Analytical descriptions of tournament selection efficiency properties can be elusive for realistic tournament structures. Combining a Monte Carlo simulation with a statistical model of player skill and random variation in scoring, we estimate the selection efficiency of the PGA TOUR's FedExCup,...

The purpose of this study is to develop a new method for ranking driving ability amongst PGA Tour players. Currently the PGA Tour ranks golfers from first to last place in both driving distance and driving accuracy, and then adds the two ranks together for an overall measure of driving...

This paper addresses two important strategic questions in the sport of curling, namely (i) when it is best to blank rather than take one point, and (ii) when entering the final end, is it preferable to be winning by one point without last rock advantage or be losing by one point with last rock...

In low-scoring sports such as ice hockey or soccer, which team scores the first goal is critically important to game outcome. By the same token, how a team responds to scoring or conceding the first goal is also important. If a team responds well when it concedes the first goal, it may win out...

This paper introduces a new model and methodology for estimating the ability of NBA players. The main idea is to directly measure how good a player is by comparing how their team performs when they are on the court as opposed to when they are off it. This is achieved in such a way as to control...

The aim of present investigation was to develop the behavioural instrument for measuring the achievement motivation in sport matches. According to 5-stage behavioural measurement system, the instrument was established and was applied for Iran national soccer team among three matches. The results...

This study examines home advantage in American college football games from a multilevel perspective. It quantifies the extent and significance of that home advantage and examines how it varies between BCS and non-BCS teams as well as analyzing the relationship between home advantage and team...

Generalizability (G-) theory is increasingly being used by assessment professionals in a variety of assessment contexts, especially those involving performance assessments. This study expands the use of G-theory and its possible application to highly competitive sporting events that involve...

APBA baseball is a sophisticated baseball simulation game. Each major league player is represented by a card, which has numbers on it that reflect his performance in a particular season. Two people play a game by rolling dice and looking on their players cards to see what is the outcome of the...

The goal of this paper is to develop an adjusted plus-minus statistic for NHL players that is independent of both teammates and opponents. We use data from the shift reports on NHL.com in a weighted least squares regression to estimate an NHL player's effect on his team's success in scoring and...