League Teams Research Articles

The effects of expansion and relocation on neighbouring teams in Korean professional baseball league

ABSTRACT Despite the substantial and continually expanding body of empirical literature examining factors influencing attendance demand (Schreyer and Ansari 2022), there is a lack of studies analysing the comprehensive effects of changes in league structure, especially for Asian sports leagues. This study examines how changes in sports league structure, specifically alterations in the number of teams and host cities, affect attendance demand for both new teams and existing teams in Korea baseball league. Our findings reveal several points. Firstly, our analysis affirms the existence of a novelty effect in the inaugural year for newly expanded teams. Secondly, relocated teams face a significant decrease in attendance, persisting over an extended period. Thirdly, the emergence of a new team from either result of expansion or relocation, generally does not affect the attendance of neighbouring teams. Nevertheless, we find evidence of fan substitution when a new team is introduced in a region that previously had only one baseball teams, even in densely populated areas. Conversely, when a region already offers a sufficient number of alternative baseball teams, the introduction of a new team does not significantly impact fan demand. This finding is consistent with current centralized spatial distribution of Korea Baseball Organization franchise.

Return to play in professional football players following traumatic cervical spine injury: expert opinions from the National Football League spine surgeons.

There is a paucity of high-quality return-to-play (RTP) data following treatment of cervical spine injuries in contact sports. In this study, the authors gathered insights from National Football League (NFL) team spine surgeon consultants to highlight current practices in treating cervical spine injuries and report decision-making regarding RTP in professional American football players. A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to all NFL consulting physicians specializing in the management of spine injuries. The survey covered the following five clinical vignettes of cervical spine injuries: 1) radiculopathy, 2) myelopathy, 3) unilateral facet fracture, 4) unilateral facet dislocation, and 5) neck pain with MRI showing a ligamentous STIR signal. Participants were asked about management options and criteria to clear players for RTP using a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended answers. A total of 26 physicians from 21 of 32 (66%) teams responded. Anterior surgery was most commonly recommended for cervical disc herniation causing radiculopathy or myelopathy (73% and 88%, respectively). A rigid cervical orthosis was preferred by 68% of experts for initial management of nondisplaced unilateral facet fracture, but single-level anterior fusion was preferred by 56% for a unilateral facet dislocation. Common criteria to clear players for RTP with cervical disc herniation causing radiculopathy included a normal examination (85%), radiographic fusion postoperatively (58%), and pain-free range of motion (50%). Contraindications for RTP included persistent stenosis (35%), instability (31%), multilevel fusion (27%), and persistent cord signal change (23%). Additional criteria for RTP in players with facet fractures or dislocations included radiographic evidence of fracture healing (32% and 24%, respectively) and normal flexion/extension radiographs (24% and 32%, respectively). Finally, for players with isolated ligamentous STIR signal changes, resolution of MRI findings was required by 36% of responding physicians prior to RTP. Decision-making regarding RTP after cervical spine injuries in professional football players is complex and influenced by improvement of symptoms, pain-free range of motion, and radiographic evidence of fusion or fracture healing. Respondents preferred anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for disc herniations causing cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy, rigid orthosis for unilateral facet fractures, and surgery for unilateral facet dislocations. The results of this study provide insight into how surgeons serving as consultants to professional football teams may counsel players who sustain cervical spine injuries.

Associations between internal and external load parameters and match outcomes in men’s volleyball: a machine learning approach

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the relationship between internal and external loads and their associative value for the success of a professional men’s volleyball team. An observational study involving 11 volleyball athletes from a team in the Portuguese 1st League (age: 20.4 ± 6.34 years). Athletes were monitored throughout the first phase of the 2023/2024 season, encompassing 11 microcycles, 60 training sessions, and 13 matches. An inertial measurement unit was used to measure the number and height of jumps in all data collection contexts, while the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and session RPE, fatigue, sleep, mood, soreness, stress, and Hooper index was recorded for all sessions and matches during the observation period. The match outcomes (winning or losing) were also recorded for all matches. The logistic regression model achieved an average accuracy score of 93% amongst other metrics, demonstrating a strong ability to capture patterns of winning or losing probabilities. It was found that training duration, RPE, s-RPE, and the number of jumps significantly contributed to the model’s accuracy. Optimizing the workload parameters like training duration, s-RPE, and jump measures may be relevant for improving match outcomes in volleyball, as these factors were closely linked to success in this sample.

Impact of substitutions on elite soccer team performance based on player evaluation system

This research aimed to explore the performance characteristics of substitutions and to evaluate the performance of substitutions based on the player evaluation system. Event data of 643 substitutions identified from the Chinese Super League teams in the 2019-2020 season were used. The team ratings, ball possession, and expected threat of four periods (5 minutes per period before and after the substitution) of each substitution were computed. Two-step cluster analysis was performed on the team ratings at different times, and the Scheirer–Ray–Hare test was used for the two-factor design based on the cluster and the substitutions across four periods. The cluster analysis revealed 5 clusters with a Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) value of 1,360.50. The interactions of team ratings between the periods and the clusters in different groups were detected (H = 531.96, p < .001, = 0.47). The group comparisons suggested that the ratings of Cluster 3 showed a significant decline after substitutions, which was caused by the lower ball possession while showing greater aggressiveness in terms of expected threat. The study shows how player evaluation systems can be used to measure the effectiveness of substitutions in soccer games and provides insight for further analysis of decision-making situations.

Treatment of Initial Anterior Shoulder Instability in National Hockey League Players: A Survey of NHL Team Physicians.

Managing an in-season anterior shoulder instability poses a special challenge for team physicians, as they need to balance the aim of promptly returning the athlete to play while mitigating the chances of recurrence and further injury to the shoulder. To investigate and report on the treatment preferences of National Hockey League (NHL) team physicians when managing in-season first-time anterior shoulder instability in professional hockey players. Cross-sectional study. A survey consisting of 33 sport-specific questions focused on the treatment options and preferences for anterior shoulder instability in hockey players was developed, and 32 NHL team physicians were invited to anonymously complete the survey. Following the collection of the data, the distribution of the responses to each question was documented as counts and percentages. Of the 32 invited team physicians, 31 (97%) completed all (n = 28) or most (n = 3) of the survey. The mean experience of the respondents was 13 ± 11 years. A total of 28 (90%) respondents would attempt nonoperative treatment of an in-season initial anterior shoulder dislocation with an isolated soft tissue injury, while 28 (90%) would recommend operative treatment of the same injury with bony involvement. Of the 31 respondents, 30 (97%) utilized rehabilitation parameters rather than time from injury when determining whether a player could return to play. Of those parameters, clinical strength (100%), range of motion (87%), anterior apprehension (84%), and pain (65%) were the most utilized. For surgical management of an isolated soft tissue lesion, 28 (90%) of the respondents preferred arthroscopic repair, while 2 (7%) preferred open repair. Of the 32 NHL team physicians surveyed, 28 preferred nonoperative management for the treatment of initial anterior shoulder dislocations with isolated soft tissue injuries, while initial operative management was preferred by the same number of team physicians for any injuries with bony involvement.

The validity and reliability of the jump power app for measuring vertical jump actions in professional soccer players

This research examines the reliability, validity, and usefulness of the Jump Power application by comparing it with the reliable and validated Optojump photoelectric cell system in measuring squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) in professional athletes. Twenty-two soccer players volunteered to participate in the research. The participants were the players of the U21 team in the 1st League. All athletes were subjected to SJ and CMJ tests. Jump Power app and Optojump data were acquired simultaneously during SJ and CMJ. Trial procedure was performed on three separate occasions (Session 1, Session 2, and Session 3), with 48 h intervals to examine the reliability of the data from session to session. For reliability analysis, coefficients of variation percent (%CV). Jump power app reliability values CV% is below 5%. In the validity analysis, significant differences were observed between the Optojump photoelectric cell system and the Jump Power App for SJ and CMJ. In conclusion, this study revealed that the Jump Power app is a reliable but not valid tool to measure vertical jumps in soccer players.

Physical collisions during elite rugby league match play and training: A stakeholder's perspective

The purpose of this study was to explore rugby league stakeholders’ perspectives of the tackle event, utilising qualitative approaches to gain further insight into this phenomenon. Nineteen stakeholders, comprising tactical coaches (n = 5), physiotherapists (n = 5), doctors (n = 5) and strength and conditioning coaches (n = 4) from every European 2023 Super League team (ESL), were recruited to participate in an online semi-structured interview, via the Microsoft Teams platform, facilitated by a moderator. Braun and Clarke's (2019) reflexive thematic analysis was performed to code and analyse the transcribed data; this established pattern-based interpretation and reporting from the dataset. The research findings can be divided into five crucial segments that illuminate our understanding of collision in rugby league: 1) simultaneous contact and the three-person tackle, 2) tackle height – calibration is critical, 3) the fundamental factors influencing tackle-related risks. 4) the graded exposure and philosophical approaches to contact training and games, 5) replacing toughness with resilience - the impact of game identity. The themes generated here provide comprehensive insights into stakeholders’ perceptions of the optimal ways to perform collisions. This has implications for the identity of the game, and the subsequent law changes/ behavioural change models that aim to make the game safer, specific to rugby league. In line with previous research, the conclusions underline high-risk events in match play (blind-sided collisions and fatigue), providing a focus for areas of future research. Lastly, psychology in the tackle event is explored, highlighting the need for graded contact exposure from a physical and psychological perspective during tackle technique training.

Building Sports Brand and Fan Relationships Through Social Media During Covid-19 Pandemic and Post Pandemic Era

This study aims to investigate the measures taken by professional hockey clubs in Sweden for building brand and relationship with fans through social media (SM) during the global pandemic Covid-19. The study followed an inductive approach and qualitative method. Data were collected from officials and fans of three well-known Swedish Hockey league (SHL) teams through semi-structured interviews. A content analysis was undertaken to analyze the collected responses from the club officials and fans. The findings provide insight on the actions taken by the clubs to build their brand and fan relationships through SM. The study provides a framework signifying the important factors that sports organizations need to focus on while building their brand and fan relationships during a global pandemic and in the post pandemic era.

Модель змагальної діяльності зв’язуючого гравця високої кваліфікації у волейболі

Increasing the competitive performance of Ukrainian volleyball players requires scientific support of the educational and training process and the use of modern methods of scientific research, one of which is modeling. Indicators of technical and tactical actions obtained by analyzing official competitions are the basis for creating models of competitive activity. The aim of the study is to develop a model of a high-skill link player on the basis of statistical data from the games of the Ukrainian Volleyball Championship among men's teams of the Super League. Material and Methods. The data of 18 qualified volleyball players who perform the function of a linking player in their teams were used for the study. We analyzed statistical data of link players of 8 teams participating in the Ukrainian Super League championship of the season 2023-24. To create a model of a linking player of Ukrainian Super League teams, 10 athletes were selected from the total sample, the main criterion was quantitative indicators of participation in the championship games (at least 80% of official matches). Research methods: analysis of literary sources and data in the Internet, pedagogical testing, analysis and generalization of statistical data of competitive activity, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The analysis of game technical and tactical indicators of qualified volleyball players allows to understand more clearly the peculiarities of competitive activity of players of different roles. In accordance with the purpose of the study we analyzed the game activity indicators of linking players (number of matches and sets, total number of assists, effective assists, satisfactory assists, number of errors). It should be noted that all game indicators indicated the heterogeneity of the group of highly skilled binders, which is explained by different experience, players' participation in matches, and the variety of tactical actions of the teams. Conclusions. The developed model of competitive activity of highly skilled liaisons contains general data (height, age), indicators of physical abilities (height of block and attack), technical and tactical indicators (execution of passes, number of errors). In addition to the average data, the model presents a variation series from the lowest to the highest results.

Demographic and training descriptive analysis of National and American Hockey League team physicians

Aims/objectiveAssess the demographic/education backgrounds of team physicians (TPs) in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). Materials/methodsOrthopedic Surgeon (O) and Primary Care (PC) TPs for each NHL and AHL team were recorded based on an internet search. Age, sex, and race were collected. Education and practice information were collected and included programs attended, program region, degree, fellowship completion, fellowship subspeciality, practice setting, and H-indices. ResultsThirty-nine NHL O, 38 NHL PC, 39 AHL O, and 33 AHL PC TPs were identified. 100 % of O-NHL and -AHL TPs were male while 94.7 % and 87.9 % of NHL and AHL PC TPs were male, respectively. NHL TPs were 53.2 years old on average while AHL TPs were 50.8 years old (p = 0.11). Most TPs were Caucasian. More NHL O TPs were MDs (100 %) compared to NHL PC TPs (84.2 %; p = 0.011); similar trends were seen in the AHL. 66.7 % of NHL O TPs practice in academic settings, compared to 33.3 % of AHL O TPs (p = 0.030). NHL O TPs had the highest H-indices. The most represented residency/fellowship programs were Hospital for Special Surgery and Kerlan-Jobe. ConclusionNHL O TPs were more likely to have an MD, be fellowship trained, practice in an academic setting, and had higher H-indices compared to their NHL PC counterparts; similar trends were observed in the AHL. There was an overall lack of diversity amongst TPs in both leagues.

Predicting soccer matches with complex networks and machine learning

Abstract Soccer attracts the attention of many researchers and professionals in the sports industry. Therefore, the incorporation of science into the sport is constantly growing, with increasing investments in performance analysis and sports prediction industries. This study aims to (i) highlight the use of complex networks as an alternative tool for predicting soccer match outcomes and (ii) show how the combination of structural analysis of passing networks with match statistical data can provide deeper insights into the game patterns and strategies used by teams. In order to do so, complex network metrics and match statistics were used to build machine learning models that predict the wins and losses of soccer teams in different leagues. The results showed that models based on passing networks were as effective as ‘traditional’ models, which use general match statistics. Another finding was that by combining both approaches, more accurate models were obtained than when they were used separately, demonstrating that the fusion of such approaches can offer a deeper understanding of game patterns, allowing the comprehension of tactics employed by teams relationships between players, their positions and interactions during matches. It is worth mentioning that both network metrics and match statistics were important and impactful for the mixed model. Furthermore, the use of networks with a lower granularity of temporal evolution (such as creating a network for each half of the match) performed better than a single network for the entire game.

Collecting the Northern Hall: Pre-war Canadian Content in the Hobby That Defined Our Childhoods

My baseball card collection and by extension this article focuses on the pre-war era of card collecting and its connection to Canada. Discussion of cards from this era often includes cards manufactured until 1952 as Topps’ 1952 set is generally considered the first ‘modern’ set. The paper will start with a discussion of Canadian Baseball Hall of Famers and Canadian teams represented in some of the more sought-after American sets. Many pre-war sets featured minor league teams including several Canadian teams. We will then examine Canada’s early contribution to the hobby by describing cards issued by early Canadian companies. Lastly, no good article about baseball cards is complete without a good Top 10 list, so I will propose a list of the Top 10 ‘Holy Grail’ Canadian related vintage cards.

Validity and Reliability of a New Wearable Chest Strap to Estimate Respiratory Frequency in Elite Soccer Athletes.

Assessing respiratory frequency (fR) is practical in monitoring training progress in competitive athletes, especially during exercise. This study aimed to validate a new wearable chest strap (wCS) to estimate fR against ergospirometry as a criterion device in soccer players. A total of 26 elite professional soccer players (mean [standard deviation]: 23.6 [4.8] years; 180.6 [5.7] cm; 77.2 [5.4] kg) from three Italian Serie A League teams participated in this cross-sectional study. The sample included attackers, midfielders, and defenders. fR was assessed during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a treadmill using (i) a breath-by-breath gas exchange analyzer (Vyntus® CPX, Vyaire Medical) and (ii) a novel wCS with sensors designed to assess breath frequency following chest expansions. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), adjusted coefficient of determination (aR2), Bland-Altman plot analysis, and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (ρc) were used for comparative analysis (correlation and concordance) among the methods. The repeated measures correlation coefficient (rrm) was used to assess the strength of the linear association between the methods. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Finn coefficient (rF) were used for inter-rater reliability. All statistical analyses were performed within the R statistical computing environment, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) reported and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A total of 16529 comparisons were performed after collecting the CPET data. The robust time series analysis with Hodges-Lehmann estimation showed no significant differences between both methods (p > 0.05). Correlation among devices was statistically significant and very large (r [95% CI]: 0.970 [0.970, 0.971], p < 0.01; aR2 [95% CI]: 0.942 [0.942, 0.943], p < 0.01) with strong evidence supporting consistency of the new wCS (BF10 > 100). In addition, a high concordance was found (ρc [95% CI]: 0.970 [0.969, 0.971], bias correction factor: 0.999). VyntusTM CPX, as a standard criterion, showed moderate agreement with wCS after Bland-Altman analysis (bias [95% lower to the upper limit of agreement]; % agree: 0.170 [-4.582 to 4.923] breaths·min-1; 69.9%). A strong association between measurements (rrm [95% CI]: 0.960 [0.959, 0.961]), a high absolute agreement between methods (ICC [95% CI]: 0.970 [0.970, 0.971]), and high inter-rater reliability (rF: 0.947) were found. With an RMSE = 2.42 breaths·min-1, the new wCS seems to be an valid and reliable in-field method to evaluate fR compared to a breath-by-breath gas exchange analyzer. Notwithstanding, caution is advised if methods are used interchangeably while further external validation occurs.

Key variables for predicting scoring success in Brazilian basketball games

The objective of this study was to identify the variables that can predict the number of points scored by teams in Brazil's national basketball league. A total of 182 NBB games were analyzed using scouting variables including free-throw, 2-point, and 3-point shooting percentages; free-throw, 2-point, and 3-point attempts; number of defensive and offensive rebounds; number of assists, steals, turnovers, violations, and fouls committed and received. A Multiple Linear Regression analysis (SPSS, v.19) was used to determine which variables predict the number of points scored in a game. The prediction of the number of points scored was achieved (a) without considering shooting variables, (b) considering only shooting-related variables, and (c) considering all analyzed variables, explaining 30.5%, 62.9%, and 63.2% of the variation in scoring behavior, respectively. These findings can be used to enhance basketball training by focusing on the most determinant variables for scoring in games.

External Load Evaluation in Elite Futsal: Influence of Match Results and Game Location with IMU Technology.

The purpose of this study was to assess the external load demands in futsal, considering both home and away matches and their outcomes, in order to plan microcycles throughout the season based on the external load of each match. The external load of 10 players from a First Division team in the Spanish Futsal League was recorded throughout 15 official matches in the first half of the league championship. The players' external load was monitored using OLIVER devices. To analyse the influence of the match outcome and location on the external load, a univariate general linear model (GLM) analysis was conducted with Bonferroni post hoc. There are no differences between the variables neither comparing results nor location factors, except for accelerations of 2 to 3 m/s2 (m) per minute and the number of accelerations of 2 to 3 m/s2 per minute, reporting higher value winnings at home than away (p < 0.05). The location and results are not factors that influence on external load in futsal matches, except the number and distance performed in accelerations and distance covered at a low to medium speed. These findings are important for planning microcycles and providing the appropriate dosage to each player to achieve optimal performance in matches.

Player Activity and Load Profiling with Hidden Markov Models: A Novel Application in Rugby League

ABSTRACT Player movement in rugby league is complex, being spatiotemporal and multifaceted. Modeling this complexity to provide robust measures of player activity and load has proved difficult, with important aspects of player movement yet to be considered. These include the influence of time-varying covariates on player activity and the combination of different dimensions of player movement. Few studies have simultaneously categorized player activity into different activity states and investigated factors influencing the transition between states, or compared player activity and load profiles between matches and training. This study applied hidden Markov models (HMMs)—a data-driven, multivariate approach—to rugby league training and match GPS data to i) demonstrate how HMMs can combine multiple variables in a data-driven way to effectively categorize player movement states, ii) investigate the influence of two time-varying covariates, score difference and elapsed match time on player activity states, and iii) compare player activity and load profiles within and between training and match modalities. HMMs were fitted to player GPS, accelerometer and heart rate data of one English Super League team across 60 training sessions and 35 matches. Distinct activity states were detected for both matches and training, with transitions between states in matches influenced by score difference and elapsed time and clear differences in activity and load profiles between training and matches. HMMs can model the complexity of player movement to effectively profile player activity and load in rugby league and have the potential to facilitate new research across several sports.

Injury Prevention Training in Girls' and Women's Elite Football in Denmark: A Survey of Practices and Perceptions.

Through a national cross-sectional survey, the present study investigated the use and content of injury prevention training (IPT), and associated attitudes and beliefs, involving stakeholders in Danish girls' and women's elite football (U14, U16, U18, and Danish Women's League teams). A total of 168 stakeholders (coaches, physical performance coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, and club management) from 18 Danish elite clubs were invited to participate. Of these, 158 were eligible to participate, and 110 participants (69.6% response rate) provided 191 valid survey responses, as some provided more than one response due to multiple affiliations within the same club. The use of IPT ranged from 91.1% to 100% across team levels, with approximately 50% reporting up to 1-2 h/week. Interestingly, only 52.9%-72.7% of the responses indicated use of an evidence-based IPT program, with lowest adoption at the U14 and Danish Women's League teams. The FIFA 11+ was the most used evidence-based IPT program. The majority of the participants (>72%) had positive perceptions regarding IPT impact on injury reduction. These findings indicate that, while IPT is broadly used across Danish girls' and women's elite football teams, the implementation of evidence-based IPT programs varies, with lower adoption of these programs among the youngest and senior elite teams. Hence, there is a need to enhance integration of IPT programs proven effective in girls' and women's elite football. Notably, stakeholders expressed positive perceptions regarding the impact of IPT on injury reduction, which provides valuable support for future efforts to strengthen IPT in football practice.

Omega-3 Status Evaluation in Australian Female Rugby League Athletes: Ad Libitum Fish Oil Provision Results in a Varied Omega-3 Index.

Optimal omega-3 status, influenced by increased intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is vital for physiological health. This study investigated the impact of ad libitum fish oil supplementation on the omega-3 status of female athletes in a professional rugby league team during a competitive season. Twenty-four (n = 24) athletes participated, and their omega-3 status was assessed using the Omega-3 Index (O3I) and arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA ratio through finger-prick blood samples taken at the start and end of the season. They were given access to a fish oil supplement (PILLAR Performance, Australia) with a recommended daily dose of four capsules per day (2,160mg EPA and 1,440mg docosahexaenoic acid). At the beginning of the season, the group mean O3I was 4.77% (95% confidence interval [CI: 4.50, 5.04]) and the AA to EPA ratio was 14.89 (95% CI [13.22, 16.55]). None of the athletes had an O3I exceeding 8%. By the season's end, the O3I was a significantly increased to 7.28% (95% CI [6.64, 7.93], p < .0001) and AA to EPA ratio significantly decreased to a mean of 6.67 (95% CI [5.02, 8.31], p < .0001), driven primarily by the significant increase in EPA of +1.14% (95% CI [0.77, 1.51], p < .0001). However, these changes were varied between the athletes and most likely due to compliance. This study has demonstrated that using the objective O3I feedback scale is possible with elite female rugby athletes, but individual strategies will be required to achieve daily intake targets of EPA + DHA.

Unveiling Multi-Agent Strategies: A Data-Driven Approach for Extracting and Evaluating Team Tactics from Football Event and Freeze-Frame Data

Studying collective behavior in opposing multi-agent teams is crucial across game theory, robotics, and sports analytics. In sports, especially football, team tactics involve intricate strategic spatial and action behaviors displayed as event sequences during possession. Understanding and analyzing these tactics is essential for successful training, strategic planning, and on-field success. While traditional approaches, such as notational and statistical analyses, offer valuable insights into team tactics, they often lack a comprehensive consideration of contextual information, thereby limiting the holistic evaluation of teams’ performances. To bridge this gap and capture the nuanced intricacies of team tactics, we employed advanced methodologies. The sequential pattern mining algorithm PrefixSpan was utilized to extract tactical patterns from possession sequences, enabling a deeper understanding of how teams strategize and adapt during play. Additionally, the neural marked spatio temporal point process (NMSTPP) model was leveraged to model and predict team behaviors, facilitating a fair comparison among teams. The evaluation of team possessions was further enhanced through the innovative holistic possession utilization score metrics, providing a more nuanced assessment of performance. In our experimental exploration, we identified and classified five distinct team tactics, validated the efficacy of the NMSTPP model when integrating StatsBomb 360 data, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of English Premier League teams during the 2022/2023 season. The results were visualized using radar plots and scatter plots with mean shift clustering. Lastly, the potential applications to RoboCup were discussed.

The effect of the goal kick rule change on the team’s performance in ball possession and goal scoring in elite male football

Goalkeepers have always played an important role Defensively. Due to rule changes and tactical transitions, goalkeepers now also have an influence on attacking aspects of the game (Szwarc et al., 2023, Baltic J Health Phys Act). The most recent rule change allows attacking players in the box during goal kicks, which creates extra space for the attacking team at the time of the goal kick without direct pressure from the opponent. This is beneficial for teams in the build-up who try to increase space to create goal scoring opportunities in advantageous positions eventually high up the pitch (Goes et al., 2019, Big Data, 7, 57-70). This latest rule change gives the attacking team an extra 640 m2 of space to displace the opposition defence in deeper positions to create scoring opportunities. As of date, no research has looked at the goal kick rule change and its effect on the distribution tendencies and tactical approaches implemented, when attempting to progress the ball up the field from a goal kick. This research aims to analyse the distribution tendencies of Premier League teams in the 2022/2023 season and compare goal kick and build-up behaviour between teams, depending on their finishing position in the season. A secondary data analysis will be conducted on Premier League matches during the 2022/2023 season, including 2136 goal kick sequences cropped from 760 games. The location of the first pass of the goal kick, number of passes during the build-up, duration of the build-up phase, and the amount of goalkeeper touches after the initial goal kick will be analysed. Additionally, the outcome of successful goal kicks will be analysed considering the action and location of the action. All data analysis will be done using HUDL Sportscode (v12.29.0., Hudl, USA). Statistical analysis will evaluate the effect of team’s league table position on the start of the goal kick, build up phase, and the outcome of the goal kick.