[oldalum]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

[oldalum]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

[UltimateCard]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

Any observable effect on flopping?

[UltimateCard]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

Any observable effect on flopping?

[oldalum]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

[oldalum]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

[BostonCard]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

What are the effects of playing in a half full stadium?  Stanford could be a good case study.

BC

[BostonCard]

Interesting article in the NY Times about the effects of playing the Bundesliga soccer games without fans present: big decline in home field advantage; more fouls called on home team than when fans are present; no decrease in measured intensity/effort, no decrease in quality of play, but a more cautious, less crowd-pleasing style of play. Implications for college sports are interesting.

What are the effects of playing in a half full stadium?  Stanford could be a good case study.

BC

[Phogge]

I could have taken a nap at the UCLA game. The only noise was coming from the lower northeast stands.

[Phogge]

I could have taken a nap at the UCLA game. The only noise was coming from the lower northeast stands.

[CTcard]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

What are the objective, numerical measures of intensity/effort and quality of play?

[CTcard]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

What are the objective, numerical measures of intensity/effort and quality of play?

[Softball Fan]

I don't know about soccer or football.  I do know about WVB.  The players have said for years a big, boisterous crowd gets them more motivated and they feel they play harder. 

Ironically they say a loud hostile crowd on the road pumps them up more than a supportive home crowd.

[Softball Fan]

I don't know about soccer or football.  I do know about WVB.  The players have said for years a big, boisterous crowd gets them more motivated and they feel they play harder. 

Ironically they say a loud hostile crowd on the road pumps them up more than a supportive home crowd.

[SamuelMcF]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

What are the objective, numerical measures of intensity/effort and quality of play?

It's an interesting article. Take 3 minutes to read it.

Intensity/effort:
"According to the Bundesliga — which tracks and records its own analytics, and then feeds the numbers back to its clubs — players sprinted a little more, and teams made marginally more high-intensity runs, in games held in empty stadiums than they had previously this season."


Quality of play:

"While industry and effort might have remained unchanged, Gleave saw in his figures — fewer shots, fewer dribbles, fewer home wins — proof that something was missing.

His conclusion, one that many fans watching might instinctively uphold, is that the urge to entertain diminishes if there is nobody to respond. Games since the restart have featured, on average, 16 more passes than normal, a signal to Gleave that players, subconsciously or not, are “choosing to pass the ball rather than attempt plays which would normally get fans on their feet.”"

"Impect’s signature statistic is a metric called packing: a way of measuring how many opponents are bypassed by each and every action — whether a pass or a dribble — a player makes. “It measures the effectiveness of a team’s buildup,” Keppler said, and it has been, essentially, unchanged since the restart. “The overall quality of the game remained the same.”"

[SamuelMcF]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

What are the objective, numerical measures of intensity/effort and quality of play?

It's an interesting article. Take 3 minutes to read it.

Intensity/effort:
"According to the Bundesliga — which tracks and records its own analytics, and then feeds the numbers back to its clubs — players sprinted a little more, and teams made marginally more high-intensity runs, in games held in empty stadiums than they had previously this season."


Quality of play:

"While industry and effort might have remained unchanged, Gleave saw in his figures — fewer shots, fewer dribbles, fewer home wins — proof that something was missing.

His conclusion, one that many fans watching might instinctively uphold, is that the urge to entertain diminishes if there is nobody to respond. Games since the restart have featured, on average, 16 more passes than normal, a signal to Gleave that players, subconsciously or not, are “choosing to pass the ball rather than attempt plays which would normally get fans on their feet.”"

"Impect’s signature statistic is a metric called packing: a way of measuring how many opponents are bypassed by each and every action — whether a pass or a dribble — a player makes. “It measures the effectiveness of a team’s buildup,” Keppler said, and it has been, essentially, unchanged since the restart. “The overall quality of the game remained the same.”"

[oldalum]

I don't know about soccer or football.  I do know about WVB.  The players have said for years a big, boisterous crowd gets them more motivated and they feel they play harder. 

Ironically they say a loud hostile crowd on the road pumps them up more than a supportive home crowd.

If true, it might be counteracted by the more favorable homer calls by the officials.
(I wonder if some measurable statistic could be constructed to measure playing harder)

[oldalum]

I don't know about soccer or football.  I do know about WVB.  The players have said for years a big, boisterous crowd gets them more motivated and they feel they play harder. 

Ironically they say a loud hostile crowd on the road pumps them up more than a supportive home crowd.

If true, it might be counteracted by the more favorable homer calls by the officials.
(I wonder if some measurable statistic could be constructed to measure playing harder)

[UltimateCard]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

His conclusion, one that many fans watching might instinctively uphold, is that the urge to entertain diminishes if there is nobody to respond.

Wouldn’t that suggest less flopping/diving?! Maybe some Academy Award judges can be empaneled to do the assessments...

[UltimateCard]

Any observable effect on flopping?

Good question but no info. They only assessed objective, numerically measurable variables.

His conclusion, one that many fans watching might instinctively uphold, is that the urge to entertain diminishes if there is nobody to respond.

Wouldn’t that suggest less flopping/diving?! Maybe some Academy Award judges can be empaneled to do the assessments...

[oldalum]

the flopping/diving is for the benefit of the referees, the beautiful moves are for the benefit of the fans

[oldalum]

the flopping/diving is for the benefit of the referees, the beautiful moves are for the benefit of the fans

[BostonCard]

Golfers seem to be doing about 1.2 strokes per round better without fans in the stands.

https://espresso.economist.com/681edca90...82b0385bae

BC

[BostonCard]

Golfers seem to be doing about 1.2 strokes per round better without fans in the stands.

https://espresso.economist.com/681edca90...82b0385bae

BC

[lex24]

I think it’s rather obvious that a raucous home crowd gives its team a boost.  Biggest probably the NFL, where they actually can impact the game.  Particularly on the lines.

[lex24]

I think it’s rather obvious that a raucous home crowd gives its team a boost.  Biggest probably the NFL, where they actually can impact the game.  Particularly on the lines.

[Mick]

Golfers seem to be doing about 1.2 strokes per round better without fans in the stands.

https://espresso.economist.com/681edca90...82b0385bae

BC

I played Poppy Hills with two of my friends once.  Guy joins us on the first tee, and he was smoking hot.  I don't know what his score was, but he was two under on 16 and he was playing from the tips.  Later, he told us that he was a lobbyist in Sacramento and he played 5-6 times per week.  The three of us had terrible rounds.

Nice to play when there's less pressure -- or no pressure.  Best round of my life -- by far -- was a weekday round with just me and Mrs. Mick.  No co-workers, no teammates, no one in back of us, no one in front of us. I bettered my previous best by eight strokes.

[Mick]

Golfers seem to be doing about 1.2 strokes per round better without fans in the stands.

https://espresso.economist.com/681edca90...82b0385bae

BC

I played Poppy Hills with two of my friends once.  Guy joins us on the first tee, and he was smoking hot.  I don't know what his score was, but he was two under on 16 and he was playing from the tips.  Later, he told us that he was a lobbyist in Sacramento and he played 5-6 times per week.  The three of us had terrible rounds.

Nice to play when there's less pressure -- or no pressure.  Best round of my life -- by far -- was a weekday round with just me and Mrs. Mick.  No co-workers, no teammates, no one in back of us, no one in front of us. I bettered my previous best by eight strokes.

[oldalum]

I bettered my previous best by eight strokes.

Glad you were finally able to break 100!   ;)

[oldalum]

I bettered my previous best by eight strokes.

Glad you were finally able to break 100!   ;)

[Phogge]

I concentrate better playing alone. But with my 12 or 14 buddies at GGP's nine holer every Wednesday it's the most fun I've ever had playing anything. You can't play if you haven't brought your needle.

I don't think we ever had more than 30 for a game at State. But there were big crowds whenever we played at Santa Clara and it pumped us up. Beat the highly ranked Broncs in '67 at Buck Shaw.

[Phogge]

I concentrate better playing alone. But with my 12 or 14 buddies at GGP's nine holer every Wednesday it's the most fun I've ever had playing anything. You can't play if you haven't brought your needle.

I don't think we ever had more than 30 for a game at State. But there were big crowds whenever we played at Santa Clara and it pumped us up. Beat the highly ranked Broncs in '67 at Buck Shaw.

[teejers1]

the flopping/diving is for the benefit of the referees, the beautiful moves are for the benefit of the fans

A colleague and world soccer aficionado relayed that flopping is down, even in the Euro leagues (Bundesliga never had much of it).  He also relayed that conventional wisdom is that flopping played to the fans . . . don't know if true or not.  All I know is that I hope the reports of flopping being down is true.  I've seen several PL games (and Bundesliga games), and I a decrease in flopping strikes me as correct (though it has by no means been eliminated).

Still . . . baby steps.

Also think VAR helps.  Now, if they would only review all games for flops and start issuing post-match cards for same, you might really get rid of it.

[teejers1]

the flopping/diving is for the benefit of the referees, the beautiful moves are for the benefit of the fans

A colleague and world soccer aficionado relayed that flopping is down, even in the Euro leagues (Bundesliga never had much of it).  He also relayed that conventional wisdom is that flopping played to the fans . . . don't know if true or not.  All I know is that I hope the reports of flopping being down is true.  I've seen several PL games (and Bundesliga games), and I a decrease in flopping strikes me as correct (though it has by no means been eliminated).

Still . . . baby steps.

Also think VAR helps.  Now, if they would only review all games for flops and start issuing post-match cards for same, you might really get rid of it.

[Mick]

I concentrate better playing alone. But with my 12 or 14 buddies at GGP's nine holer every Wednesday it's the most fun I've ever had playing anything. You can't play if you haven't brought your needle.

I don't think we ever had more than 30 for a game at State. But there were big crowds whenever we played at Santa Clara and it pumped us up. Beat the highly ranked Broncs in '67 at Buck Shaw.

Always enjoyed games at Buck Shaw.  Crowds not large, but you were on top of the action...

[Mick]

I concentrate better playing alone. But with my 12 or 14 buddies at GGP's nine holer every Wednesday it's the most fun I've ever had playing anything. You can't play if you haven't brought your needle.

I don't think we ever had more than 30 for a game at State. But there were big crowds whenever we played at Santa Clara and it pumped us up. Beat the highly ranked Broncs in '67 at Buck Shaw.

Always enjoyed games at Buck Shaw.  Crowds not large, but you were on top of the action...