Multi-hosting UEFA European Football Championship: Fair enough between participating teams?

PURPOSE

To describe the effects of travel distance and bio-meteorological conditions on the 2020 multi-hosting UEFA European Championship's match outcomes and progress in competition.

METHODS

Teams' basecamps, distance from match venues, match outcomes (defeat, draw and win), bio-meteorological data (ambient air temperature, relative humidity and wet bulb globe temperature) and corresponding FIFA world ranking were extracted from the official UEFA and FIFA websites, respectively; and analyzed through Chi-squared test (impact of basecamp location on match outcomes), Kruskal-Wallis test (distribution of travel distances carried out according to match outcomes and competition phases), ordinal regressions (with match outcomes and competition phases as variables of interest and FIFA ranking and venue distance as explanatory variables) and principal component analysis with the bio-meteorological conditions and match outcomes for each match.

RESULTS

Teams with basecamp near match venue improved their match outcomes. However, neither Kruskal-Wallis test (p > 0.05) nor ordinal regressions (odds ratio (OR) > 0.96, p > 0.403) identified any significant effect of travel distance on match outcomes. Besides, FIFA ranking improved the likelihood of a favorable match outcome (OR = 0.87, p = 0.001) and progression in competition (OR = 0.97, p = 0.003). Further, despite some matches were played in more stressful bio-meteorological conditions, this was not associated with match outcomes (r = -0.07 to 0.19, p > 0.188).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings cannot conclusively clarify on the effects of travel and bio-meteorological conditions on match outcomes and progress in the multi-hosting UEFA European championship, but suggest to carefully consider these variables for future multi-hosting competition to avoid any discrepancies between teams.

The effects of travel on performance: a 13-year analysis of the National Rugby League (NRL) competition

The purpose was to investigate the effects of travel on performance in the National Rugby League (NRL). A total of 4,704 observations from 2,352 NRL matches (2007-2019) were analysed. The effect of travel on match outcome (i.e., win/loss) was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model, and the points difference using a linear mixed model. For every 1,000 km travelled in the NRL, the estimated probability of winning a match was reduced by -2.7% [-5.7 to 0.3%] and the estimated points difference by -1.1 [-2.0 to -0.2] points. In relation to every 1,000 km travelled, the 2007-2009 seasons had the greatest reduction in the likelihood of winning a match (-2.7% [-4.7 to -0.6%]), with the 2018-2019 seasons having the greatest likelihood (1.1% [-1.2 to 3.3%]). Regarding inter-state travel, teams from the state of Queensland had the greatest reduction in the likelihood of winning a match while the team from the state of Victoria had the greatest likelihood, although there were no clear differences between states. These data suggest that travel has impacted performance in NRL matches although this effect has reduced over time. These findings are useful for practitioners that prepare athletes in sports where frequent short-haul travel is required.

Residency Program Reputation Influences the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Match Results

BACKGROUND

No data evaluate the impact that an applicant's residency program reputation has on the outcome of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) fellowship match. This study sought to determine if an applicant's residency program ranking was associated with where the applicant matched on their rank list.

METHODS

We included all the US applicants from the "San Francisco Match" regarding AAHKS applicant data and match results from 2014 to 2018. Residency programs were divided into 5 tiers based on 2018 Doximity ranking of Orthopedic Residency Programs. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and analysis of variance.

RESULTS

In total, 656 applicants met inclusion criteria (620 males; 36 females). Tier 1 applicants applied to an average of 10 fewer programs than applicants from all other tiers. Eighteen percent of applicants from tier 1 residencies were offered interviews at 80%+ of their applied programs compared to 5% or less of the applicants from all other tiers. Applicants from top tier residencies matched at a significantly higher place on their rank list than other tiers (P < .05) and ranked into one of their first 2 choices 72% of the time. The mean fellowship rank position for tier 1 applicants was 5.96 compared to 7.04, 7.85, 7.78, and 8.10 for subsequent tiers, respectively (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The fellowship match process represents a high-stakes and expensive process. This study found that applicants from more prestigious residency programs apply to fewer programs, gain more interviews, and match higher on their rank list than applicants from other residency programs.

Identification and Preference of Game Styles in LaLiga Associated with Match Outcomes

The objective was to model the teams' styles of play (SoPs) in elite football and relate them to the match result. For this, the twenty Spanish first division teams in the 2016-2017 season were analysed, using nine interaction performance indicators (IRi). A principal component (PC) analysis was applied. From two PCs four SoPs were established: deep or high-pressure defending, and elaborate or direct attack. The SoPs were distributed according to average performance obtained throughout the championship. The connection between the preferred SoP and the final result was estimated. Teams with elaborate offensive styles and teams defensively minded got better results. In addition, most of the teams showed variability in their SoP. The applications of the study are (1) the IRi have served to identify SoP and can be used as a reference to optimize team performance; (2) teams should have a varied SoP repertoire, as well as being prepared to deal with different SoPs; (3) particular player profiles should be connected with the desired SoP when creating the squad and (4) clubs should develop a varied range of SoPs at their academies.

Attacking Profiles of the Best Ranked Teams From Elite Futsal Leagues

This study aimed to (i) explore the discriminatory power of the task-related variables and the context in establishing differences in the elite futsal leagues of Portugal, Spain, and Russia and (ii) understand how these variables vary according to the match outcome. Methodological issues concerning efficiency (goals and shots), offensive organisation (positional attack, counterattack, set pieces, or 5vs4+Goalkeeper), 1st goal scored during matches (home or away team), match type (balanced or unbalanced), and match outcome (winner, loser, or drawer) were discussed. Archival data were obtained from the 2017–2018 season of Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian professional futsal leagues for all play-off matches. Crosstabs analysis was conducted to establish the significance relationship between the elite futsal leagues and the situational variables. Afterward, discriminant analysis was used to identify the task-related variables that maximise mean differences between different league teams for defining offensive profile, and the variations found when the condition of the winner, loser, or drawer is taken into account. The results allowed to understand that the Portuguese and Russian teams used the positional attacks more, and less the counterattacks and set pieces than the Spaniards, who present a more balanced offensive profile. Overall, winners were better discriminated by goals scored, whereas 5vs4+Goalkeeper strategy discriminated loser teams. Coaches should be aware of these different offensive profiles in order to increase control over the match planning and decrease predictability against opposing teams.

Effects of Rule Changes on Game-Related Statistics in Men's Water Polo Matches

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rule changes on game-related statistics in men's water polo matches. A total of 856 men's matches played in all Olympic Games and World Championship since 1936 was analysed. The game-related statistics considered were: total goals, winners' goals, losers' goals, goals per minute, goals difference, relationship difference goals and total goals, and relationship difference goals and winners' goals. The rule changes were grouped by structural (game and period) and functional changes (possession time, exclusion time, timing, minimum distance to take a direct shot). Differences between rule changes were determined using a one-way ANOVA. In general, the changes in water polo rules were shown to have an effect on the final result of the matches. There were differences in each rule change of duration (increased total goals and winners' goals), period (increased total goals and winners' goals), possession time (increased losers' goals), timing (increased total, winners', losers', and decreased % goals and total goals) and fouls (increased total goals and losers' goals). The analysis in game-related statistics through the rule changes could be used to evaluate their effects and/or justify future modifications.

Notational Analysis of Elite Men's Water Polo Related to Specific Margins of Victory

The present study aimed to analyze the water polo matches of the men's World Championships, comparing technical and tactical aspects of winning and losing teams, during closed (≤ 3 goals of margin of victory at the end of the 4(th) quarter; winning, W; losing, L) and unbalanced (>3 goals; winning, MW; losing, ML) games. Therefore, 42 of the 48 (6 were draw at end of the 4(th) quarter) matches were considered. According to each game situation (i.e., even, counterattack, power-play, transition), a notational analysis was performed in relation to the following aspects: occurrence of actions, action outcome, execution and origin of shots, and mean duration. In addition, the occurrence of the offensive (and role) and defensive arrangements of even and power-play were analyzed. To show differences (p < 0.05) in terms of margin of victory, an analysis of variance was applied. Although ML (74 ± 11%) performed more even actions than W (68 ± 7%) and MW (69 ± 6%), the latter teams (W = 9 ± 6%; MW = 13 ± 6%) performed more counterattacks than L (3 ± 2%) and ML (5 ± 5%). Power-play is more played during closed (W = 20 ± 3%; L = 22 ± 3%) than unbalanced games (MW = 17 ± 4%; ML = 16 ± 7%). Moreover, differences in terms of margin of victory emerged for mean duration (even, power-play, transition), action outcome (even, power-play), zone origin (even, counterattack, power-play) and technical execution (even, power-play) of shots, and even and power-play offensive (and role) and defensive arrangements. Divergences mainly emerged between closed and unbalanced games, highlighting that the water polo matches of the men's World Championships need to be analyzed either considering the winning and losing outcome of match and specific margins of victory. Thus, coaches can advance their knowledge, considering that closed and unbalanced games are largely characterized by the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform power-play actions, and by a divergent grade of defensive skills regardless of game situation, respectively. Key pointsThe water polo matches of the men's World Championships need to be analyzed considering successful/unsuccessful teams as well as specific margins of victory.Closed matches are mainly characterized by a high occurrence of the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform the power-play actions.For the unbalanced matches, a divergent grade of defensive skills between teams has been highlighted.Coaches can improve their training, considering the opponent's exclusion fouls to perform the power-play actions towards a closed match, and caring the defensive skills of each game situation towards an unbalanced match.