<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

In this paper, we proposed a new method of evaluating horse ability and jockey skills in horse racing. In the proposed method, we aimed to estimate unobservable individual effects of horses and jockeys simultaneously with regression coefficients for explanatory variables such as horse age and racetrack conditions and other parameters in the regression model. The data used in this paper are records on 1800­m races (excluding steeplechases) held by the Japan Racing Association from 2016 to 2018, including 4063 horses and 143 jockeys. We applied the hierarchical Bayesian model to stably estimate such a large amount of individual effects. We used the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method coupled with Ancillarity- Sufficiency Interweaving Strategy for Bayesian estimation of the model and choose the best model with Widely Applicable Information Criterion as a model selection criterion. As a result, we found a large difference in the ability among horses and jockeys. Additionally, we observed a strong relationship between the individual effects and the race records for both horses and jockeys.
</abstract>

Hierarchical Bayesian analysis of racehorse running ability and jockey skills

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Training load (TL) is frequently documented among team sports and the development of emerging technology (ET) is displaying promising results towards player performance and injury risk identification. The aim of this systematic review was to identify ETs used in field-based sport to monitor TL for injury/performance prediction and provide sport specific recommendations by identifying new data generation in which coaches may consider when tracking players for an increased accuracy in training prescription and evaluation among field-based sports. Data was extracted from 60 articles following a systematic search of CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and IEEE XPLORE databases. Global positioning system (GPS) and accelerometers were common external TL tools and Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) for internal TL. A collection of analytics tools were identified when investigating injury/performance prediction. Machine Learning showed promising results in many studies, identifying the strongest predictive variables and injury risk identification. Overall, a variety of TL monitoring tools and predictive analytics were utilized by researchers and were successful in predicting injury/performance, but no common method taken by researchers could be identified. This review highlights the positive effect of ETs, but further investigation is desired towards a ‘gold standard” predictive analytics tool for injury/performance prediction in field-based team sports.
</abstract>

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Letterkenny

Workload Monitoring Tools in Field-Based Team Sports, the Emerging Technology and Analytics used for Performance and Injury Prediction: A Systematic Review

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
The utilization of metrics such as expected goals (xG) has the potential to provide teams with a competitive edge. By incorporating xG into their analysis and decision-making processes, teams can gain valuable insights. This study proposes a new approach to football xG modeling using Kos Angle which represents the shooting angle, from which we substract the angles occupied by players inside the shot angle. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Kos Angle feature on the performance of football xG models. After developing the mathematical formula of the Kos Angle, we selected additional features and built different xG models. Subsequently, the impact of the Kos Angle feature on the models’ performances was evaluated, revealing an increase in Recall and Precision and a decrease in Brier score and RMSE. We also found that the Kos Angle accounted for a significant portion of the models’ predictive power. By providing a more realistic representation of shot situations, the addition of the Kos Angle feature allows the improvement of xG models performances, which can give a more valuable insights to football professionals who rely on xG metrics and their variations. 
</abstract>

The Kos Angle, an optimizing parameter for football expected goals (xG) models

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The men’s Handball World Championship commences with eight round robin groups of four teams before the “main round” of four groups of six teams. These groups of six each include the top three teams from pairs of initial groups. The tournament draw uses pots of eight which risks two teams in the top four appearing in the same group of the main round. A further issue is that teams finishing between third and sixth in the main round groups are awarded tournament places between ninth and 24th without any further matches. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to compare the current tournament system with alternatives using pots of four teams in the draw, and / or adding a knockout stage to place teams from ninth to 24th. These four tournament systems were simulated 100,000 times, using underlying regression models for the goals scored based on their World ranking points. Introducing pots of four increased the chance of reaching the quarter-finals for teams ranked one to four and nine to 12 by 1.3% and 1.6% respectively. It is recommended that the draw uses pots of four teams associated with pairs of initial groups that lead to common main draw groups.
</abstract>

A comparison of tournament systems for the men’s World Handball Championship

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

In contrast to simple performance indicators in the practical application of quantitative analysis in professional soccer, the inclusion of certain contextual elements can improve both the predictive quality and interpretability of these. Therefore, the Success-Score is intended to identify the factors relevant to success by linking ball control and space control.
Position datasets from 14 games of the Bundesliga were used to calculate Success-Scores for several interval lengths for the penalty area and the 30-meter-zone. The relative goalscoring frequency above resp. below the 80th percentile, the rank correlation in terms of goals scored pursuant to the sorting of the Success-Score as well as possible distinctions in the Success-Score between two teams of different quality were examined.
Results revealed that interval lengths and the area under investigation largely affect the resulting Success-Score and its distribution. The Success-Score applied to the 30-meter-zone seems preferable when analyzing goalscoring. Dependent on the target of analysis, methodological and theoretical considerations need to be balanced in a sweet spot of the interval length.
</abstract>

Success-Score in Professional Soccer – Is there a sweet spot in the analysis of space and ball control?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Team handball is constantly evolving. Since the beginning of the century some changes has been introduced but no rule has been as controversial and not consensual as the one introduced in 2016 that allows the change of a goalkeeper for a field player (Empty goal) allowing teams to play 7 vs. 6 (Prudente et al., 2022). With this study we intend to analyze and characterize the attack with empty goal (7 vs. 6) of the 12 best ranked teams in Men’s EHF Euro 2022. Observational Methodology was used and it was built, validated by experts and subsequently used a mixed ad hoc instrument combining a 12 criteria field format with 77 category category system to observe and register data. Data were gathered from 28 matches involving teams classified in the first twelve places in the 2022 Men’s EHF Euro 2022. These were recorded from TV broadcasts, and the total number of offensive sequences carried out in an organized attack game method 7 vs. 6 with empty goal (n = 121) was analyzed. For data analysis, prospective and retrospective sequential analysis and the technique of polar coordinates was used. The main results show a stronger association between: a) No Goal by Technical Fault and succeeded direct goal attempt; b) Direct Goal Attempt and Goal. Results also show that best ranked teams used less 7 vs. 6 attack system. According to the main results, teams that used 7 vs. 6 and lost the ball by technical fault had a stronger association with a direct goal attempt by the opponent team. That is positively associated with goal. This leads to a practical recommendation that teams that want to use 7 vs. 6 should practice this special option in order to achieve more efficiency, reducing the number of technical faults and consequently the opponents goal to goal attempts.
</abstract>

Faculty of Social Sciences-Department of Physical Education and Sports

Attack with Empty Goal (7 vs 6) in Team Handball - Analysis of Men’s EHF Euro 2022

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 23 (2024): Issue 1 (February 2024)

Volume 22 (2023): Issue 2 (August 2023)

Volume 22 (2023): Issue 1 (March 2023)

Volume 21 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)

Volume 21 (2022): Issue 1 (March 2022)

Volume 20 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 20 (2021): Issue 1 (July 2021)

Volume 19 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 19 (2020): Issue 1 (July 2020)

Volume 18 (2019): Issue 3 (December 2019)

Volume 18 (2019): Issue 2 (September 2019) Special Issue: Selected papers presented at the 12th Symposium of the Section Computer Science in Sport of the German Association of Sport Science (September 4.-7., 2018)

Volume 18 (2019): Issue 1 (July 2019)

Volume 17 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 17 (2018): Issue 1 (July 2018)

Volume 16 (2017): Issue 3 (December 2017)

Volume 16 (2017): Issue 2 (November 2017)

Volume 16 (2017): Issue 1 (July 2017)

Volume 15 (2016): Issue 2 (December 2016)

Volume 15 (2016): Issue 1 (July 2016)

International Journal of Computer Science in Sport

 The International Journal of Computer Science in Sport (IJCSS) is published in association with the International Association of Computer Science in Sport (IACSS).  It is a refereed electronic journal that is published biannually. Research results with an emphasis on the following topics regarding the application of Computer Science and Mathematics in supporting the development of theory and practice in sport are considered:   Modeling (mathematical, informatics, biomechanical, physiological)  Computer aided applications (software, hardware)  Data acquisition and processing  Data Bases  Simulation (interactive, animation etc.)  Development of theories  Multimedia / Internet  Presentation  Education   The journal does not only serve as a forum for current research from around the world in the field of computer technology in sport. Moreover, there is place to present theories, methods and concepts, which are developed in Computer Science and Mathematics, and applied to Sport Science.  Articles submitted to the IJCSS are reviewed by at least two anonymous referees. The reviewing process usually takes about a month. The authors are obliged to take the reviewers comments into account when preparing the final version of their article.  Why subscribe and read   Current research in all fields of Computer Science in Sport.  Forum for both established and young scholars.  No particular theories or trends favored.   Why submit   Fair and constructive double blind review.  Fast and efficient publication process.   Rejection Rate  &gt;30%  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 