Statistics in Sport - Couverture rigide

Sports data receives a lot of attention in the media, but disciplined analysis of the data is rarely covered. Over decades, statistical researchers throughout the world have been publishing research on sports statistics. However, this research has been spread thinly over many journals and conferences. This is the first publication in over 20 years to provide a comprehensive survey of statistical applications.

Each chapter concentrates on one of nine major international spectator sports: American football, baseball, basketball, cricket, soccer, golf, ice hockey, tennis and track and field. Four additional chapters review outcome predictions, graphical techniques, tournament designs, and Bayesian applications across all sports. Themes addressed include player ratings, evaluation of strategies, the existence of hot streaks and clutch play, prediction of record performances, and the effectiveness of changes in rules, scoring and tournament structures. History of the development of statistics in each sport is provided.

This book is of interest to sports fans who wish to go beyond the standard sports data listed in newspapers and magazines, to discover the underlying statistical structures and factors in sports.

... interesting reading, whether or not one knows much about the individual sport or statistics ... a very valuable addition. (Mathematics Today, April 1999)

... interesting insight into applications of statistics ... carefully planned and executed ... the papers .. are easily readable .. provides excellent starting points for broadening one's interests. (Journal of the American Statistical Association)

... easily understood by persons with no background in statistics and offers fascinating insights. (The SABR Bulletin, Jan 1999)