League Teams Research Articles

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.

Indicators of Quantity and Performance Efficiency of Ball Reception by High-Quality Football Players in Competitive Conditions

The aim of this study is to establish indicators of the quantity and effectiveness of various ball reception techniques by high-quality football players. Material, participants and methods: the research was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024. Technical-tactical actions (ball receptions) were recorded during games of English Premier League (EPL) teams in the 2023/2024 season. A total of 10 games were registered and analyzed for this study. The methods employed included analysis of scientific and methodological literature, video analysis of matches, and mathematical statistical methods. Results: the study revealed that football players from English Premier League teams in the 2023/2024 season, on average, executed 370,9±35,3 ball receptions per game. This consisted of 337,4±34,2 rolling ball receptions and 33,5±1,8 airborne ball receptions. Additionally, players performed, on average, 280,8±27,3 ball receptions with the inside of the foot, 40,1±5,1 with the sole, 31,8±3,2 with the outside of the foot, 8,1±0,9 with the chest, 3,9±0,5 with the thigh, 3,8±0,5 with the middle part of the shin, 1,5±0,2 with the abdomen, and 1,1±0,2 with the head. The most effective method of ball reception in the recorded games was using the sole (99,1±0,4%), while the least effective was with the head (59,7±12,0%). Conclusions: the study established indicators for the quantity and effectiveness of ball reception techniques by high-quality football players. Statistical differences were found in both quantitative and qualitative aspects of various ball reception techniques among EPL teams in the 2023/2024 season. It was established that the most popular way of receiving the ball is receiving the ball with the inner side of the foot, and the least popular is receiving the ball with the stomach and head. It was also established, the effectiveness of ball reception by football players depends on the technique used and the trajectory of the ball.

Comparing locomotor intensity indicators in soccer training and competition across contextual factors: a study of replaced coaches in a Portuguese professional 1st league team

This study aims to examine, for each head coach (HC) replaced, the association between training intensity and physical performances obtained in games. Furthermore, the study investigated how contextual factors influence locomotor and mechanical performance association. External load variables were collected using Global Positioning System (GPS) devices across the 4 weeks and 4 games before and after the replacement in a professional adult male soccer team. Six different HC records were analysed (48.8 ± 7.4 years of age; 11.2 ± 3.9 years as an HC) during a three-season span (2020/21–2022/2023). There were marked differences within player variability across the two coaching regimes. Game loads didn't reflect training-related performance, with differences ranging from −71.4% to −9.9%. Players under the outgoing coaches have greater coverage of meters per minute. Meters per minute, distance covered over 18 km/h and high-speed running (all in training) are found to be significant variables influenced by contextual factors. Within-subject and time, training loads did not reflect game-related loads/performances, with starters showing higher deficits (ranging from −79.0 to −14.5). The study suggests that changes in soccer HC can affect players' training intensity and game performance, influenced by various contextual factors and not directly correlated. This type of information might be very suitable to improve training load periodization and programming. For further research avenues, could be the study of the variation of the psychological states of the players at the time of the dismissal and hiring of the HCs, associating them with the physiological performance at the same moments.

Money and Uncertainty of Outcome in Modern Sports Based on the Example of Football

One of the fundamental aspects of professional football is competition, which not only captivates fans but also drives its economic success. Money undeniably plays a significant role in determining sports outcomes, as clubs with larger budgets often possess better players. This article aims to examine the relationship between the market value of football clubs’ squads and their performance in the top 15 European leagues, as per the UEFA ranking. Among these leagues, Manchester City boasts the highest players market value in Europe, estimated at 1,110 million EUR, accounting for a mere 11.21% of the total market value of all English Premier League players. In summary, over the course of the last five seasons, out of 75 possible champions across the analysed leagues, the team with the most expensive squad has emerged victorious on 54 occasions. Consequently, it prompts consideration as to whether any measures should be taken to foster greater balance and to reduce the domination of wealthy teams in national football leagues.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBJECTIVE TRAINING QUALITY SCALE FOR TEAM SPORTS SCALE

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS In team sports, training is strategically designed to incorporate all training factors (i.e., physical, technical, tactical, mental) to improve an athlete’s performance during competition. The ultimate goal is for individual athletes to work together as a cohesive unit to complete training objectives and train at high quality. Although anecdotal, training quality is considered a key component in the training process. However, there is currently no team sport literature that has defined this construct. Nor a validated measurement instrument available to assess the quality of team sport training. Therefore, the present study developed the Subjective Training Quality for Team Sports (STQ-TS) scale. Furthermore, this study investigated the application of this scale within the context of a professional National Rugby League (NRL) team. METHODS Eleven rugby league players (24 ± 2 y; 62 ± 47 NRL games) were interviewed to explore how they define and assess training quality. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. The identified themes were used to develop a preliminary STQ-TS scale. The STQ-TS scale was completed by forty-two NRL players across two seasons. RESULTS Four themes were identified for the STQ-TS scale. These themes included physical, technical, mental, and teamwork (i.e., communication; connectedness). Players perceived pre-season training to be lower quality compared to in-season. In-season training quality showed a gradual improvement throughout both seasons, reaching its peak late in the season. CONCLUSION Professional rugby league players perceive training quality as their ability to complete physical, technical, mental, and teamwork objectives. The STQ-TS scale serves as a valuable tool for practitioners to assess training quality in team sports. The integration of the STQ-TS scale with external load, internal load, and athlete response measures can provide practitioners with a more nuanced and holistic understanding of the training process.

Comparison of The Turkish Clubs with English and German Clubs Toward The Modern Soccer Statistics

Aim: The purpose of this study is, in 2017-2018 season, to evaluate similarities and differences between teams in Super League, Premier League, Bundesliga according to parameters that collected under “Modern Soccer Statistics” which are expected goals, action value and possession value. Method: In 2017-2018 season; 18 teams of Super League, 20 teams Premier League, 18 teams of Bundesliga and whole matches of these teams included to this research. The datas of 992 matches were analyzed. Results: Findings are the highest in Premier League with 50.9 in terms of expected goals average across the Super League, Premier League and Bundesliga; Although it was the lowest in Super League with 46.4, it showed that there was no significant difference. Expected goals per game was determined 0.38 in Premier League, 0.29 in Bundesliga and 0.27 in Super League in proportion to the total score. Action value (3.87-3.99) and action value-offense (3.12-3.14) were examined, no significant difference was observed between leagues, but it was determined that the action value - defense average of Premier League teams was higher. It was determined that there was no significant difference in the possession value of the teams in leagues. Conclusion: Among the teams that have qualified to participate in the Champions League, expected goals, action value, possession value points, goals scored and goals conceded values are all at similar levels. Among the teams that have qualified to participate in the Europa League, only the teams in Super League have a higher average score, and among the relegated teams It was revealed that the teams relegated from Bundesliga had more ball than the teams relegated from Premier League. In the research, when all teams in the leagues are considered in general, regardless of category, the defensive action values of the teams in the Premier League are higher.

Examining the Relationship Between Fanatic Levels of Football Fans and Verbal, Physical and Cyberbullying Behaviors

This research; It was conducted to examine the verbal, physical and cyber bullying behaviors of football fans according to their level of fanaticism. General survey model, one of the descriptive methods, was used in the research. The study group of the study consists of 417 football fans determined by random sampling method for the supporters of the 4 big teams in the Turkish Football Federation super league in the 2020-2021 football season. Research data; To determine the level of fanaticism of football fans, Taşmektepligil et al. (2015) developed the football fanaticism scale, and the verbal physical and cyberbullying behaviors of sports spectators scale developed by Karaca (2019) were used to measure the verbal bullying, physical bullying and cyberbullying behaviors of sports spectators. The SPSS.20 analysis program was used to analyze the data of the study, and ANOVA test and correlation analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between football fans' level of fanaticism and their bullying behavior. When the findings of the research are examined; It is seen that there is a significant relationship between football fans' tendency to think and act towards violence and their verbal, physical, and cyber bullying behaviors. As a result, it can be said that the verbal, physical and cyber bullying behaviors of football fans increase as the tendency to think and act towards violence increases.

‘Fog on the tyne’? The ‘common-sense’ focus on ‘sportswashing’ and the 2021 takeover of Newcastle United

ABSTRACT On 7 October 2021, a controversial takeover of the English Premier League team Newcastle United Football Club saw an 80% stake acquired by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Public discussion and media coverage of the takeover has revolved almost entirely around the concept of ‘sportswashing’ – the practice of (usually) undemocratic regimes using sporting investments to ‘cleanse’ or enhance their reputation and deflect attention away from human rights abuses. This article examines the Newcastle takeover, interrogating the widespread portrayal of it as a clear-cut case of sportswashing, and explores alternative explanations for the purchase, and potentially other sports-related investments. Drawing broadly on scholarship by Bourdieu and scholars of the Arabian Peninsula, it argues that the concept of sportswashing as it is currently used limits discussion of wider, more complex social, political and economic entanglements.

International Tax Planning: Taxation of Professional Athletes—Stickhandling Through the Maze

Recent changes in Canadian tax laws have important implications for many professional athletes relocating to Canada from the United States or other countries. At the federal level, proposed changes to the alternative minimum tax, foreign-income reporting requirements, and a broad range of other taxes have introduced complexity and potential traps for the unwary. At the provincial level, the five provinces with a National Hockey League team have raised their top marginal tax rates over the last 10 years. Because the financial stakes can be high, understanding the tax laws and the tax-planning opportunities for professional athletes has become more important than ever. This article addresses some key income tax issues and planning opportunities for professional athletes earning income from the provision of cross-border services in Canada and the United States.

Green Consumer Behavior of Sports Enthusiasts on TikTok-An Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Green Concern.

The short-form video platform TikTok has become highly popular. This study explores how professional sports teams can effectively leverage short-form videos to promote green values such as environmental conservation and sustainable development, thereby capturing user attention and enhancing user engagement. This study primarily aimed to investigate the effects of a green brand image on green word of mouth (WOM), customer stickiness, and consumer purchase intention, with further examination regarding the moderating effect of green concerns on these relationships. Few studies have explored the presence of professional sports teams on TikTok, particularly in the context of green issues. Accordingly, this study adopts a novel method to develop specific and actionable recommendations for professional sports teams who have a presence on social media. Additionally, via the application of the Stimulus-Organism-Response theory, this study explains how the green brand image presented by professional sports teams on TikTok influences the interactive relationships among green WOM, customer stickiness, and consumer purchase intention. This study recruited 600 individuals who were either fans of the Taipei Fubon Braves, which is a team in Taiwan's professional basketball league P.LEAGUE+, or fans of other teams. After a confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The results indicate positive correlations in all tested paths. The green concern of the Taipei Fubon Braves' fans moderated the relationship between green WOM and purchase intention; however, this moderating effect was not identified among the non-Taipei Fubon Braves fans. These findings introduce innovative concepts to the field of marketing, contributing substantially to both practical applications and academic research.

Effect of pre-season and in-season training on anthropometric variables, somatotype, body composition and body proportion in elite basketball players

The aims of the study were: 1) to evaluate the changes in anthropometric variables, body composition, somatotype and body proportions of elite basketball players throughout the pre-season period; 2) to evaluate the changes in anthropometric variables, body composition, somatotype and body proportions of elite basketball players throughout the in-season period; and 3) to observe if the age and position influenced the variables analyzed. A total of 17 players belonging to the men’s ACB league team competing in the Euroleague (age = 23.42 ± 5.28 years-old) participated in the study. The players underwent an anthropometric measurement before and after the pre-season, as well as four evaluations throughout the in-season. Anthropometric indices, somatotype components according to Heath and Carter, and adiposity were calculated. The results show that during the pre-season, body mass, BMI, sum of 6 and 8 skinfolds, waist/hip ratio, adipose tissue (kg), adipose tissue percentage, and endomorphy decreased, while ectomorphy increased. However, no significant changes were found in the variables analyzed throughout the season; except for endomorphy, which increased along the in-season. Playing position and age did not have a significant influence on the changes in the anthropometric variables throughout the pre-season and the in-season. In conclusion, while changes in the anthropometric variables in the pre-season were observed, these remained the same during the in-season.

Neural Network Based Technical Analysis of Football Games

Football is the most famous sports in the world, and English Premier League is the number one league in the world for three consecutive years (Fédération internationale de football association, FIFA). It is always interesting to apply technical analysis to understand what makes the best football player and football team. In this article, we try to answer the question &amp;quot;what kind of tactical play is the most advanced&amp;quot; through statistical analysis on the game data of English Premier League in the 21-22 season. To be more specific, firstly, we applied descriptive statistics to analyze the technical and tactical play of each team, and then screen out the technical and tactical indicators that significantly affect the outcome of the game through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and discriminate analysis, and the preliminary target conclusions were obtained. BP neural network was then carried out to predict the rankings of the Premier League teams by using the indicators selected by ANOVA and discriminant analysis, as input value. BP neural network prediction model is then established to predict the ranking of each team in the 22-23 season. A general conclusion and make suggestions on the planning of the technical and tactical playing methods of our country&amp;apos;s youth soccer sports.

EVENT MARKETING AND FAN SATISFACTION IN WIN2DAY ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE USING AN EXAMPLE OF EC IDM WÄRMEPUMPEN VSV

The author associates the development of recommendations for improving event marketing and fan satisfaction with significant opportunities for the development of the league and clubs and for bringing the results in these areas closer to those of the leading hockey leagues in Europe. The study will also identify gaps and opportunities in current marketing practices. Ultimately, the goal is to develop actionable recommendations for clubs in the win2day ICE Hockey League (ICEHL), particularly EC iDM Wärmepumpen VSV (EC VSV), to optimize their event marketing strategies, thereby improving fan satisfaction, increasing match attendance, and enhancing the league's overall appeal to fans and sponsors. Average attendance is one of the main indexes determining the success and profitability of the league and the teams participating in it.&#x0D; The research focuses on professional men's ice hockey and the point of view of event marketing and fan satisfaction in the ICEHL, focusing mainly on one of the league teams – EC VSV. The purpose of the research is to explore the league's functioning in terms of event marketing and fan satisfaction and to analyze the operations of the clubs within the league's framework.