League Players Research Articles

‘People are robots, too’: Expert gaming as autoplay

Abstract This article theorizes gaming expertise as a form of automated play (autoplay) by considering automation as a production of an arrangement of bodies and forces that solicits speed and accuracy in the processing of sensory, perceptual and cognitive events. Autoplay is not a property specific to technical machines, but to assemblages of machinic and organic bodies. In putting forward this notion of expertise as autoplay, we are not privileging either human bodies or technical components. Instead, resisting this dichotomy, we analyse the relations that constitute this assemblage, and the historical trajectories that shape and capture it – namely, the military–entertainment complex’s pursuit of seamless communicative circuits for threat detection and response. After operationalizing this framework through a look at expert players in League of Legends, this article concludes by drawing out some implications of what it means for particular subjects to play with(in) automation.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 7:35 AM–9:00 AM ePosters

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Major League Baseball (MLB) players are at significant risk for back injury, and back injury accounts for a significant proportion of time spent on the disabled list. MLB players that sustain back injuries are either managed conservatively or undergo operation with the goal of returning to their full level of pre-injury performance. Performance data of MLB players is a readily available method of objectively comparing performance outcomes following recovery from back inury. PURPOSE To better understand differences in performance outcomes and ability to return to play following back injury in MLB players. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING This is a retrospective cohort study comparing performance outcomes in MLB players with back injury who underwent conservative versus surgical managment. PATIENT SAMPLE Major League Baseball players that sustained a documented back injury between 2010 and 2016 as recorded in individual MLB team disabled lists. Inclusion criteria also required that players have statistical performance data available one year prior to the injury and following return to play. OUTCOME MEASURES Various outcome measures of in-game performance were measured using hitting and pitching metrics. Hitting performance was assessed using at bats, hits, batting average, home runs, RBIs, and OPS. Pitching performance was analyzed using win/loss ratio, ERA, saves, innings pitches, strike outs and WHIP. Fast ball velocity and pitch selection was also analyzed. Time on the disabled list and whether players returned to play were determined. METHODS Players who sustained back injury were identified using publically available disabled listings from MLB teams from 2011 to 2016. Conservative versus surgical treatment method was determined by using news media and team-affiliated reporting on injured players. Online statistical data on MLB players performance metrics and pitch selection was gathered for the players meeting inclusion criteria. Performance data was compared from one year prior to the injury to one year following return to play to assess change in performance. RESULTS A total of 187 players were identified who sustained back injury between 2010 and 2016. Of these, data was analyzed from 126 players who met inclusion criteria. A total of 100 and 26 players were treated with conservative and surgical management, respectively. The average age was 33. Surgeries included thoracic and lumbar fusion, and discectomy or microdiscectomy of the lumbar and cervical spine. Players undergoing surgery averaged significantly longer time on the disabled list (126days and 41days, respectively). Pitcher earned run average was increased more in the conservative treatment group than the surgical treatment group (increases of 1.15 and 0.4, respectively). Pitcher fastball velocity decreased and frequency of curveball and change-up pitch selection increased. Players undergoing operative management were less likely to return to play. CONCLUSIONS Major league baseball player performance declines following back injury regardless of the form of treatment. Players undergoing surgery miss more playing time and are less likely to return to play than those undergoing conservative therapy. However, when indicated, surgery may be beneficial in maintaining pitching performance as opposed to conservative management.

Injuries in formal and informal non-professional soccer – an overview of injury context, causes, and characteristics

The objective of this study is to analyse context, causes, and characteristics of injuries in non-professional soccer. Therefore, a retrospective telephone survey was carried out with persons who were injured while playing soccer and who reported this accident to the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva). Based on these data, an analysis of 708 soccer injuries was performed. The findings show that 30.1% of the injuries occurred during informal soccer play, and 75.4% of the injured persons were soccer club members. 53.0% of all injuries were caused by contact and 29.5% by foul play. Foul play was not associated with injury severity. With respect to injury severity, twisting/turning and being tackled by an opponent were identified as the most influental injury causes. Moreover, the risk of being severely injured was particularly high players of the 30+/40+ amateur leagues. In conclusion, the findings highlight that 30+/40+ league players are a major target group for the prevention of severe soccer injuries. Soccer clubs may constitute an appropriate multiplier for implementing prevention strategies such as fair play education, healthy play behaviours, and prevention programmes. Finally, a better understanding of injury situations leading to severe injuries is needed to improve injury prevention.

Dinâmicas de consumo de bens virtuais: práticas e valores no universo de League of Legends

Este artigo busca compreender o consumo de bens virtuais nas práticas cotidianas de jogadores do jogo on-line League of Legends (LoL) para refletir sobre a própria constituição social dos consumidores deste jogo on-line. O objeto de estudo centrou-se nas skins disponíveis em LoL, as quais foram especificamente observadas nas relações estabelecidas com os jogadores e suas motivações de aquisição e interpretação destes bens no ambiente do jogo. O arcabouço teórico-analítico parte da orientação da abordagem antropológica do consumo. Como recorte empírico, a discussão será evidenciada por meio de uma pesquisa com premissas etnográficas com um grupo de consumidores de LoL das cidades de Belém (PA), Diadema (SP) e Osasco (SP). As reflexões indicam que as motivações principais para o consumo dessas mercadorias em League são baseadas na atuação essencial dos valores simbólicos em detrimento dos valores de uso e de troca.

Depression and anxiety symptoms in 17 teams of female football players including 10 German first league teams

BackgroundInformation on the prevalence of mental health problems of elite athletes is inconclusive, most probably due to methodological limitations, such as low response rates, heterogeneous samples.AimsTo evaluate the prevalence and...

Energy expenditure of rugby players during a 14-day in-season period, measured using doubly labelled water

Criterion data for total energy expenditure (TEE) in elite rugby are lacking, which prediction equations may not reflect accurately. This study quantified TEE of 27 elite male rugby league (RL) and rugby union (RU) players (U16, U20, U24 age groups) during a 14-day in-season period using doubly labelled water (DLW). Measured TEE was also compared to estimated, using prediction equations. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured using indirect calorimetry, and physical activity level (PAL) estimated (TEE:RMR). Differences in measured TEE were unclear by code and age (RL 4369 ± 979; RU 4365 ± 1122; U16, 4010 ± 744; U20, 4414 ± 688; U24, 4761 ± 1523 Kcal day− 1). Differences in PAL (overall mean 2.0 ± 0.4) were unclear. Very likely differences were observed in RMR by code (RL 2366 ± 296; RU 2123 ± 269 Kcal day− 1). Differences in relative RMR between U20 and U24 were very likely (U16, 27 ± 4; U20, 23 ± 3; U24, 26 ± 5 Kcal kg− 1 day− 1). Differences were observed between measured and estimated TEE, using Schofield, Cunningham and Harris–Benedict equations for U16 (187 ± 614, unclear; − 489 ± 564, likely and − 90 ± 579, unclear Kcal day− 1), U20 (− 449 ± 698, likely; − 785 ± 650, very likely and − 452 ± 684, likely Kcal day− 1) and U24 players (− 428 ± 1292; − 605 ± 1493 and − 461 ± 1314 Kcal day− 1, all unclear). Rugby players have high TEE, which should be acknowledged. Large inter-player variability in TEE was observed demonstrating heterogeneity within groups, thus published equations may not appropriately estimate TEE.

Comparison of a sports-hydration drink containing high amylose starch with usual hydration practice in Australian rules footballers during intense summer training

BackgroundFluid deficits exceeding 1.6% can lead to physical and cognitive impairment in athletes. Sport drinks used by athletes are often hyper-osmolar but this is known to be suboptimal for rehydration in medical settings and does not utilize colonic absorptive capacity. Colonic absorption can be enhanced by fermentative production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) from substrates such as high amylose maize starch (HAMS). This study therefore compared, in elite Australian Football League (AFL) players at the height of outdoor summer training, a novel dual-action sports oral rehydration strategy that contained HAMS as well as glucose, to their usual rehydration practices (Control). The primary outcome markers of hydration were hematocrit and body weight.MethodsA randomized single-blind crossover study was undertaken in thirty-one AFL players; twenty-seven completed the study which was conducted on four days (two days in the Intervention arm and two in Control arm). The Intervention arm was comprised a 50-100 g evening preload of an acetylated HAMS (Ingredion Pty Ltd) followed by consumption of a specially formulated sports oral rehydration solution (SpORS) drink during intense training and recovery. Players followed their usual hydration routine in the Control arm. Quantitative assessments of body weight, hematocrit and urine specific gravity were made at three time-points on each day of training: pre-training, post-training (90 min), and at end of recovery (30–60 min later). GPS tracking monitored player exertion.ResultsAcross the three time-points, hematocrit was significantly lower and body weight significantly higher in Intervention compared to Control arms (p < 0.02 and p = 0.001 respectively, mixed effects model). Weights were significantly heavier at all three assessment points for Intervention compared to Control arms (Δ = 0.30 ± 0.13, p = 0.02 pre-training; Δ = 0.43 ± 0.14, p = 0.002 post training; and Δ = 0.68 ± 0.14, p < 0.001 for recovery). Between the pre-training and end-of-recovery assessments, the Control arm lost 0.80 kg overall compared with 0.12 kg in the Intervention arm, an 85% lower reduction of bodyweight across the assessment period.ConclusionThe combination of the significantly lower hematocrit and increased body weight in the Intervention arm represents better hydration not only at the end of training as well as following a recovery period but also at its commencement. The magnitude of the benefit seems sufficient to have an impact on performance and further studies to test this possibility are now indicated.Trial registrationTrial is listed on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12613001373763).

Transfer of Training from Virtual to Real Baseball Batting.

The use of virtual environments (VE) for training perceptual-motors skills in sports continues to be a rapidly growing area. However, there is a dearth of research that has examined whether training in sports simulation transfers to the real task. In this study, the transfer of perceptual-motor skills trained in an adaptive baseball batting VE to real baseball performance was investigated. Eighty participants were assigned equally to groups undertaking adaptive hitting training in the VE, extra sessions of batting practice in the VE, extra sessions of real batting practice, and a control condition involving no additional training to the players’ regular practice. Training involved two 45 min sessions per week for 6 weeks. Performance on a batting test in the VE, in an on-field test of batting, and on a pitch recognition test was measured pre- and post-training. League batting statistics in the season following training and the highest level of competition reached in the following 5 years were also analyzed. For the majority of performance measures, the adaptive VE training group showed a significantly greater improvement from pre-post training as compared to the other groups. In addition, players in this group had superior batting statistics in league play and reached higher levels of competition. Training in a VE can be used to improve real, on-field performance especially when designers take advantage of simulation to provide training methods (e.g., adaptive training) that do not simply recreate the real training situation.

Optimal time to return to play and performance after Jones fracture surgery in the National Football League (NFL) players

Optimal time to return to play and performance after Jones fracture surgery in the National Football League (NFL) players

“Our Fans Deserve Better”

When rugby league star Blake Ferguson was arrested and charged with indecent assault in June 2013, for squeezing the vagina of a woman at a Cronulla night spot, the story made headlines around the country. It was the first sexual crime involving a National Rugby League (NRL) player to be reported since Brett Stewart was acquitted of sexual assault in 2010, and reporting of previous cases focused largely on footballers’ attitudes towards women, women’s behaviour towards footballers, and use of alcohol. Using mixed methods discourse analysis, this article shows that the first 2 weeks of print media reporting created a frame for the case that had nothing to do with sexual crime, attitudes towards women, or gender relations. Although Ferguson had a history of inappropriate behaviour towards women, and alcohol abuse, the alcohol frame was almost unanimously chosen, marginalising the sexual crime and Ferguson’s actual victim. In contrast to reporting of previous cases, the focus was overwhelmingly on the impact on Ferguson’s career, his well-being and the game (including teammates, fans, and the NRL). The primacy of sport, and use of language to represent the case, impedes serious consideration of problematic attitudes towards women and the seriousness of sexual crime.

Level of Self-confidence and Its Relationship to the Motivation of Performance among Team Sports Players at the Palestinian Universities

The study aimed at investigating the level of self-confidence and its relationship to motivation of performance among team sports players in Palestinian universities. Differences in the level of self confidence and motivation of performance according to university and type of game were detected. A purposive sample consisted of 90 players. A questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data. The results of the study showed that the level for both self-confidence and motivation of performance were high among league players in Palestine. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between self-confidence and motivation (r = 0.65). The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of self- confidence due to university and type of game. Also, there was a difference in the motivation between universities.

Level of Self-confidence and Its Relationship to the Motivation of Performance among Team Sports Players at the Palestinian Universities

The study aimed at investigating the level of self-confidence and its relationship to motivation of performance among team sports players in Palestinian universities. Differences in the level of self confidence and motivation of performance according to university and type of game were detected. A purposive sample consisted of 90 players. A questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data. The results of the study showed that the level for both self-confidence and motivation of performance were high among league players in Palestine. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between self-confidence and motivation (r = 0.65). The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of self- confidence due to university and type of game. Also, there was a difference in the motivation between universities.

Effect of position, time in the season, and playing surface on Achilles tendon ruptures in NFL games: a 2009-10 to 2016-17 review

ABSTRACTObjectives: Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures are a potentially career-altering and ending injury. Achilles tendon ruptures have a below average return-to-play rate compared to other common orthopaedic procedures for National Football League (NFL) players. The objective of this study was to monitor the incidence and injury rates (IR) of AT ruptures that occurred during the regular season in order to evaluate the influence of player position, time of injury, and playing surface on rupture rates.Methods: A thorough online review was completed to identify published injury reports and public information regarding AT ruptures sustained during regular season and post-season games in the National Football League (NFL) during the 2009–10 to 2016–17 seasons. Team schedules, player position details and stadium information was used to determine period of the season of injury and playing surface. IRs were calculated per 100 team games (TG). Injury rate ratios (IRR) were utilized to compare IRs.Results: During eight monitored seasons, there were 44 AT ruptures in NFL games. A majority of AT ruptures were sustained in the first eight games of the regular season (n = 32, 72.7%). There was a significant rate difference for the first and second four-game segments of the regular season compared to the last two four-game segments of the regular season. Defensive players suffered a majority of AT ruptures (n = 32, 72.7%). The IR on grass was 1.00 per 100 TG compared to 1.08 per 100 TG on artificial turf (IRR: 0.93, p = .80).Conclusion: A significant increase in AT ruptures occurred in the first and second four game segments of the regular season compared to the last two-four game segments of the regular season. Defensive players suffered a majority of AT ruptures compared to offensive or specialist players. There was no difference between AT rupture rates and playing surface in games.

POOLED COHORT EQUATION AND CORONARY ARTERY CALCIUM IN RETIRED NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ATHLETES

Background: The performance of the ACC/AHA pooled cohort equation (PCE) 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has not been evaluated in elite former athletes. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared 104 former National Football League (NFL) players with a sample

Effects of Warming up with Music on Moods and Training Motivation among Athletes

The purpose of the present study is to review the effects of warming up with music on moods and training motivation among Kurdistan province’s female handball players0 for this purpose, 24 handball players of premier league of Kurdistan province were selected as the research subjects through a random sampling method. In this study a pretest-posttest design is applied by which 12 subjects have been selected as control group and 12 as experimental group. The latter group performed warm ups free from music. For the purpose of estimation of motivation of subjects, the questionnaire of sports motivation was made use of. In addition, for investigation of the moods variable, the questionnaire of athletes’ moods was used. Research results using the statistical test of Mann-Whitney showed that no significant difference existed between the experimental and control groups’ motivation and moods after performance of the warming up program (P: 0.124). This was while there was a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups’ moods prior and post to execution of Training program (P= 0.003). In general, it may be concluded that playing music doesn’t have any significant effects on athletes’ motivation while their moods can undergo significant changes through listening to music during warming up.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF POLICY CHANGE ON PHYSICAL CONTACTS IN YOUTH ICE HOCKEY USING VIDEO ANALYSIS

BackgroundPolicy disallowing body checking in youth ice hockey significantly reduces the risk of injury and concussion. Based on video analysis, frequency and intensity of player to player physical contacts (PCs)...

PREVENTING CONCUSSIONS IN YOUTH ICE HOCKEY: THE EFFECT OF LOCAL BODY CHECKING POLICY CHANGE

BackgroundIn 2013, Hockey Canada announced a national policy change delaying the introduction of body checking in ice hockey until Bantam (ages 13–14). Following this change, several local organizations in Canada...

No association between static and dynamic postural control and ACL injury risk among female elite handball and football players: a prospective study of 838 players

BackgroundResearch on balance measures as potential risk factors for ACL injury is limited.ObjectiveTo assess whether postural control was associated with an increased risk for ACL injuries in female elite handball...

INJURIES IN GERMAN MEŃS PROFESSIONAL ICE HOCKEY

BackgroundInjury incidences during international major ice hockey events are high, but information about ice hockey injuries in Germany, particularly in regular league play, is lacking.ObjectiveAnalysis of injury characteristics in German...

INJURY PATTERNS IN GERMAN MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL AND HANDBALL – A COMPARISON

BackgroundBasketball (BB) and handball (HB) are both dynamic and physical indoor transition team sports. However, performance profiles, specifically with regard to allowed legal physical contact, differ widely. Knowledge of injury...