El propósito de este estudio fue cuantificar la ventaja de jugar en casa en las ligas de hockey sobre patines masculina y femenina de la Primera división profesional portuguesa, comparando los resultados obtenidos según el sexo de los participantes. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 2.080 partidos de hockey sobre patines (n = 1.632 en la Primera división masculina y n = 448 en la Primera división femenina) entre las temporadas 2009-2010 y 2016-17. Los goles marcados y recibidos también fueron analizados según la localización del partido. Los resultados mostraron la existencia de la ventaja de jugar en casa tanto en la liga masculina como femenina. Los valores de la ventaja de jugar en casa fueron superiores al 50% en ambas ligas, con valores significativamente más altos en la liga masculina (60,88% comparado con 54,33%). Además, los resultados indicaron que los equipos anotan un mayor porcentaje de goles cuando juegan en casa sin encontrar diferencias significativas entre los sexos. En cuanto al número de goles marcados por partido, los resultados mostraron una diferencia significativa entre las divisiones masculinas y femeninas, con valores más altos para las ligas masculinas. Los resultados en relación con el sexo de los participantes están en consonancia con estudios previos realizados en otros deportes colectivos como fútbol o waterpolo. El análisis de la ventaja de jugar en casa podría ser útil para ayudar a los entrenadores de hockey sobre patines a decidir las alineaciones y a planificar las cargas de entrenamiento según la localización del partido. The purpose of this study was to quantify the home advantage in both men’s and women’s Portuguese professional division roller hockey leagues comparing the results obtained according to the sex of participants. The sample was composed of 2,080 roller hockey games (n = 1,632 in First men’s division; and n = 448 in First women’s division) between the 2009-2010 and 2016-17 seasons. Goals scored and received were also analysed when teams play at home. The results showed the existence of home advantage in both men’s and women’s leagues. Home advantage values were higher than 50% in both leagues, with significantly higher values in the male league (60.88% compared to 54.33%). Moreover, the results indicated that teams score a higher percentage of goals when playing at home with non-significant differences between sexes. Regarding to the number of goals scored per match, the results showed a significant difference between the male and female divisions, with higher values for men’s leagues. The results in relation to sex of participants are consistent with previous studies in other sports like football or water polo. The analysis of the home advantage could be useful to help roller hockey coaches to design alignments for each match and to plan the training loads according the match localization. O propósito desse estudo foi quantificar a vantagem de jogar em casa nas ligas masculina e feminina de hóquei sobre patins da Primeira divisão profissional portuguesa, comparando os resultados obtidos dependendo do sexo dos participantes. A amostra foi composta por 2088 partidas de hóquei sobre patins (n= 1.632 na Primeira divisão masculina e n= 448 na Primeira divisão feminina) entre as temporadas 2009-2010 e 2016-17. Os goles marcados e recebidos também foram analisados conforme a localização do partido. Os resultados mostram a existência de vantagem de jogar em casa tanto na liga masculina como na feminina. Os valores da vantagem de jogar em casa são superiores ao 50% em ambas ligas, com valores significativamente maiores na liga masculina (60,88% comparado com os 54,33% da feminina). Por além disso, os resultados indicam que as equipas anotam uma maior percentagem de golos quando jogam em casa, sem encontrar diferenças significativas entre ambos sexos. Em quanto ao número de goles marcados por jogo, os resultados mostram uma diferença significativa entre as divisões masculina e feminina, com valores mais altos na liga masculina. Os resultados em relação ao sexo dos participantes estão em consonância com estudos prévios realizados noutros desportos coletivos como o futebol ou o pólo aquático. A análise da vantagem de jogar em casa poderia ser útil para ajudar aos técnicos de hóquei sobre patins no momento de decidir as alienações e de planificar as cargas dos treinamentos dependendo da localização do jogo.

The main purpose of the present study was to build a parsimonious model to predict the probability of winning in rink hockey from different situational variables and evaluate each predictor’s contribution to the match outcome. A sample of 238 matches played during the last season in the Spanish first division (OkLiga) was analysed. The best predictive logistic model for match outcome was selected through all possible regression methods. The entire model included five categorical predictor variables (match location, team level, opponent level, scoring first, and match status at halftime) and one binary outcome variable (match outcome). The final model selected excluded the scoring first predictor and had a sensitivity and specificity greater than 80% for a cut-off point of .413. This model was applied to predict winning a match in 32 frequent situations determined from a two-step cluster analysis. The predictor with the highest contribution to the match outcome was match status at halftime, followed by the opponent’s level, team level, and match location. Our findings may help rink hockey coaches and practitioners to recognise the contribution of situational variables on the match outcome to tailor their game plans and design more aggressive game plans, improving game understanding.

The primary purpose of the present study was to compare the home advantage (HA) and the home team performance in the most relevant European rink hockey leagues (Spanish, Portuguese and Italian), considering the presence or absence of spectators in the competition venues due to the effect of COVID-19 restrictions. The sample was composed of 1665 rink hockey matches (654 from the Spanish league, 497 from the Portuguese league, and 514 from the Italian league) played between the 2018–2019 and 2020–2021 seasons. The HA and match variables comparisons were established using several negative binomial regression models. Results showed that the effect of HA did not disappear despite playing without spectators but decreased from 63.99% to 57.41% (p = 0.002). Moreover, the comparison of the match variables showed that playing with spectators benefited local teams’ performance, especially in the Portuguese and Italian leagues. Playing with spectators favoured local team performance in rink hockey matches, which is more evident in some analysed leagues. However, as HA does not disappear entirely without spectators, it is necessary to study other relevant performance factors that are not directly or indirectly attributable to crowd behaviour in rink hockey performance analyses.

Scientific sport magazines, scientific phisical education magazines

The main objective of this research was to analyse the match context variables’ influence on individual set-piece’s success in rink-hockey. A sample of 196 matches, including 621 free direct hits (FDH) and 292 penalties (PEN) were analysed using logistic regression analysis. The results indicate that Match status has a significant effect on FDH and PEN success. Players had significantly better success in FDH when winning for by goals (OR = 2.4) and in PEN when winning by three or more goals (OR = 3.83). Conversely, players were less effective in FDH when losing by two goals (OR = 0.38). These findings suggested that contextual variables have little influence on individual set-piece success. As a general trend, it seems that set-pieces are less influenced by contextual variables than whole match, probably because are specific and individual actions between one player against the goalkeeper without the intervention of other players. The results of this investigation could be useful to better understand the behaviour of players during specific moments like individual set-pieces and to help coaches to better tailor their strategies to improve the effectiveness in set-pieces simulating specific contextual conditions.

The main objective of this research was to analyze the individual set-pieces influence on the final season ranking in rink hockey. For this purpose, 6,920 individual set-pieces from 1,680 matches corresponding to free direct hits (n = 4,332) and penalty shots (n = 2,588) were analyzed during seven consecutive seasons (2012-13 to 2018-19) in the First Spanish League (Ok Liga). The variables recorded were the following for each team: total points, free direct hits attempted, free direct hits scored, penalties attempted, penalties scored, total goals scored during the season, free direct hits received, goals received from free direct hits, penalties received, goals received from penalties and total goals received in the season. Results showed that 21.08% of the goals were scored by free direct hits and penalty shots (11.58% and 9.49%, respectively). Likewise, teams ranked in a better position achieved higher effectiveness in individual set-pieces and their goalkeepers were more effective in defending the free direct hits and penalties. Furthermore, results showed significant correlations between team season points and better performance in individual set-pieces variables. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrated the importance of systematic practice of free direct hits and penalty shots for teams’ success in rink hockey. Additionally, it is suggested that teams possess special players to execute these particular elements of match play