Anthology Of Statistics In Sports

The unlikely worlds of sports fans and statisticians collide in this interesting and accessible collection of previously published articles on the use of statistics to analyze sports, which the editors have thoughtfully culled from a variety of American Statistical Association (ASA) publications. Heavily weighted in the areas of competition (rating players and teams, evaluating strategies for victory), the articles vary in mathematical complexity, but most will be accessible to readers with a general knowledge of statistics. Newly written material from the editors and other notable contributors introduces each section of the book, and a chapter with suggestions on using the articles in the classroom is included. Organized by sport to make it easy for readers to find the papers in their particular areas of interest, Anthology of Statistics in Sports contains separate sections devoted to the major North American team sports of baseball, football, basketball, and ice hockey. Two additional sections cover miscellaneous sports and more general issues related to sports and statistics. This book grew from the efforts of members of the ASA Section on Statistics in Sports, which is dedicated to promoting high professional standards in the application of statistics to sports and fostering statistical education in sports.

A collection of a wide range of research papers on applications of statistics to various sports from journals published by the American Statistical Association and the Royal Statistical Society from 2000 through 2004. The anthology is divided into eight sections (Baseball, Cricket, Football, Golf, Olympics/Track & Field, Soccer, Other Sports, and Miscellaneous), each comprising several research articles on applications of statistics to the corresponding sport written by leading researchers, and each featuring an original introduction written by a leading researcher on the application of statistics to the corresponding sport. The anthology includes research papers at all levels of statistical sophistication that utilize a wide variety of statistical methods, and should therefore be of great interest to the statistically inclined sports fan as well as instructors and students of statistics who are looking for examples of interesting applications of statistics to problems in sports -- Volume 1 Back cover.

No one can deny the obvious link between statistics and sports, and many a sports fan can reel off a lengthy list of statistics about a favorite team or player. The anthology A Sports-Oriented Approach to Introductory Statistics cleverly combines the study of statistics with the high interest area of sports to create a text that delivers an engaging and effective introduction to statistical principles. The first several chapters of the book are the statistical and mathematical "offensive linemen", often overlooked and under-appreciated, but necessary for gaining a firm understanding of theory and statistics. This prepares students for the principles covered in subsequent chapters. These later chapters are the "skill players" of the text, and through them students learn things like how to predict points in the NHL, determine if there is a home field advantage in football, and compare MLB teams to find out if statistically any one team has been the worst over the past ten years. Each example in the book uses real data from the sports world. The central limit theorem is explained by examining salary data from major league baseball. Understanding probability distribution of a discrete random variable is illustrated through the number of goals scored in the World Cup. Regression analysis is explored through evaluating team performance. Each chapter of the text includes examples, accompanied by complete, step-by-step solutions. All problems require students to produce extended, well-thought-out answers using the target principles. Symbols and formulas used within chapters are organized at the end of the chapters for easy reference. This unique approach increases student interest, and delivers important content in a relatable, likeable format. A Sports-Oriented Approach to Introductory Statistics is written for courses in elementary, undergraduate statistics, and is an ideal supplement to standard required texts. The text can also be used as a supplemental text in many math and business courses grounded in statistics.

Although sports statistics receive vast amounts of media attention, disciplined analysis of the data is rare and the analyses published by statisticians are typically scattered across journals and conferences. This book is the first in over twenty years to provide a comprehensive and accessible survey of statistics in sports. It contains separate chapters devoted to 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. Each chapter has been written by a recognized statistical authority in that field and includes the history of statistics in that sport, a look at current statistical issues, and an evaluation of current statistical models. Themes throughout the book include player ratings, the existence of hot streaks and clutch play, prediction of record performances, and the effects of changes in rules, scoring and tournament structures. The book will interest any sports fan wishing to go beyond the data in newspapers and magazines, and will be an invaluable resource for statistics instructors looking for exciting material.

Since the first athletic events found a fan base, sports and statistics have always maintained a tight and at times mythical relationship. As a way to relay the telling of a game's drama and attest to the prodigious powers of the heroes involved, those reporting on the games tallied up the numbers that they believe best described the action and bes

This handbook will provide both overviews of statistical methods in sports and in-depth treatment of critical problems and challenges confronting statistical research in sports. The material in the handbook will be organized by major sport (baseball, football, hockey, basketball, and soccer) followed by a section on other sports and general statistical design and analysis issues that are common to all sports. This handbook has the potential to become the standard reference for obtaining the necessary background to conduct serious statistical analyses for sports applications and to appreciate scholarly work in this expanding area.

Statistics in Sport and Exercise Science assumes no prior knowledge of statistics and uses real-life case studies to introduce the importance of statistics in sport and exercise science. Statistical tests and techniques are described here in a friendly and easy-to-understand manner, giving you the confidence to analyses data and complete your own statistical studies.