endurance associated with the athlete’s age may predispose the shoulder to injury. 1 Abrams J.S. Special shoulder problems in the throwing athlete Pathology, diagnosis and nonoperative management. Clin in Sports Med. 1991; 10: 839-870 PubMed Google Scholar The baseball pitcher is a unique athlete that emphasizes flexibility and power. Anatomic changes, physiologic adaptations, and injuries are commonly found. Although this type of athlete has been identified as the “classic overhead athlete,” we should also recognize different age groups playing different sports in this section.

Africa, the FIFA Presidency, and the Governance of World Football: 1974, 1998, and 2002

Abtract: Since the independence movements of the late 1950s and 1960s, most African nations have remained firmly rooted at the base of the world economic and political order; however, in global sports, Africa has made its presence felt, and it is perhaps in international football that the continent's sports stars have made their biggest impact. The World Cup, the Olympic football tournament, and FIFA's underage competitions have been enriched by the presence of African nations. 1 African performances at these competitions show that Africa's most vibrant football nations have emerged as credible challengers to the traditional preeminence of South America and Europe.These performances on the field of play have been matched by the advance and improving profile of Africa within the governance of the world game. Nowhere has this profile been more manifest than in the central role that Africa has played in determining who holds the most powerful position in world football, the FIFA presidency. This article adopts a qualitative methodology involving in-depth interviews, primary archival material, and secondary sources to assess Africa's status as the key electoral constituency in the struggles for the FIFA presidency in 1974, 1998, and 2002. The analyses here examine the ways in which those seeking the FIFA presidency have sought to present themselves as advocates of African football and explore the implications that this attitude has had for the development of the game in Africa.

Analysis of Cognitive Structures on Rugby Football Positions of Japanese High School Rugby Players

This study examines coaching methods in ball games. First. Multidimensional scaling (INDSCAL: Individual Differences Scaling) was applied to cognitive structures on rugby football positions of Japanese high school rugby players, because it has been suggested by proceeding studies that it is useful to apply Multidimensional scaling to cognitive structures on rugby football positions in order to examine coaching methods in ball games. Twenty-one Japanese players, all of whom selected as the men's national high school player, served as subjects. As a result of INDSCAL analysis, three dimensions, 1) formation, 2) scrum and lineout and 3) tactical decision-making, were idehtified. The comparison of these results with those of former studies indicates that the Japanese players and coaches adopt positions laying emphasis on the dimensions of formation, scrum-lineout and tactical decision-making.Second, the subject space from INDSCAL was analyzed by cluster analysis to examine the individual differences of the cognitive structures on rugby football positions. It was concluded that the players, all belonging to positions concerning with tactical decision-making, have well-balanced cognitive structures compared with the other positions' players. And the players' cognitive structures on rugby football positions are influenced by the qualitative difference of positions previously experienced.The knowledge gained from this study is very helpful in the coaching ball games, and suggests significant improvement in the method of coaching.

A study of coaches&apos; cognitive structures on rugby football positions

A study of coaches&apos; cognitive structures on rugby football positions

Correlation of eye color on self-paced and reactive motor performance.

Researchers continue to examine the distinctiveness of motor performance by dark- versus light-eyed individuals. Dark-eyed individuals generally perform better at reactive type tasks (boxing, hitting a ball, defensive positions in football, rotary pursuit), while light-eyed individuals perform better at self-paced tasks (bowling, golf, pitching baseballs). Subjects performed two tasks, rotary pursuit and ball tossing (with light and dark background). Eye color (light or dark) and accuracy of performance were recorded for each subject. No significant difference was found between eye color and performance on the pursuit rotor (reactive activity). A significant difference was found between men's and women's performance in throwing a ball (self-paced activity) at a light-colored background.

CORRELATION OF EYE COLOR ON SELF-PACED AND REACTIVE MOTOR PERFORMANCE

Researchers continue to examine the distinctiveness of motor performance by dark- versus light-eyed individuals. Dark-eyed individuals generally perform better at reactive type tasks (boxing, hitting a ball, defensive positions in football, rotary pursuit), while light-eyed individuals perform better at self-paced tasks (bowling, golf, pitching baseballs). Subjects performed two tasks, rotary pursuit and ball tossing (with light and dark background). Eye color (light or dark) and accuracy of performance were recorded for each subject. No significant difference was found between eye color and performance on the pursuit rotor (reactive activity). A significant difference was found between men's and women's performance in throwing a ball (self-paced activity) at a light-colored background.

A study on coaches of group sports

The cognitive structures on the 15 positons of rugby football by the coaches were analyzed by INDSCAL (Individual Differences Scaling). The coaches of WASEDA university rugby football club (N=17) served as subjects. The results of INDSCAL analysis were interpreted as follows: 1) dimentsion of formation, 2) dimension of tactics. It will be very important to take these dimensions into consideration in investigation of the positions of rugby football. Especially, the second dimension will require careful discussion in inquiry of coach guidance contents, because the second one will be more important in actual matches of rugby football.In addition, the 17 coaches were divided into 3 clusters by the weights of INDSCAL subject space, applying hierarchical cluster analysis. These clusters were discussed by taking into consideration the coaches' positions that they had played as an active member of the team, their rugby careers and roles that should be carried out as members of the coaching staff, etc.It was indicated that coaches' cognitive structures on rugby football positions would be influenced by their positions and roles within the coaching staff.

Task Complexity and Affect in Collegiate Football

This research examined difference in affect of athletes performing complex tasks (offensive positions) and those performing relatively simple tasks (defensive positions). As hypothesized, defensive players were more vigorous than offensive players. Differences were also found between positions (linemen, backs, and quarterbacks). Results agreed with previous research on differences in affect between microcycles of training. Specifically, athletes about to perform relatively simple tasks appeared to utilize anger as a preevent motivating strategy. No differences in attentional styles were detected between offensive players and defensive players or among positions in collegiate football.

Racial Segregation by Playing Position in the English Football League: Some Preliminary Observations

Over the last 17 years, research has shown that blacks are significantly underrepresented in spatially central playing positions in major league baseball and professional and college football. The present study extends the research literature by analyzing the racial characteristics of playing positions in English football (soccer). Data were obtained from 468 1st Division players. Chi-square analysis revealed that blacks were overrepresented at the noncentral forward position and underrepresented at both the spatially central midfielder position and "functionally" central goalie position. The "stereotype hypothesis" was used to explain the overrepresentation of blacks at the forward position and their underrepresentation at the midfielder position while the "outcome-control hypothesis" was helpful in explaining the goalkeeper data. It was speculated that these patterns of racial segregation by playing position may be the result of discriminatory practices by white management.

Stereotypes of football players as a function of positions.

Sports experts agree that different football positions require different personality characteristics and a varied level of motor skill, e.g., quarterback position presumably demands a calm personality, a cerebral endowment, and great motor finesse. By contrast, some other positions may require sheer physical strength and a combative aggressive personality. This study investigated whether football coaches stereotype players according to their various positions and attempted to determine the profile, magnitude and consistency of such stereotyping on both personality traits and motor skill dimensions. This study also investigated the relationship between such stereotypes and the players' scores on psychological tests. On two separate occasions, each of six coaches rated thirteen football positions as to their players' motor skill and personality characteristics. Coaches were instructed to base their ratings on their actual experiences with the players of each position throughout their coaching careers. MMPI-derived scales and the 16 PF test were administered to 251 players. Test-retest correlation coefficients indicate that the six coaches were reliably stable in their stereotypes of the players. Coefficients of concordance indicate significant agreement among the coaches on the stereotypes. Only the 16 PF scores yielded a personality picture consistent with the coaches' stereotypes. Effect of such stereotyping on interpersonal relationships between coach and player are discussed.

Effect of Training with Motion Pictures versus Flash Cards upon Football Play Recognition

Abstract High school males (N = 28) were divided into two groups, equated on intelligence, and then trained for play recognition from the defensive end position in football. Motion pictures were used with one group and flash cards were used with the second group. Then they were tested for play recognition times in a live situation. The group trained with motion pictures had significantly shorter response times. Differences in intelligence, over the limited range used in this study, did not result in differences in response times.