League Soccer Team Research Articles

Examining the Digital Pitch: A 3-Year Examination of Social Media Metrics From Men’s Professional Sport

Although research in the social media and sport domain continues to uncover key insights related to content, there has been a push toward identifying the social media metrics that serve as the antecedents to relationship marketing engagement. Along that vein, the purpose of this study was to analyze social media activity (i.e., impressions and engagements) from all teams in a given professional sport league over a 3-year period. Contextually set with Major League Soccer teams for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 calendar years, 66,745 Instagram posts were retrieved using MVPindex and parsed for focal social media metrics (i.e., impressions and engagements) for each team using a temporal lens (i.e., by month and by day). Findings of this study align with past work indicating the need for sport properties to focus on posting outside of game-day windows, harnessing the ongoing, instantaneous nature of social media.

Team Masculinity and Performance: Evidence from Major League Soccer

Abstract: Previous papers provide evidence that psychological characteristics such as personal masculinity are related to performance. Although relationships have been well established on an individual level, there has been little attempt to analyze the performance of teams that diverge in terms of masculinity. This paper studies the impact of team masculinity on its performance, paying particular attention to the connection between masculinity and cooperative behavior within a team. We use data on Major League Soccer teams because sports competitions represent a good ground for demonstrating masculinity and provide open data. Our results suggest a positive connection between the group’s average masculinity and its performance. We test whether this fact can be explained by increased in-group cooperation, first revealed in Stirrat and Perrett’s experimental study (2012) but do not find any relationship. As for the team’s diversity in masculinity, we do not find any impact on team performance.

Investigating the Sketchplan: A Novel Way of Identifying Tactical Behavior in Massive Soccer Datasets.

Coaches and analysts prepare for upcoming matches by identifying common patterns in the positioning and movement of the competing teams in specific situations. Existing approaches in this domain typically rely on manual video analysis and formation discussion using whiteboards; or expert systems that rely on state-of-the-art video and trajectory visualization techniques and advanced user interaction. We bridge the gap between these approaches by contributing a light-weight, simplified interaction and visualization system, which we conceptualized in an iterative design study with the coaching team of a European first league soccer team. Our approach is walk-up usable by all domain stakeholders, and at the same time, can leverage advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques: a virtual magnetic tactic-board. Users place and move digital magnets on a virtual tactic-board, and these interactions get translated to spatio-temporal queries, used to retrieve relevant situations from massive team movement data. Despite such seemingly imprecise query input, our approach is highly usable, supports quick user exploration, and retrieval of relevant results via query relaxation. Appropriate simplified result visualization supports in-depth analyses to explore team behavior, such as formation detection, movement analysis, and what-if analysis. We evaluated our approach with several experts from European first league soccer clubs. The results show that our approach makes the complex analytical processes needed for the identification of tactical behavior directly accessible to domain experts for the first time, demonstrating our support of coaches in preparation for future encounters.

How do soccer players sprint from a tactical context? Observations of an English Premier League soccer team

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to quantify and tactically contextualise (i.e., phase of play and tactical outcome [TO]) sprints (≥7.0 m/s) of an English Premier League (EPL) soccer team during match-play. Videos of 901 sprints (10 matches) were evaluated using the Football Sprint Tactical-Context Classification System. Sprints occurred within a variety of phases of play (attacking/defensive organisation and transitions) and TOs, both out- and in-possession, with position-specific differences. Most sprints were completed out-possession (58%), with “closing down” the most observed TO (28%). In-possession, “run the channel” (25%) was the most observed TO. Centre backs predominantly performed “ball down the side” sprints (31%), whereas central midfielders mostly performed “covering” sprints (31%). Central forwards and wide midfielders mostly performed “closing down” (23% and 21%) and “run the channel” (23% and 16%) sprints when out- and in-possession, respectively. Full backs most frequently performed “recovery” and “overlap” runs (14% each). This study provides insights into the specific physical-tactical characteristics of sprints performed from an EPL soccer team. This information can be used to assist in the development of position-specific physical preparation programmes, and more ecologically valid and contextualised gamespeed and agility sprint drill construction to better reflect the demands of soccer.

What are the significant turning demands of match play of an English Premier League soccer team?

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the significant turning demands of English Premier League soccer match play relative to playing position using LiDAR technology. Turning data were collected from an English Premier League soccer team (2020–2021 season; 18 fixtures) using a Sportlight® LiDAR tracking system. Turns were tracked during match play, sub-categorised by entry speed (<3.0, 3.0–5.5, 5.5–7.0 and >7.0 m/s) and turning angle (Low: 20–59°; Medium: 60–119°; High: 120–180°). Turning metric frequencies were compared between playing positions (centre backs, full-backs, central midfielders, wide midfielders, and central forwards). On average, per match, central midfielders performed more total turns (~38 vs ~18–27), turns with entry speeds <3.0 (~15 vs ~7–10) and 3.0–5.5 m/s (~21 vs ~8–15) and low (~4 vs ~1–2), medium (~10 vs ~3–6) and high angled turns (~24 vs ~12–18) compared to all other playing positions (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.96–2.74). Approximately, 90% of turns during matches were performed with entry speeds <5.5 m/s and ~63–70% were high angled turns. This study provides unique insights into the turning demands of English Premier League soccer matches , which can be used to inform position-specific physical preparation strategies, turning testing battery selection, agility drill construction, and rehabilitation and return to play standards.

Distinctions in environmental attitudes between soccer and American football fans

PurposeIn this study, the authors examine consumer attitudes toward a professional soccer club’s proenvironmental initiatives and evaluate whether key themes are consistent with those found in previous research of fans in different sporting contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed empirical material provided by 147 highly identified supporters of a Major League Soccer team. Using template analysis, the authors compared codes, categories and themes with those previously identified in a reference group of National Football League (NFL) fans.FindingsTwenty-three preliminary codes, nine categories and four themes were established by the researchers. Three themes – Considering Environmental Action, Business Insights and Impacting the Fan Experience – were all consistent with the NFL reference group. A fourth theme, Public Visibility, focused on the possibility that the club’s proenvironmental initiatives could provide a competitive advantage over rival cities and positively influence local programming and behaviors.Originality/valueThe results of this study support the notion that fan characteristics may differ across various demographic and structural contexts and fans’ recognition that a club could leverage its community standing to promote proenvironmental action.

A Structural Equation Model-Based Study of the Effect of Perceived Risk of Performance on the Consumption Behaviour of Soccer Spectators

The purpose of this research is to examine the intentions of sports consumption of viewers of two Chinese Super League soccer teams and to determine whether changes in behaviour are related to the teams’ league standings. Spectators from both teams participate in the study voluntarily. The study employs descriptive statistics and fieldwork, and the questionnaire used in the study has a reliability coefficient of 0.87. Experts in sports management determine the content validity, while validation factor analysis is used to determine the structural validity. The statistical population is composed of two Chinese Super League teams (one team is relatively successful and one less successful). Six hundred and seventy-eight valid questionnaires are distributed randomly. Following data collection, the link between consumption behaviour and perceived risk is examined. The findings show that performance risk has an effect on game watching intention, t = 0.04, with a standard solution of 1.99, on recommending others watch the game, t = 0.11, with a standard solution of 0.98, on team licenced merchandise consumption, t = −0.05, with a standard solution of −0.41, and on the consumption of media, t = 4.21, with a standard solution of 1.19. Therefore, performance perceived risk significantly affects game watching and media consumption intention has a significant effect but has no significant effect on recommending others to watch the game and licensed merchandise consumption.

Time to Say Goodbye: A Duration Analysis of the Determinants of Coach Dismissals and Quits in Major League Soccer

This study investigates the determinants of voluntary and involuntary head coach turnovers using a large dataset of some 6,500 coach-game observations from Major League Soccer over 2004–2019. The duration analysis results show that team performance related to expected playoff qualification and performance expectations matter for both types of separations. Moreover, the findings reveal that coach reputation decreases dismissal probabilities, while coach age increases quit rates. The results of this study will be of particular interest to Major League Soccer team owners and managers as well as for business management outside the sports industry.

America’s major league soccer: artificial intelligence and the quest to become a world class league

America’s major league soccer: artificial intelligence and the quest to become a world class league

Hamstrings Injuries with MRI Findings in a Major League Soccer Team

Hamstrings Injuries with MRI Findings in a Major League Soccer Team

Models of speed development in soccer

Background: ‪The main objective of this research was to determine a model of the Speed Abilities Development Index (SADI) in selected teams of the top league, the first and the second league in Poland. The indirect aim was to determine the most significant predictors that have the greatest effect on development of this model. Material and methods: ‪The study examined a group of randomly selected 20 athletes (age 24 ± 3years) from four Polish premium league soccer teams, four teams of the first league and four teams of the second league, what amounted to 60 randomly selected players. The following independent variables related to starting and absolute running were considered: 5 m, 20 m, 30 m, 520 m, 530 m, 2030 m. Results: I‪n the group of top league players the model determined the following predictors of speed as most significant: the sprint time of 5 to 30 m segment run, the sprint time recorded between 20 to 30 m and the mean result of the RAST. In the group of players from the first and second leagues, the predictors included: the time of 20 to 30 m run, mean result of the RAST and the sprint time of the 5 m run. Conclusions: ‪A good soccer player should be prepared for both short (5 to 20 m) and longer (30 to 50 m) runs at the highest speed possible.

Seasonal Variation in Physiological Fitness of a Semi-Professional K3 League Soccer Team

Seasonal Variation in Physiological Fitness of a Semi-Professional K3 League Soccer Team

Determinants of Attendance in Major League Soccer

This study examines the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league’s recent era of growth. The estimates indicated that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing. The estimates identified positive novelty effects for newer teams and soccer-specific stadiums, but not for stadium age. Income and attendance were positively correlated, which indicates that Major League Soccer matches are a normal good. The population size, Hispanic share of the population, presence of other major-league franchises, and number of designated players on a team did not appear to be strong determinants of seasonal attendance.

Sponsorship by the food and beverage industries in Brazilian professional soccer: an obstacle to the promotion of healthy eating

Sponsorship by ultra-processed food and beverage companies is a common marketing practice in sports, capable of influencing consumers, with unknown effects in Brazil. The study aimed to identify the profile of food and beverage companies sponsoring professional soccer teams in Brazil and to associate the occurrence of this sponsorship with the teams' characteristics. The sample included companies from these industries sponsoring 20 major league soccer teams competing in the Brazilian Championship in 2018. The food companies were identified according to the products based on the NOVA classification, and information was obtained on the number of championships they had won in Copa Libertadores, the Brazilian Championship, and the state championships; time since the club was founded; region of Brazil; number of fans; and revenues from sponsorship/advertising and sale of TV rights. A total of 280 sponsors were identified, with repeat sponsors between teams, of which 11.5% were from the food industry, featuring ultra-processed products (9.4%) and 6.7% of ultra-processed beverages. Sponsorship by ultra-processed producers was more prevalent among teams that had won more championships in the Brazilian National Cup and Copa Libertadores and among those with more fans and higher revenues from sponsorship/advertising and sale of TV rights. The study revealed the significant presence of manufacturers of ultra-processed foods and beverages as soccer team sponsors, especially for the more popular teams that had won more championships, thus posing an obstacle to the promotion of healthy eating.

Injury Surveillance in Major League Soccer: A 4-Year Comparison of Injury on Natural Grass Versus Artificial Turf Field

Background: Artificial playing surfaces are becoming more common due to decreased cost of maintenance and increased field usability across different environmental conditions. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has approved newer generation artificial turf for soccer competition at the elite level, but many elite-level athletes prefer to play on natural grass surfaces due to a perceived increase in injury rate, discomfort, and fatigability on artificial turf. Hypothesis: Injury rates and rates of individually categorized types of injury experienced on artificial turf are noninferior to rates of injury on the standard comparator, natural grass, in elite-level Major League Soccer athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Over the course of 4 Major League Soccer seasons (2013-2016), athlete injury data were recorded electronically. Injury data recorded in matches between 2 Major League Soccer teams were then analyzed. Playing surface was known for each venue, and all artificial turf surfaces were rated as 2-star according to FIFA criteria. Incidence rate ratios (Artificial Turf ÷ Natural Grass) were calculated with a 95% CI (α = .05) for both overall injury incidence and individual injury subgroups. A noninferiority margin (δ) of 0.15 was used to determine noninferiority of injury incidence rates. Results: A total of 2174 in-game injuries were recorded during the study period, with 1.54 injuries per game on artificial turf and 1.49 injuries per game on natural grass (incidence rate ratio, 1.033; 95% CI, 0.937-1.139). Within injury subgroups, overall ankle injury, Achilles injury, and ankle fracture were found to have a statistically higher incidence on artificial turf. Artificial turf was found to be noninferior to natural grass for overall foot injury and forefoot injury. No statistically significant differences were found in knee injuries between the 2 surfaces. Conclusion: The overall rate of injury on artificial turf was noninferior to that on natural grass. Within individual injury categories, a higher rate of ankle injury was found on artificial turf. No other injury subgroup demonstrated statistically significant differences between surfaces. Clinical Relevance: FIFA 2-star rated artificial turf is a viable alternative to natural grass in elite-level soccer competition. Innovative research methods for comparing artificial turf versus natural grass may elucidate relative advantages with respect to player safety.

Choice Overload and Partial Season Ticket Sales

This study utilizes a consumer choice experiment to assess if choice overload exists with partial season ticket packages of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three conditions with an increasing number of partial season ticket options. Study results indicate as the number of options available increases, buyers are more likely to feel the decision-making process was difficult and regret the decision they made. However, participants were generally satisfied to be afforded so many options, and increasing the number of ticket plan options did not appear to affect purchase intent or potential purchase satisfaction. Subscribe to JASM

Enabling process of e-WOM and self-image congruence in Facebook page: a case study of passionate partisanship in the Thai professional soccer team

This research paper specifically sets out to investigate: 1) electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM); 2) self-image congruence (SIC); 3) passionate partisanship (PP) of users who follow a Thai Premier League soccer team's FB page. Using e-WOM to develop SIC among users, a team's FB page enables its fans to become one of Thailand's largest PP groups. The contributions of this paper are threefold: 1) the paper provides a quantitative study in social media marketing in the sports business context; 2) this research paper provides research demonstrating the uniqueness of PP as a construct in sports marketing research and practice; 3) this paper provides research evidencing that e-WOM and its mediator – SIC– are enablers of PP in a sport's team FB page. This paper provides discussion, implications, and limitations together with suggestions for future research before ending with conclusions.

Determinants of Attendance in Major League Soccer

This study examines the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league’s recent era of growth. Estimates indicate that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing. Positive novelty effects are identified for newer teams and soccer-specific stadiums but not for stadium age. Income is positively associated with attendance, indicating that MLS matches are a normal good. Population size, the Hispanic share of population, the presence of other major-league franchises, and the number of designated players on a team do not appear to be strong determinants of seasonal attendance.

Sponsorship image transfer theory in virtual brand communities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the influences and efficiency of a sports sponsorship in an online brand community.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted through interviews with 609 social network users of a Spanish first league soccer team. The partial least squares (PLS) methodology was applied with a posteriori segmentation (PLS prediction-oriented segmentation (POS)).FindingsThe attitude toward the sponsor helps to assess the efficiency of sponsorships between companies. This variable is particularly relevant for evaluating sponsorship efficiency in online brand communities. Improving trust and assessing the sense of membership directly improves attitudes toward the team and the sponsored brands. The attitude toward the sponsor has a direct and positive impact on the purchase intentions. The use of a posteriori segmentation with the PLS–POS technique helps discriminate between groups.Research limitations/implicationsAmong the limitations encountered, further study would require using a sample of various sports disciplines and cultures.Practical implicationsSpecific actions and communication strategies are defined for each segment and in general to adapt communication strategies that improve identification with virtual brand communities. The study has revealed involvement-related differences resulting from the impact that engagement with the sponsored team may have on the assessed relationships.Originality/valueThe study of the effects of sponsorship and the use of a posteriori variables user segmentation in an online brand community are used.

Soccer Match Play as an Important Component of the Power-Training Stimulus in Premier League Players.

Competitive match play is a dominant component of the physical load completed by soccer players in a training microcycle. Characterizing the temporal disruption in homeostasis that follows exercise may provide some insight on the potential for match play to elicit an adaptive response. Countermovement-jump (CMJ) performance was characterized 3d postmatch for 15 outfield players from an English Premier League soccer team (age 25.8 ± 4.1y, stature 1.78 ± 0.08m, body mass: 71.7 ± 9.1kg) across a season. These players were classified as either starters (n = 9) or nonstarters (n = 6), according to their average individual playing time (more or less than 60min/match). Linear mixed models were used to investigate the influence of indicators of match activity (total distance covered [TD] and high-intensity running distance [HI]) on CMJ height and peak power (PP). Starting players covered much greater TD (ES = 1.5) and HI (ES = 1.4) than nonstarters. Furthermore, there was a possible positive effect of HI on CMJ height and PP. This relationship suggests that an additional 0.6km of HI would increase CMJ height and PP by slightly more than the smallest-worthwhile-change values of 0.6cm and 1.0W/kg, respectively. This small yet practically relevant increase in performance may suggest that match play, more specifically the intense activities that are associated with the match, provides a physiological stimulus for neuromuscular adaptation. These data may have implications for the preparation of soccer squads, especially the training requirements of starting and nonstarting players.