Non-professional Football Research Articles

Ethical Code Effectiveness in Football Clubs: A Longitudinal Analysis

As football (soccer) clubs are facing different ethical challenges, many clubs are turning to ethical codes to counteract unethical behaviour. However, both in- and outside the sport field, uncertainty remains about the effectiveness of these ethical codes. For the first time, a longitudinal study design was adopted to evaluate code effectiveness. Specifically, a sample of non-professional football clubs formed the subject of our inquiry. Ethical code effectiveness was assessed by the measurement of the ethical climate. A repeated-measurements ANOVA revealed a positive evolution of the ethical climate within the studied football clubs. This evolution could not be ascribed to the mere presence of an ethical code. However, several potential code effectiveness determining characteristics were also included in the research design. Some of these accounted partly for the evolution of the ethical climate of the football clubs. Results suggest that football clubs should incorporate their ethical code into a broader ethical programme, with attention for professionalization initiatives, stakeholder management, ethical leadership, and whistle-blowing protection.

Physical Characteristics and Performance of Japanese Top-Level American Football Players.

Yamashita, D, Asakura, M, Ito, Y, Yamada, S, and Yamada, Y. Physical characteristics and performance of Japanese top-level American football players. J Strength Cond Res 31(9): 2455–2461, 2017—This study aimed to compare the physical characteristics and performance between top-level nonprofessional football players in Japan and National Football League (NFL) Combine invited players and between top-level and middle-level players in Japan to determine the factors that enhance performance in international and national competitions. A total of 168 American football players (>20 years) in Japan participated in an anthropometric (height and weight) and physical (vertical jump, long jump, 40-yard dash, pro-agility shuttle, 3-cone drill, and bench press repetition test) measurement program based on the NFL Combine program to compete in the selection of candidates for the Senior World Championship. All players were categorized into 1 of the 3 position groups based on playing position: skill players, big skill players, and linemen. Japanese players were additionally categorized into selected and nonselected players for the second tryout. The NFL Combine candidates had significantly better performance than selected Japanese players on all variables except on performance related to quickness among the 3 position groups. Compared with nonselected players, selected Japanese skill players had better performance in the 40-yard dash and bench press test and big skill players had better performance in the vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-yard dash. Selected and nonselected Japanese linemen were not different in any measurements. These results showed the challenges in American football in Japan, which include not only improving physical performance of top-level players, but also increasing the number of football players with good physical performance.

Unincorporated sport associations can seek trade mark protection for the names of non-professional football clubs

In an interim decision an Italian court ruled that an unincorporated sport association is allowed to seek trade mark protection for the name and crest of a non-professional football team, provided that the place name included in the claimed marks is not a mere geographical indication.

O JOGO DE BOLA: UMA ANÁLISE SOCIOESPACIAL DOS TERRITÓRIOS DOS PELADEIROS

The aim of this research work is to analise territoriality among “peladeiros” (nonprofessional football players) in the Mansões Paraíso neighborhood in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia-GO, Brazil. A few methodological procedures were followed and divided in two parts: “office work” and field work. The “pelada” (the match) breaks the formality of professional football since rules, playing fields, and timetables are of a lesser importance. To the “peladeiros”, the most important thing is the moment of socialization brought in by the pelada match. In the fast-paced game of this research work, we have attempted to kick off a geographical reflection on the informal territories of football. KEYWORDS: professional football players – peladeiro – football – territories - socialization.