ScienceDaily: Sports News

High-testosterone competitors more likely to choose red

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:56:56 EDT

Why do so many sports players and athletes choose to wear the color red when they compete? A new study suggests that it may have to do with their testosterone levels.

Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:53:53 EDT

A study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare.

When deciding how to bet, less detailed information may be better

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:33:33 EDT

People are worse at predicting whether a sports team will win, lose, or tie when they bet on the final score than when they bet on the overall outcome, according to a new study.

Research supports laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Bicycle helmets save lives and their use should be required by law. That's the conclusion of a new study.

Camaraderie of sports teams may deter bullying, violence

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

As schools around the country look for ways to reduce violence and bullying, they may want to consider encouraging students to participate in team sports, according to a new study.

Gamers recognize college football players in video games

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:29 EDT

Paying college athletes is a contentious issue and the subject of a lawsuit challenging the use of their likenesses in video games. A new study found that many video gamers recognize athletes in the video games.

Fighting the 'dumb jock' stereotype

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:30:30 EDT

College coaches who emphasize their players' academic abilities may be the best defense against the effects of "dumb jock" stereotypes, a new study suggests.

Screening NCAA athletes for sudden cardiac death risk

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

A new study supports the addition of electrocardiogram (ECG) screening to the standardized pre-participation exams for athletes to better identify cardiac abnormalities that lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD) – the leading cause of death in athletes during sport.

Accuracy and reliability of ecg interpretation by physicians is limited, study suggests

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Incorporating an electrocardiogram (ECG) during pre-participation screening for athletes has demonstrated a reduction in incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD); however, it remains controversial in the United States due to minimal usage and high false-positive readings. New research suggests this is due to the challenges in the accuracy and reliability of physicians’ ability to read ECGs.

Intense, specialized training in young athletes linked to serious overuse injuries

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries, according to the largest clinical study of its kind.

Taking the pulse of the crowd

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:47:47 EDT

If everyone in the crowd at a sports event or concert or even the players had wireless heart monitors fitted, commentators and those behind the sound desk could get a real measure of the sense of the collective excitement on each side and in the case of sport share the enthusiasm or for a concert adjust the set list to keep up the excitement. The same technology might also perhaps be used to help reduce panic should there be a fire or other scare at such events.

Clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect results of doping controls in sport

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:40:40 EDT

The illegal use of clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect the results of doping controls in sport, a new study concludes.

Knowledge of the game is not an advantage in sports gambling

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:42:42 EDT

Scientist have found that neither betting experience nor knowledge of the details of the game provides an advantage to strategic sports gamblers. He says that they operate under an illusion of control and power unrelated to real-life outcomes.

What can sports teams learn from the manufacturing industry? Plenty

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:24:24 EDT

What can sports teams learn from the manufacturing industry? Plenty, according to researchers.

No good evidence that mouthguards and helmets ward off concussion

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:11:11 EDT

Mouthguards and helmets can help ward off other serious head and facial injuries, but there is no good evidence that they can help prevent concussion, and paradoxically, they may even encourage players to take greater risks.

Product promotion: When do emotional appeals trump celebrity spokespeople?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:07:07 EST

Emotional appeals could be more effective than celebrities when promoting products related to a consumer’s identity, according to a new study.

The right high-performance cross-country skiwear

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:58:58 EST

The sport of cross-country skiing has always been preoccupied with its skis and waxing. Research now demonstrates that to shave off those extra hundredths of a second, competitive skiers should pay more attention to their clothing.

NHL drafts the wrong players due to birthday bias, study suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:35:35 EST

A hockey player's birthday strongly biases how professional teams assess his talent, according to a new study.

Heading a soccer ball may affect cognitive performance

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:34:34 EST

Sports-related head injuries are a growing concern, and new research suggests that even less forceful actions like 'heading' a soccer ball may cause changes in performance on certain cognitive tasks, according to new research.

Camera inside spiraling football provides ball's-eye view of field

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:20:20 EST

Researchers have shown that a camera embedded in the side of a rubber-sheathed plastic foam football can record video while the ball is in flight that could give spectators a unique, ball's-eye view of the playing field. They developed a computer algorithm that converts the unwatchable, raw video into a stable, wide-angle view.

Healthy rivalry could boost sport and business performance

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:38:38 EST

New research shows that people can recover from poor performance when rivals comment on their failures. The research shows that while criticism from team members sends individuals into downward performance spirals, external criticism can be a trigger that boosts performance as people try to prove the outsiders wrong.

Adding movement to 'dry run' mental imagery enhances performance

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:15:15 EST

Adding movement to mental rehearsal can improve performance finds a new study. For high jumpers the study shows that dynamic imagery improves the number of successful attempts and the technical performance of jumps The technique of mental rehearsal is used to consolidate performance in many disciplines including music and sport. Motor imagery and physical practice use overlapping neural networks in the brain and the two together can improve performance as well as promoting recovery from injury.

Refocusing important on and off the court, says recent study

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:20:20 EST

If an employee's performance drops in one area, does that mean they're slacking off? It could mean that they've simply shifted and refocused their efforts on a different set of tasks -- a positive sign of adaptability that should be considered in performance evaluations, says a new study. The study draws on statistics from professional basketball players for its data and conclusions.

Optimized custom-made ski sledges

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:13:13 EST

At the 2014 Winter Paralympics, competitors will line up wearing optimized sit skis that are adapted to their individual needs.

Young soccer players show signs of burnout

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:02:02 EST

Young elite players at professional soccer clubs are at risk of burnout before they leave school because of the perfectionist standards they feel coaches, parents and team members demand of them, according to a new study.

Fantasy sports users spend more time in front of television on gamedays

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:39:39 EST

As the weekend approaches, you may notice your household’s fantasy sports user paying more attention to the television, according to a new study.

Once, twice, three times an athlete

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:11:11 EST

The popularity of triathlon -- competitive athletic events involving running, cycling and swimming -- is on the rise. Knowing who trains for and takes part in such events is important for sports managers, event organisers and others. Now, researchers in Germany have pinned down triathlon participants to three types of people: serious pursuiters (SPs), sport lovers (SLs), and social triathletes (STs).

Mayo Clinic, USA Hockey to youth hockey players: 'Heads up, don't duck'

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:27:27 EST

USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport, worked with Mayo Clinic to release a video with animation demonstrating the dangers of players ducking their heads as they crash into the boards during play. A training program called "Heads Up, Don't Duck" teaches players to automatically choose the safest posture for impact.

GOOOAAALLL! What soccer can teach health researchers

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:06:06 EST

Health researchers can learn from soccer to create high-quality studies that recognize complexities in health interventions.

Student-athletes could lose eligibility, scholarships with tweet missteps

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:16:16 EST

With a single social-media misstep, student-athletes could lose athletic eligibility or a scholarship. But that's not stopping them from using Twitter -- sometimes even during games, when they may see harsh criticism of their performances from fans, according to a new study.

Nanoscale impulse radar measures depth of snow and ice for alpine ski slopes

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:13:13 EST

Snow is the be-all and end-all for alpine ski resorts. Now a tiny sensor has been developed to determine how much cold gold there is on the slopes and how much more should be produced. The sensor is based on Norwegian radar technology and is no larger than a match head.

Olympians live longer than general population ... But cyclists no survival advantage over golfers

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

Olympic medallists live longer than the general population, regardless of country of origin, medal won, or type of sport played, according to a new study. A second study comparing athletes who trained at different physical intensities, found that those from high or moderate intensity sports have no added survival benefit over athletes from low intensity sports. But those who engage in disciplines with high levels of physical contact, such as boxing, rugby and ice hockey, are at an increased risk of death in later life, the data show.

Gender and race: How overlapping stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:17:17 EST

A new study reveals unexpected ways in which stereotypes affect interracial dating, leadership selection, and athletic participation.

Rules limiting aggression should reduce hockey injuries, study suggests

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:16:16 EST

Instituting and enforcing rules that limit aggressive acts like bodychecking in ice hockey should help reduce injuries for young players, including serious brain and spine injuries, according to a new study.

Preventive screening for sudden cardiac death in young athletes debated

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:42:42 EST

While ensuring the safety of high school and college athletes is hardly controversial, the method and associated costs of doing so are hotly debated. Conducting electrocardiographic screenings of all young competitive athletes in the United States would cost up to $69 billion over 20 years and save about 4,813 lives, making the cost per life saved over $10 million, according to a new study.

New research shows just how well the 2012 Games were run

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:20:20 EST

Research confirms just how successfully the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics were designed, organized and delivered.

Fire the coach? Not so fast, says new study

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:46:46 EST

Professors studied the records of college football teams that replaced a head coach for performance reasons between 1997 and 2010. They found that when a team had been performing particularly poorly, replacing the coach resulted in a small, but short-lived, improvement in performance after a change. The records of mediocre teams -- those that, on average, won about 50 percent of their games in the year prior to replacing a coach -- became worse.

Homophobia in sport: Sporting identity, authoritarian aggression, and social dominance

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:44:44 EST

Homophobia exists in many areas of life. It also seems to be particularly entrenched in sport, exercise and physical education (PE) settings of all kinds. But why is this the case?

Protective eyewear reduces eye, head, and facial injuries, field hockey study shows

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:56:56 EST

A new national U.S. study has found that high school field hockey players competing in states with mandated protective eyewear have significantly lower rates of head, eye, and facial injuries when compared to players who compete in states without protective eyewear mandates.

Without adult intervention in concussion management, youth sports can become demolition derby

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:28:28 EDT

Chris Hummel, a concussion researcher and longtime athletic trainer, says coaches, parents and referees need to be educated in recognizing and managing concussions in young athletes. Those adults also need to know when to step in and enforce mandated safety rules.

How race and touchdown celebrations affect football player rewards

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:02:02 EDT

The post-touchdown celebration is a familiar part of many football games. However, new research suggests that black players may be more likely than white players to be penalized for putting their feelings on display.

Fully automated soccer game analysis

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:45:45 EDT

Using entirely new electronic solutions, soccer coaches can provide their players with video analysis as early as half-time or immediately following a match.

Dream come true: Fantasy football grabs attention of fans and franchises, creates jobs

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:18:18 EDT

A fantasy of millions of individuals may be positively affecting job growth. Fantasy football is growing -- nearly 34 million individuals play fantasy sports and 75 percent of them play fantasy football -- and this growth has led to job creation, increased advertisement revenue and more football fans, according to one expert.

New guidelines to prevent cheerleading injuries

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:34:34 EDT

In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics urges coaches, parents and school officials to follow injury-prevention guidelines, develop emergency plans and ensure cheerleading programs have access to the same level of qualified coaches, medical care and injury surveillance as other sports.

Football (soccer) scores a health hat trick for hypertensive men

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:27:27 EDT

Playing football (soccer) could be the best way for people with high blood pressure (hypertension) to improve their fitness and normalize their blood pressure, according to new research.

Olympic Games in Rio 2016: Mathematical formula can predict medal haul, including impact of home advantage

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:09:09 EDT

Team GB is only likely to clock up 46 medals in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, say researchers who used a mathematical formula three years ago to predict performance for London 2012, and came up with a medal haul of 63.

Concussion awareness helps reduce long-term complications

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:31:31 EDT

Soccer, football, cheerleading, gymnastics and other sports run an increased risk of concussion because of the rigorous demands of today's play and practice. Any type of traumatic brain injury, including concussion, requires a monitored approach to complete healing to avoid long-term secondary complications that can affect memory, behavior, anxiety and ability to focus and concentrate.

Parents of babies with sickle cell trait are less likely to receive genetic counseling

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:49:49 EDT

Parents of newborns with the sickle cell anemia trait were less likely to receive genetic counseling than parents whose babies are cystic fibrosis carriers, a new study shows.

Hockey and football concussions: Time for big changes, expert argues

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:15:15 EDT

Imagine ice hockey without body checking and football with less hitting. What might sound blasphemous to hockey and football fans and players could protect youngsters from potentially deadly concussions, an expert argues.

Most English football teams don't follow international guidelines on concussion, study finds

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:12:12 EDT

Most professional English football teams don't comply with international guidelines on concussion among players, which ensure they are safe to return to play, new research indicates

Concussions can happen in all kids, not just athletes

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:43:43 EDT

The gridiron is back in action. From little leagues to professional teams, football frenzy has begun, and with it, concerns about concussions. But it's not just jarring tackles that can lead to concussions in kids. According to doctors, there are many ways kids are exposed to concussion risks.

Why children with asthma are more likely to be bullied

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:35:35 EDT

New research has uncovered several factors which could explain why children with asthma are at an increased risk of being bullied.

NCAA football exploits players in 'invisible labor market', expert says

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:38:38 EDT

College football exploits players in an "invisible labor market," and the only plausible way for student-athletes to address their interests is the credible threat of unionization, according to new research from an expert in labor relations and collective bargaining in athletics.

March Madness brings September students: Out-of-state students drawn by college sports success

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:38:38 EDT

A new study examines the impact that college sports success has in drawing prospective students. A pair of economists show how much of a bump follows a stellar season (up to 10 percent) and what types of prospective students are attracted to schools with winning teams.

Sociologist examines the challenges of women in professional football

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:35:35 EDT

Women playing full-contact tackle football face challenges beyond the playing field —- yet there’s little research about this niche in athletics.

Crossing five or more time zones more than doubles illness risk for elite athletes

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:06:06 EDT

Elite athletes who cross more than five time zones to compete are around two to three times as likely to get ill as when they compete on their home turf, suggests new research.

The spin racket: Ping-pong champs are intuitive masters of fluid dynamics

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:44:44 EDT

Curve balls may help a pitcher strike out batters in baseball; and some nasty spin can make an opponent sweat to return a tennis serve. But more so than in any other ball game, in table tennis – where the ball is so light and so small –dedicated players must master the physics of spin.

Usain Bolt could break his own record with the help of altitude and the wind

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:12:12 EDT

Imagine the following situation. The 100 meters finals in the London Olympic Games. The Jamaican Usain Bolt wins. Up to this point everything sounds normal except for the fact that he would break his own record again with a time of 9.48 seconds. According to the New Zealand researchers, this would be his record if there were a two meter per second tailwind (maximum allowable wind) and the race took place at an altitude of 999 meters. The 100 meter final will take place on Sunday at London 2012.

'Weakest links' show greatest gains in relay races

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:16:16 EDT

The inferior members of swimming or running relay teams – those athletes who fared poorest in individual races – showed the greatest gains when performing as part of a team, and those gains were even greater during final races as opposed to preliminary races.

Olympic Games: Economists dare to forecast the medals table

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:49:49 EDT

Even before the Olympic Games really get started in London on 27 July, economists have dared to forecast the final medals table without taking into consideration the training status of the participating athletes. Based on the assessment of numerous statistical data, they forecast that China, USA, and Russia will top the score table with 102, 100, and 71 medals, respectively.