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500+ Sports Research Topics

Sports research topics cover a vast array of areas in the world of athletics, from the physical and psychological impacts of sport on athletes to the social and cultural implications of sports on society. Sports research can include studies on training techniques, nutrition, injury prevention, performance enhancement, and much more. It can also explore the societal impact of sports, such as the role of sports in shaping national identities, gender roles, and cultural values. As a result, the field of sports research provides a unique lens through which to understand the complex relationship between sports and society, and offers insights that can benefit athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts alike. In this post, we will explore some of the most fascinating and important sports research topics that are currently being investigated.

Sports Research Topics

Sports Research Topics are as follows:

• The psychological benefits of participating in team sports
• The impact of sports on academic achievement
• The role of sports in promoting physical health and fitness
• The impact of sports on mental health and well-being
• The benefits and drawbacks of early specialization in youth sports
• The relationship between sports and character development
• The role of sports in building social capital and community cohesion
• The impact of technology on sports training and performance
• The influence of gender on sports participation and achievement
• The impact of culture on sports participation and achievement
• The economics of professional sports: salaries, revenue, and team valuations
• The role of sports in promoting diversity and inclusion
• The impact of sports on political and social change
• The impact of sports sponsorship on consumer behavior
• The impact of doping in sports on athlete health and performance
• The role of nutrition in sports performance
• The impact of weather conditions on sports performance
• The influence of crowd behavior on sports performance and player behavior
• The impact of sports injuries on athlete health and career longevity
• The impact of sports on tourism and local economies
• The role of sports in promoting peace and conflict resolution
• The impact of globalization on sports and their respective cultures
• The impact of sports on national identity and patriotism
• The impact of sports media on fan behavior and athlete performance
• The impact of sports on the environment
• The influence of sports fans on team strategy and decision-making
• The impact of sports gambling on sports integrity and athlete health
• The impact of sports specialization on long-term athlete development
• The influence of sports referees and officials on game outcomes
• The role of technology in sports officiating and decision-making
• The impact of sports on youth development and socialization
• The role of sports in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment
• The impact of sports on personal identity and self-esteem
• The role of sports in promoting physical literacy and lifelong physical activity
• The impact of fan behavior on athlete mental health and well-being
• The influence of sports broadcasters on fan behavior and attitudes
• The role of sports in promoting healthy competition and fair play
• The impact of sports participation on academic performance in children
• The influence of social media on athlete behavior and fan engagement
• The impact of sports on international diplomacy and political relations
• The influence of coach behavior on athlete mental health and performance
• The role of sports in promoting cultural understanding and awareness
• The impact of sports science on athlete training and performance
• The impact of youth sports on parent-child relationships
• The influence of sports team culture on athlete behavior and performance
• The role of sports in promoting environmental sustainability
• The impact of sports on social mobility and economic inequality
• The influence of sports on global health issues
• The impact of sports on regional and national identity
• The role of sports in promoting positive youth development and resilience.
• The impact of technology on sports performance
• The effects of altitude on ball flight in sports like golf and tennis
• The effects of sports on stress management
• The impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry
• The impact of technology on sports officiating and rule enforcement
• The role of sports in promoting cultural heritage and preservation
• The impact of sports on mental toughness and resilience among athletes
• The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports injury rehabilitation
• The role of sports in promoting intergenerational connections and social capital
• The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on team dynamics and performance in professional sports
• The role of sports in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution in divided societies
• The impact of sports on career development and job satisfaction among sports journalists
• The effects of different types of recovery interventions on injury prevention and performance in powerlifting
• The role of sports in promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship among youth
• The impact of sports on social identity and community building among refugees and immigrants
• The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on brain health and cognitive function in older adults
• The role of sports in promoting sustainable urban development and active transportation
• The impact of sports on social capital and political engagement among LGBTQ+ athletes
• The effects of different types of training interventions on injury prevention and recovery in equestrian sports.
• The impact of sports on body image and self-esteem among female athletes
• The effects of different types of sports equipment on performance and injury risk in extreme sports
• The role of sports in promoting cultural diplomacy and international relations
• The impact of sports on emotional regulation and mental health among adolescent athletes
• The effects of different types of nutrition interventions on injury prevention and recovery in team sports
• The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and political participation among athletes
• The impact of sports on cognitive development and academic achievement in early childhood
• The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on sports performance and mental health
• The role of sports in promoting environmental education and sustainability in schools
• The impact of sports on career development and employability among retired athletes
• The effects of different types of mindfulness interventions on sports performance and well-being
• The role of sports in promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding
• The impact of sports on emotional intelligence and leadership development among coaches
• The effects of different types of sports supplements on performance and health outcomes
• The role of sports in promoting disaster risk reduction and resilience in coastal communities
• The impact of sports on social identity and group dynamics in fan communities
• The effects of different types of sports training on injury prevention and recovery in power sports
• The role of sports in promoting digital literacy and technological innovation in youth
• The impact of sports on social-emotional learning and character development in schools
• The effects of different types of nutrition interventions on sports performance and cognitive function in older adults
• The role of sports in promoting gender equity and empowerment in sports organizations
• The impact of sports on cultural identity and community building among Indigenous peoples
• The effects of different types of training interventions on injury prevention and recovery in para-athletes
• The role of sports in promoting global health and disease prevention
• The impact of sports on social support and mental health among parents of youth athletes
• The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports performance and injury prevention in master athletes
• The role of sports in promoting community-based health education and behavior change
• The impact of sports on identity development and socialization among adolescent girls
• The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on gut microbiota and health outcomes
• The role of sports in promoting intercultural communication and language learning
• The impact of sports on psychological well-being and job satisfaction among sports officials
• The effects of different types of mindfulness interventions on injury prevention and recovery in endurance sports
• The role of sports in promoting sustainable tourism and economic development in rural areas
• The impact of sports on social integration and inclusion among individuals with disabilities
• The effects of different types of sports equipment on biomechanics and performance in precision sports
• The role of sports in promoting community resilience and disaster risk reduction in urban areas
• The impact of sports on social-emotional development and academic achievement among at-risk youth
• The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on immune function and health outcomes
• The role of sports in promoting social justice and human rights in sport governance
• The impact of sports on community development and social capital in post-conflict areas
• The effects of different types of resistance training on injury prevention and recovery in endurance athletes
• The role of sports in promoting intergenerational relationships and aging well-being
• The impact of sports on social support and mental health among retired athletes
• The role of sports in promoting civic activism and social change
• The impact of sports on sleep quality and quantity in professional athletes
• The effects of different types of stretching on recovery and injury prevention
• The role of sports in promoting environmental justice and sustainability
• The impact of sports on emotional intelligence and social skills among youth athletes
• The effects of different types of resistance training on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting peace and conflict resolution in divided societies
• The impact of sports on academic achievement and career success among athletes
• The effects of different types of endurance training on injury prevention and recovery
• The role of sports in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion
• The impact of sports on team cohesion and communication
• The effects of different types of dietary interventions on sports performance and recovery
• The role of sports in promoting mental health and well-being in marginalized communities
• The impact of sports on cognitive function and academic achievement in children
• The effects of different types of cooling interventions on sports performance and recovery
• The role of sports in promoting community resilience and disaster preparedness
• The impact of sports on social capital and social mobility in low-income communities
• The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on bone health and injury prevention
• The role of sports in promoting global citizenship and intercultural competence
• The impact of sports on personal and professional development among athletes
• The effects of different types of training programs on sports performance and injury prevention in older adults
• The role of sports in promoting human rights and social justice
• The impact of sports on decision-making and risk-taking behavior in adolescents
• The effects of different types of aerobic exercise on cognitive function and brain health
• The role of sports in promoting sustainable development and social innovation
• The impact of sports on social integration and belonging among refugees and immigrants
• The effects of different types of sports equipment on injury risk and performance
• The role of sports in promoting gender equality and empowerment in developing countries
• The impact of sports on academic engagement and achievement among middle school students
• The effects of different types of hydration interventions on sports performance and recovery
• The role of sports in promoting community-based tourism and economic development
• The impact of sports on identity formation and self-concept among athletes
• The effects of different types of sports training on bone health and injury prevention in female athletes
• The role of sports in promoting environmental conservation and climate action
• The impact of sports on personal values and character development among athletes
• The effects of different types of sports nutrition interventions on cardiovascular health and performance
• The role of sports in promoting community-based disaster response and recovery
• The impact of sports on social support and well-being among LGBTQ+ athletes
• The effects of different types of recovery interventions on injury rehabilitation and return to play in professional athletes
• The role of sports in promoting social entrepreneurship and innovation
• The impact of sports on moral reasoning and ethical decision-making among athletes
• The effects of different types of training programs on cognitive function and academic achievement in children
• The role of sports in promoting social inclusion and equality in urban settings
• The impact of sports on social identity and collective action among fans
• The effects of different types of recovery interventions on sports performance and injury prevention in adolescent athletes
• The effects of different types of recovery modalities on injury prevention in sports
• The role of sports in promoting cultural diplomacy
• The impact of sports participation on academic achievement among college students
• The effects of different types of hydration strategies on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting social cohesion and community building
• The impact of sports on physical and cognitive aging
• The effects of different types of warm-down on sports performance and injury prevention
• The role of sports in promoting positive youth development
• The impact of sports on crime and delinquency among youth
• The effects of different types of endurance training on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting gender equity and empowerment
• The impact of sports on mental health among athletes
• The effects of different types of carbohydrate intake on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting international relations and diplomacy
• The impact of sports on body image and self-esteem among adolescents
• The effects of different types of sports drinks on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting environmental sustainability and conservation
• The impact of sports on cognitive function and brain health
• The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting social justice and human rights
• The impact of sports on physical activity levels and sedentary behavior
• The effects of different types of pre-game nutrition on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting economic development and tourism
• The impact of sports on cultural and national identity
• The effects of different types of footwear on injury risk in sports
• The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and democracy
• The impact of sports on sleep quality and quantity
• The effects of different types of anaerobic training on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting intergenerational relationships and socialization
• The impact of sports on body composition and weight management
• The effects of different types of sports psychology interventions on injury prevention and recovery
• The role of sports in promoting peacebuilding and conflict resolution
• The impact of sports on self-efficacy and self-esteem among athletes
• The effects of different types of protein intake on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting health equity and reducing health disparities
• The impact of sports on social capital and community resilience
• The effects of different types of high-intensity interval training on sports performance
• The impact of sports on stress and stress-related disorders
• The effects of different types of dietary supplements on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting human development and well-being
• The impact of sports on emotional regulation and mental health
• The effects of different types of strength training on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship
• The impact of sports on social identity and belonging
• The effects of different types of cognitive training on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting disaster resilience and preparedness
• The impact of sports on academic engagement and achievement among high school students
• The effects of different types of stretching on injury prevention and sports performance.
• The effects of different types of training on athletic performance
• The effectiveness of different coaching styles in sports
• The role of nutrition in athletic performance
• The psychology of injury rehabilitation in sports
• The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports
• The role of sports in promoting physical and mental health
• The impact of social media on sports marketing
• The effectiveness of sports marketing campaigns
• The effects of gender and ethnicity on sports participation and performance
• The impact of sports sponsorship on athlete performance
• The role of sports in promoting teamwork and leadership
• The effects of environmental conditions on sports performance
• The impact of sports on community development
• The psychology of winning and losing in sports
• The effects of sleep on sports performance
• The use of virtual reality in sports training
• The impact of sports injuries on athletes’ careers
• The effects of altitude on athletic performance
• The use of data analysis in sports performance assessment
• The role of sports in reducing stress and anxiety
• The impact of sports on academic performance
• The effects of different sports on cardiovascular health
• The use of cryotherapy in sports recovery
• The impact of social media on sports fans and fandom
• The effects of different types of footwear on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting physical activity among children and adolescents
• The effects of different types of stretching on sports performance
• The impact of sports on social and cultural values
• The effects of hydration on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting global understanding and diplomacy
• The effects of different types of surfaces on sports performance
• The impact of sports on economic development
• The impact of sports on mental toughness and resilience
• The effects of different types of recovery methods on sports performance
• The use of mindfulness in sports performance and injury recovery
• The impact of sports on environmental sustainability
• The effects of different types of warm-up on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting tourism and travel
• The impact of sports on crime reduction and community safety
• The effects of different types of sports equipment on performance
• The impact of sports on job creation and employment opportunities
• The effects of different types of physical activity on mental health
• The role of sports in promoting social mobility and equality
• The impact of sports on identity formation and socialization
• The effects of different types of pre-game rituals on sports performance.
• The role of sports in promoting healthy aging
• The impact of sports on conflict resolution among youth
• The effects of sports on job satisfaction and productivity
• The role of sports in promoting environmental conservation
• The impact of sports on language proficiency and communication skills
• The effects of sports on the development of social skills
• The role of sports in promoting peaceful coexistence and tolerance
• The impact of sports on community building and cohesion
• The effects of different types of sports on hand-eye coordination
• The impact of sports on personal growth and self-discovery
• The effects of sports on cultural competency
• The role of sports in promoting social and emotional learning
• The impact of sports on community health
• The effects of different types of sports on reaction time
• The role of sports in promoting social justice and equity
• The impact of sports on academic motivation and achievement
• The effects of sports on the development of grit and resilience
• The role of sports in promoting civic engagement and social responsibility.
• The impact of sports on tourism
• The role of sports in promoting physical activity
• The effects of playing sports on cognitive development
• The impact of sports on political identity
• The effects of sports on self-esteem and body image
• The role of sports in promoting teamwork and collaboration
• The effects of different coaching styles on athlete performance
• The impact of sports on national security
• The role of sports in promoting cultural exchange and diplomacy
• The effects of sports on language acquisition
• The impact of sports on family dynamics
• The role of sports in promoting conflict resolution
• The impact of sports on social mobility
• The effects of different types of training on injury prevention
• The role of sports in promoting global health
• The effects of sports on decision-making and risk-taking behavior
• The role of sports in promoting physical and mental well-being
• The impact of sports on social justice
• The effects of sports on academic achievement among at-risk youth
• The role of sports in promoting cultural heritage
• The impact of sports on personal identity
• The effects of sports on emotional intelligence and empathy
• The role of sports in promoting gender equality
• The impact of sports on identity formation
• The effects of different types of sports on balance and coordination
• The role of sports in promoting social capital
• The impact of sports on social integration and inclusion
• The effects of training at high altitudes on athletic performance
• The psychological factors that contribute to athlete burnout
• The relationship between sleep and athletic performance
• The effects of music on sports performance
• The effects of caffeine on sports performance
• The impact of climate on sports performance
• The use of supplements in sports performance
• The role of genetics in sports performance
• The effects of aging on sports performance
• The impact of sports injuries on athlete’s careers
• The relationship between sports and mental health
• The effects of gender on sports performance
• The impact of social media on sports
• The effects of sports fandom on mental health
• The use of technology in sports coaching
• The impact of team culture on sports performance
• The effects of sports specialization on athlete development
• The role of sports psychology in athlete performance
• The effects of plyometric training on athletic performance
• The impact of climate change on outdoor sports
• The effects of team dynamics on sports performance
• The impact of sports participation on academic achievement
• The effects of sports sponsorship on athlete performance
• The role of biomechanics in sports performance
• The effects of stretching on sports performance
• The impact of sports equipment on performance
• The effects of altitude training on endurance sports performance
• The effects of different types of training on sports performance
• The role of nutrition in injury prevention
• The effects of mental preparation on sports performance
• The effects of climate on indoor sports performance
• The role of sports in cultural identity
• The impact of sports participation on youth development
• The effects of strength training on sports performance
• The role of coaches in athlete development
• The impact of sports on national identity
• The effects of different playing surfaces on sports performance
• The role of recovery in sports performance
• The impact of sports on local economies
• The impact of sports on gender and racial equality
• The effects of team size on sports performance
• The role of sports in promoting social inclusion
• The effects of sports on personal development
• The impact of sports on conflict resolution
• The effects of sports on leadership development

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Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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484 Sports Research Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Sports research paper topics encompass many interesting themes, each captivating in its own field. Some themes span from physical performance enhancement, delving into nutrition, training regimes, and physiological limits, to the mental aspects of sports psychology, focusing on motivation, team dynamics, and coping with pressure. Then, sociocultural implications are equally significant, examining gender equality, racial representation, and the societal impacts of sporting events. Another intriguing area is sports economics, discussing team franchise values, player salaries, and the economic effects of sports tourism. Finally, people have the domain of sports technology, exploring how advancements, like wearables, analytics, and virtual reality, are revolutionizing the field. The spectrum of sports research paper topics is vast and multidimensional, a reflection of the dynamic nature of sports itself.

Best Sports Research Topics

• Influence of Nutrition on Athletic Performance: An In-Depth Study
• Doping in Sports: The Persistent Moral Dilemma
• Roles of Sports Psychology in Enhancing Player Performance
• The Impact of Concussions on American Football
• Dissecting the Relationship Between Sports and Nationalism
• Effects of Technological Advancements on Modern Sports
• Unveiling the Economic Aspects of Major League Sports
• Gender Inequality in Professional Sports: A Comprehensive Analysis
• The Paradox of Violence in Contact Sports
• Performance Anxiety Among Young Athletes: Causes and Solutions
• The Role of Media in Shaping Sports Culture
• eSports Phenomenon: A Sociological Perspective
• Long-Term Health Consequences of High-Intensity Sports
• Underrepresentation of Minority Groups in Major Sports Leagues
• Benefits of Physical Activity for Children’s Mental Health
• Cultural Factors Influencing Popular Sports in Different Countries
• Steroids in Bodybuilding: Unveiling the Hidden Dangers
• Roles of Sports in Promoting Inclusive Societies
• Challenges and Successes in Women’s Professional Football
• Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering in Sports
• Olympic Games: The Evolution of Modern Sportsmanship
• Economic Impact of Hosting Mega Sporting Events
• Extreme Sports and Risk-Taking Behavior: A Psychological Perspective
• Professional Athletes as Role Models: A Societal Impact Analysis
• Impacts of Climate Change on Outdoor Sports

Easy Sports Research Topics

• How Do Sports Influence Youth Development and Social Skills?
• Comparative Analysis of Training Techniques in Different Sports
• Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine: A Detailed Review
• Social Issues in Sports: Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia
• Evolution and Impact of Sports Marketing
• Exploring the Concept of ‘Home Advantage’ in Sports
• Impacts of Globalization on the Sports Industry
• Sports Law and Its Implications: A Comprehensive Review
• Fan Culture in Sports: The Influence on Players’ Performance
• Roles of Innovation in Sports Equipment Design
• Psychological Resilience in Elite Athletes: Unveiling the Secrets
• Sports Sponsorships: The Impact on Brand Awareness
• Understanding the Paralympic Movement: History and Evolution
• Emergence and Growth of Mixed Martial Arts: An Analysis
• Effects of Physical Training on Mental Well-Being
• Roles of Video Technology in Modern Sports Adjudication
• Importance of Good Sleep Habits for Athlete Performance
• Assessing the Sustainability of Major Sports Events
• Science Behind Hydration and Sports Performance
• Dealing With Injuries: Mental Health of Athletes
• Sports Careers: Beyond Being an Athlete

Interesting Sports Research Paper Topics

• Comparative Study of Traditional and Online Sports Betting
• Advent of Virtual Reality in Sports Training
• Stress Management Strategies for High-Performance Athletes
• Analysis of Leadership Styles in Sports Coaching
• Sociocultural Impact of Sports on Community Development
• The Future of Sports Broadcasting: Trends and Predictions
• Transformation of Public Perception Toward Female Athletes
• Examining the Role of Ethics in Sports Journalism
• Impacts of High Altitude Training on Athlete Performance
• Sports-Based Rehabilitation Programs for Incarcerated Individuals
• Examining the Phenomenon of Superstition in Sports
• Youth Sports Specialization: Risks and Benefits
• Comparative Study of Fan Loyalty in Different Sports
• Roles of Mental Imagery in Enhancing Athletic Performance
• Effects of Climate Conditions on Athlete Performance
• Impacts of Sports-Based Interventions in Conflict Resolution
• Aging Athletes and Longevity in Professional Sports
• The Impact of Family Support on Young Athletes
• Sports Tourism: Its Economic and Social Effects
• Cognitive Skills Development through Competitive Sports: A Study
• Emerging Trends in Sports Nutrition: A Health Perspective
• Roles of Strength and Conditioning in Injury Prevention
• The Influence of Music on Athletic Performance

Sports Research Topics on History

• Evolution of the Olympic Games: From Ancient Greece to Modern Era
• Impacts of World Wars on the Progression of Sports
• Rise of Women’s Participation in Competitive Sports: A Historical Perspective
• Transformation of Boxing: From Bare-Knuckle Bouts to Regulated Matches
• Analysis of the FIFA World Cup: Its Origins and Influences
• Pivotal Moments in the History of American Baseball
• The Socioeconomic Influences of Football’s Popularity in Europe
• Development and Evolution of Motor Racing Sports
• Cricket’s Journey: From the British Empire to Global Phenomenon
• Integration of Technology in Sports: A Retrospective Review
• Influential Figures in the Growth of Basketball: A Historical Analysis
• Cultural Shifts in Traditional Martial Arts: East Meets West
• Impacts of Racial Segregation on the History of American Sports
• Modernization of the Paralympic Games: Overcoming Adversity
• Expansion of the National Hockey League: A Century-Long Journey
• Golf’s Transformation: From Elitist Leisure Activity to Global Sport
• Rise of Extreme Sports in the Late 20th Century
• Influence of Rugby on Global Sports Culture
• Tennis: The Evolution of the Modern Game
• Historical Shifts in the Perception of Physical Fitness and Bodybuilding
• Roles of Professional Wrestling in Pop Culture: An Historical Overview
• Cycling’s Journey: From Basic Transportation to Competitive Sport

Psychology Sports Research Topics

• Psychological Impact of Injuries on Athletes: A Comprehensive Study
• Embracing Defeat: Mental Resilience in Professional Sport
• Roles of Sports Psychology in Enhancing Team Performance
• Influence of Mental Conditioning on Athletes’ Success Rates
• Gender Differences in Competitive Stress Responses
• Sports Psychology: Applications in Youth Development Programs
• Cognitive Processes Underlying Decision-Making in Team Sports
• Understanding the Psychological Preparation of Olympic Athletes
• Impacts of Spectator Behavior on Athlete Performance: An Exploration
• Motivational Strategies in Professional Sports Coaching
• Mindfulness and its Role in Athletes’ Stress Management
• Exploring Psychological Trauma in Retired Athletes
• Impacts of Psychological Interventions on Athletic Injury Recovery
• Psychological Factors Contributing to Athlete Burnout
• Roles of Self-efficacy in Athletic Performance: A Detailed Study
• Analysis of Personality Traits Among Successful Athletes
• Stressors in Elite Sports: An Examination of Coping Mechanisms
• Influence of Team Dynamics on Individual Performance in Sports
• Exploring the Psychology of Endurance Sports
• Impacts of Coach-Athlete Relationships on Athlete Psychology
• Mental Health in Sports: Stigma, Support, and Solutions

Research Paper Topics About Women in Sports

• Pioneering Female Athletes: A Historical Perspective
• Challenges and Opportunities in Women’s Professional Basketball
• Advancements in Women’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Intersectionality of Gender, Race, and Culture in Women’s Sports
• Achieving Parity: An Analysis of Pay Inequality in Women’s Sports
• Evolution of Women’s Roles in the Olympics: 1896 to Present
• Impacts of Title IX on American Women’s Sports Participation
• Female Sports Representation in Media: Progress and Remaining Challenges
• Investigating Sociocultural Barriers to Women’s Sports Participation Worldwide
• Psychological Impacts of Competitive Stress on Female Athletes
• Understanding Body Image Issues Among Female Athletes
• Analysis of Leadership Roles: Women in Sports Management
• Biomechanical Differences Between Male and Female Athletes: Implications for Training
• Role Models and Mentoring in Women’s Sports: A Comparative Study
• Promoting Inclusion: The LGBTQ+ Community in Women’s Sports
• Influence of Female Athletes on Fashion and Lifestyle Trends
• Advancement in Equipment and Gear Designed Specifically for Female Athletes
• A Study on the Prevalence and Prevention of Eating Disorders in Women’s Sports
• Exploring the Notion of ‘Femininity’ in the Context of Women’s Sports
• Women’s Participation in Extreme and Non-Traditional Sports: A Growing Trend
• Effects of Maternity Leave Policies on Professional Female Athletes’ Careers
• Recognizing the Unsung Heroes: Contributions of Women in Sports Science

Sports Research Topics on Training

• Exploring the Impacts of High-Intensity Interval Training on Athletic Performance
• The Role of Strength Training in Injury Prevention for Athletes
• Effectiveness of Sport-Specific Training vs. Generic Training Programs
• Nutrition and Training: Understanding the Link in Athletic Performance
• Influence of Altitude Training on Endurance Sports Performance
• Mental Training and Its Effects on Sports Performance: A Comprehensive Review
• The Role of Cross Training in Enhancing Skills of Multi-Sport Athletes
• Periodization in Training: A Modern Approach for Optimizing Athlete Performance
• Sleep’s Impacts on Athletic Recovery and Performance
• Diving Into the Science of Flexibility Training for Athletes
• Understanding the Biochemical Responses to Resistance Training in Athletes
• The Importance of Balance Training in the Prevention of Sports Injuries
• Ergogenic Aids in Training: The Science and the Ethics
• How Does Overtraining Affect Athlete Performance and Health?
• The Role of Plyometric Training in Improving Power and Agility in Athletes
• Techniques for Mental Toughness Training: Impact on Athlete Success
• Roles of Core Training in Enhancing Athletic Performance
• Hydration Strategies in Training and Performance: A Critical Review
• Neurological Adaptations to Sports Training: A Deeper Dive
• Optimizing Interval Training for Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness in Athletes

Research Paper Topics on Sports Science

• The Impact of High-Intensity Interval Training on Endurance Performance in Soccer Players
• Evaluating the Effects of Nutrition Interventions on Muscle Recovery in Weightlifters
• Investigating the Role of Biomechanics in Enhancing Golf Swing Performance
• Analyzing the Effects of Plyometric Training on Vertical Jump Height in Basketball Players
• Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Athletic Performance in Elite Athletes
• Effects of Altitude Training on Oxygen Utilization in Distance Runners
• Examining the Impact of Sports Psychology Techniques on Mental Toughness in Tennis Players
• Investigating the Influence of Sports Supplements on Muscle Strength and Power in Rugby Players
• Analyzing the Effects of Heat Acclimatization on Performance and Thermoregulation in Marathon Runners
• Exploring the Role of Visual Perception and Reaction Time in Baseball Batting Performance
• Effects of Cold-Water Immersion on Muscle Recovery in Soccer Players
• Analyzing the Effects of Dynamic Stretching on Agility Performance in Football Players
• Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress and Performance in Athletes
• Analyzing the Relationship Between Vitamin D Levels and Muscular Strength in Athletes
• Exploring the Influence of Mental Imagery Techniques on Skill Acquisition in Divers
• Examining the Impact of Gender on Injury Patterns in Collegiate Soccer Players
• Investigating the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Motivation in Team Sports
• Analyzing the Effects of Music Tempo on Performance and Perceived Effort in Cyclists
• Exploring the Influence of Biofeedback Training on Heart Rate Variability in Swimmers
• The Impact of Recovery Strategies on Fatigue and Performance in Triathletes
• Investigating the Role of Genetic Factors in Athletic Performance and Injury Susceptibility

Sports Research Paper Topics on Exercise

• Comparative Analysis of Different Training Methods for Enhancing Strength and Power in Athletes
• Investigating the Relationship Between Sports Injuries and Exercise Techniques
• The Impact of Nutrition and Hydration on Endurance Training
• Exploring the Psychological Benefits of Regular Physical Exercise in Sports
• Evaluating the Role of Stretching Exercises in Injury Prevention for Athletes
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of CrossFit Training Programs in Enhancing Overall Fitness
• Investigating the Role of Physical Exercise in Enhancing Cognitive Function in Athletes
• The Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Athletic Performance in Sports
• Benefits of Plyometric Training in Enhancing Explosive Power for Athletes
• Evaluating the Influence of Sports Supplements on Muscle Recovery and Performance
• Analyzing the Impact of Exercise Intensity and Duration on Weight Loss in Sports
• Effects of Resistance Training on Bone Density and Injury Prevention in Athletes
• Investigating the Role of Yoga and Pilates in Improving Flexibility and Balance for Athletes
• Analyzing the Impact of Altitude Training on Endurance Performance in Athletes
• The Effects of Sport-Specific Training on Skill Acquisition and Performance Enhancement
• Examining the Influence of Gender on Athletic Performance in Different Sports
• Investigating the Effects of Sports Massage on Muscle Recovery and Performance
• Evaluating the Effects of Different Cooling Strategies on Exercise Performance and Recovery
• The Relationship Between Exercise and Aging: Implications for Sports Performance
• Analyzing the Effects of Heat Acclimation on Exercise Tolerance and Performance

Athletic Sports Research Topics

• The Power of Sports Psychology in Enhancing Athlete Performance
• Nutrition’s Impact on Athletic Endurance: A Comprehensive Study
• High-Intensity Interval Training: Boosting Athletic Performance
• Unraveling the Connection Between Sleep and Athletic Recovery
• Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports: Examining Efficacy
• Weather Conditions and Outdoor Sporting Events: Exploring the Relationship
• Cross-Training: Maximizing Athletic Abilities and Potential
• Age: Its Influence on Athletic Performance and Injury Risk
• Genetics and Athletic Performance: Unveiling the Link
• Gender’s Roles in Sports Performance and Participation: An Investigation
• Psychological Factors in Injury Rehabilitation: A Critical Analysis
• Virtual Reality in Athletic Training and Performance: An Innovative Approach
• Biomechanics: Enhancing Athletic Technique and Performance
• Sports Massage: An Effective Tool for Recovery and Performance
• Athlete Burnout: The Psychological Impact on Performance
• Mindfulness and Meditation: Enhancing Athlete Well-Being and Focus
• Altitude and Endurance Performance: An In-Depth Study
• Sports Analytics: Optimizing Performance through Data Analysis
• Coach-Athlete Relationships: Impact on Athletic Success
• Pre-Competition Rituals: Their Effectiveness in Enhancing Performance
• Strength and Conditioning Programs: Benefits for Athletes

Sports Management Research Topics

• The Impact of Data Analytics on Sports Management
• Enhancing Fan Engagement Strategies for Sports Management
• Sustainable Practices in Sports Facility Management
• Leveraging Social Media for Sports Marketing and Management
• The Role of Sports Agents in Athlete Management
• Leadership in Sports Team Management
• Ethical Issues in Sports Management
• Effective Sponsorship Strategies in Sports Management
• Technology in Sports Event Management
• Enhancing Athlete Performance Through Sports Science Management
• Economic Impacts of Major Sporting Events on Local Communities
• Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Management
• Evolution of Sports Broadcasting and Its Impact on Management
• Challenges of Sports Facility Operations and Management
• Roles of Sports Psychology in Athlete Management
• Risk Management Strategies in Sports Organizations
• Sports Law and Regulations in Management Practices
• Branding and Merchandising in Sports Management
• Roles of Sports Medicine in Athlete Management
• Financial Management in Sports Organizations

Marketing Sports Research Topics

• The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Sports Sponsorships
• Evaluating Athlete Endorsements in Sports Marketing Effectiveness
• Analyzing the Role of Branding in Sports Merchandise Marketing
• Exploring Fan Engagement and Its Relationship With Sports Marketing Strategies
• Investigating the Influence of Sports Events on Local Economic Development
• Examining the Use of Influencer Marketing in the Sports Industry
• Assessing Sports Marketing Campaigns Targeting Gen Z Effectiveness
• Data Analytics in Sports Marketing and Fan Engagement
• Athlete Personalities and Their Impact on Sports Marketing Success
• Analyzing Sports Marketing Strategies’ Use of Gamification
• Fan Loyalty Programs’ Role in Sports Marketing
• Evaluating Sports Sponsorship Activation Strategies’ Effectiveness
• Investigating Sports Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior
• Fan Communities’ Role in Sports Marketing and Brand Building
• Analyzing the Use of Virtual Reality for Enhanced Sports Marketing Experiences
• Examining Sports Celebrity Endorsements’ Influence on Consumer Buying Decisions
• eSports Impact on Traditional Sports Marketing Strategies
• Assessing Cause Marketing Effectiveness in the Sports Industry
• Augmented Reality in Enhancing Sports Marketing Engagement
• Analyzing Emotional Branding in Sports Marketing Campaigns
• Investigating Sports Betting’s Influence on Sports Marketing Strategies

Research Paper Topics on Sports Theory

• The Influence of Psychological Factors on Performance in Competitive Sports
• Motivation’s Role in Sports Performance: A Theoretical Perspective
• Personality Traits’ Impacts on Sports Success
• Analysis of Effective Sports Training Methods for Skill Acquisition
• Leadership Styles’ Effect on Team Performance in Sports
• The Application of Sports Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
• Evaluating Sports Nutrition’s Impacts on Athlete Performance and Recovery
• Understanding Sports Biomechanics’ Role in Enhancing Athletic Performance
• Mental Imagery’s Effects on Sports Performance and Skill Execution
• Effects of Pre-Competition Rituals on Sports Performance
• Communication Between Coach and Athlete and Its Relationship With Team Cohesion
• The Impact of Sports Technology on Performance Enhancement
• Psychological Skills Training and Athletes’ Mental Toughness
• The Role of Sports Sociology in Shaping Sporting Cultures
• Sports Injuries and Psychological Well-Being: Exploring the Relationship
• Performance-Enhancing Drugs and Their Effects on Sports Performance
• Gender’s Roles in Sports Participation and Performance
• Environmental Factors and Their Influence on Sports Performance
• The Effect of Goal Setting on Athlete Motivation and Performance
• Sports Specialization and Long-Term Athletic Development

Research Paper Topics About Sports Sociology

• The Impact of Gender Roles on Sports Participation and Performance
• Media Influence on the Perception of Athletes and Sports Culture
• Social Class and Its Effects on Sports Opportunities and Success
• Racial Inequality in Professional Sports: Challenges and Progress
• The Role of Sports in Building Social Networks and Communities
• Sports and National Identity: Exploring the Connection
• Education and Sports: Examining the Benefits and Challenges
• The Role of Sports in Promoting Health and Well-Being in Society
• Sociology of Sports Fandom: Identity, Rituals, and Belonging
• Sports and Youth Development: Socialization and Empowerment
• Disability and Inclusivity in Sports: Breaking Barriers and Challenging Stereotypes
• Deviance in Sports: Examining the Relationship Between Rule-Breaking and Social Order
• Activism in Sports: Exploring Social Movements Within Athletic Contexts
• Commercialization of Sports: Impacts on Athletes, Fans, and Society
• Politics and Sports: Analyzing the Intersections and Controversies
• Influence of Sports on Body Image and Self-Esteem
• Sports and Aging: Promoting Healthy Aging and Social Engagement
• Construction of Heroes and Villains in Sports
• Sports and Religion: Exploring the Connections and Conflicts
• Sociology of Sports Injury: Understanding Recovery and Rehabilitation Processes
• Nationalism and Sports: Examining the Role of Sports in Shaping Patriotism

Nutrition Sports Research Topics

• The Impact of Protein Supplementation on Athletic Performance
• The Role of Carbohydrates in Post-Exercise Recovery
• Assessing the Effects of Hydration on Endurance Athletes
• Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Sports Performance
• Analyzing the Impact of Caffeine on Exercise Endurance
• Investigating the Effects of Antioxidants on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress
• Evaluating the Influence of Vitamin D on Muscle Strength and Power
• Understanding the Importance of Electrolyte Balance in Sports Nutrition
• Exploring the Role of Pre-Workout Supplements in Enhancing Performance
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of High-Intensity Interval Training in Fat Loss and Muscle Gain
• The Relationship Between Nutrition and Bone Health in Athletes
• Examining the Use of Probiotics for Gut Health in Sports Performance
• Investigating the Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Athletic Performance
• The Role of Micronutrients in Immune Function for Athletes
• Evaluating the Effects of Dietary Fiber on Digestive Health in Athletes
• Analyzing the Benefits of Branched-Chain Amino Acids for Muscle Recovery
• Understanding the Impact of Iron Deficiency on Female Athletes
• The Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Strength and Power in Athletes
• Assessing the Role of Glycogen in Endurance Exercise Performance
• Exploring the Effects of Sports Drinks on Hydration and Performance

Sports Research Topics on Medicine

• The Impact of Sports-Related Concussions on Brain Health: An In-Depth Analysis
• Evaluating the Efficacy of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports Medicine
• The Role of Sports Medicine in Preventing and Treating Musculoskeletal Injuries
• Exploring the Effects of Exercise on Mental Health and Well-Being in Athletes
• Enhancing Performance through Sports Nutrition: A Comprehensive Review
• Examining the Relationship Between Sports Participation and Cardiovascular Health
• The Role of Sports Medicine in Managing and Preventing Chronic Diseases
• Analyzing the Impact of Sports Medicine on Female Athletes’ Health and Performance
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programs in Sports Medicine
• The Use of Biomechanics in Sports Medicine: Advancements and Applications
• Investigating the Benefits of Sports Massage Therapy in Injury Recovery and Performance Enhancement
• Assessing the Role of Sports Medicine in Preventing and Managing Overuse Injuries
• Understanding the Role of Sports Medicine in Enhancing Respiratory Health in Athletes
• Examining the Impact of Exercise on Metabolic Disorders and Obesity
• The Use of Sports Medicine in Optimizing Performance for Elite Athletes
• Exploring the Role of Sports Medicine in Youth Sports: Injury Prevention and Health Promotion
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Cryotherapy in Sports Medicine
• Analyzing the Impact of Sports Medicine on Psychological Factors in Athletes
• The Role of Sports Medicine in Managing and Preventing Exercise-Induced Asthma
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sports Medicine Programs in Enhancing Flexibility and Mobility
• Understanding the Benefits and Risks of Sports Supplements in Athletes

Sports Research Topics About Injuries

• Exploring Gender Disparities in ACL Injuries Among Collegiate Soccer Players
• Assessing Preventive Measures to Reduce Baseball Pitching-Related Injuries
• Comprehensive Evaluation of Basketball Injuries and Rehabilitation Techniques
• Long-Term Consequences of Head Injuries in Youth Ice Hockey: An Investigation
• Tennis Elbow among Professional Players: Prevalence and Causes
• Effectiveness of Protective Equipment in Minimizing Combat Sports Injuries
• Psychological Rehabilitation of Athletes Following Sports-Related Injuries: An Analysis
• Roles of Nutrition in Promoting Healing and Recovery From Sports Injuries
• Incidence of Ankle Sprains in High School Basketball Players: A Study
• Overtraining and Musculoskeletal Injuries in Marathon Runners: Analyzing the Relationship
• Impacts of Environmental Factors on Heat-Related Illnesses in Outdoor Sports
• Rehabilitation Programs for Shoulder Injuries in Baseball Pitchers: Evaluating Efficacy
• Mechanisms and Risk Factors of Hamstring Injuries in Soccer Players: An Investigation
• Artificial Turf and Knee Injuries in Football: Examining the Relationship
• Psychological Effects of Season-Ending Injuries on Professional Athletes: Analysis and Implications
• Prevalence and Prevention of Volleyball-Related Ankle Injuries: A Comprehensive Study
• Biomechanics and ACL Tears in Female Athletes: Assessing the Risk
• Effectiveness of Sport-Specific Conditioning Programs in Reducing Injuries: An Evaluation
• Equipment Design and Head Injuries in Snowboarding: Analyzing the Relationship
• Physiotherapy in Treating Tennis-Related Shoulder Injuries: Evaluating Efficacy

Sports Research Topics on Doping

• Impacts of Performance-Enhancing Drugs on Athletic Performance
• Ethics of Doping in Professional Sports
• Long-Term Health Effects of Doping on Athletes
• Effectiveness of Anti-Doping Policies in Sports
• Roles of Drug Testing in Preventing Doping in Athletics
• Psychological Factors Driving Athletes to Dope
• Use of Designer Drugs in Sports
• Influence of Doping on Gender Equality in Athletics
• Economic Implications of Doping in Professional Sports
• Relationship Between Doping and Sports Sponsorship
• Impacts of Doping Scandals on Athletes’ Legacies
• Roles of Athlete Education in Preventing Doping
• Influence of Social Media on Doping Culture in Sports
• Use of Doping in Amateur and Youth Sports
• Roles of Coaches and Trainers in Encouraging or Discouraging Doping
• Effectiveness of Doping Detection Methods in Sports
• Influence of Peer Pressure on Doping Practices
• Roles of Sports Organizations in Combating Doping
• Relationship Between Doping and Sports Injuries
• Impacts of Doping on Fair Play and Sporting Integrity
• Use of Gene Doping in Enhancing Athletic Performance

Argumentative Sports Research Topics

• Impacts of Performance-Enhancing Drugs on Athletes’ Long-Term Health
• Ethics of Using Genetic Engineering in Enhancing Athletic Abilities
• Inequality in Prize Money Distribution in Male and Female Sports
• The True Cost of Hosting the Olympic Games: An Economic Analysis
• Should eSports Be Recognized as Legitimate Competitive Sports?
• Dangers of Early Specialization in Youth Sports: A Comprehensive Review
• How Does Media Coverage Affect Female Athletes’ Perception?
• Analyzing the Effect of Mental Health on Athletic Performance
• Collegiate Athletes and Compensation: Should They Be Paid?
• Evolution of Technology in Sports: Boon or Bane?
• The Role of Race and Racism in Professional Sports
• The Influence of Role Models in Sports on Youth Development
• Exploring the Connection Between Sports Participation and Academic Achievement
• Violence in Sports: Societal Implications and Solutions
• Effects of Sponsorship on Athletes’ Performance and Branding
• Importance of Fair Play in Sports: A Philosophical Perspective
• Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Outdoor Sports
• Professional Athletes’ Wages: Justified or Overrated?
• Doping Controls in Sports: Are Current Methods Effective?
• Roles of Sports in Promoting Social Inclusion and Unity
• Impacts of Sports-Related Concussions on Cognitive Functioning
• Perspectives on Body Image Issues Among Female Athletes

Sports Research Paper Topics About Running

• Enhancing Long-Distance Running Performance Through Endurance Training
• Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Sprint Performance in Runners
• Psychological Factors Influencing Marathon Running Performance
• Nutrition and Hydration: Key Factors in Running Performance
• Age and Running Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Masters Athletes
• Strength Training: Improving Running Efficiency
• Altitude Training and Its Impact on Endurance Running Performance
• Genetics: A Determining Factor in Running Ability and Performance
• The Influence of Running Surfaces on Injury Risk and Performance
• Power Development in Runners: The Role of Plyometric Training
• Warm-Up and Cool-Down Protocols: Impact on Running Performance
• Psychological Strategies of Elite Runners: Performance Enhancement Techniques
• Sleep, Recovery, and Running Performance: Exploring the Connection
• Footwear Technology: Effects on Running Performance and Injury Prevention
• Cross-Training: Enhancing Running Performance Through Variation
• Anaerobic Capacity in Runners: Effects of Interval Training
• Running Economy and Performance: An Analysis of Distance Runners
• Stretching and Flexibility Training: Influence on Running Performance
• Physiological Adaptations in Long-Term Endurance Running Training
• Fatigue and Overtraining in Runners: Contributing Factors

Water Sports Research Topics

• The Impact of Water Sports on Physical Fitness and Health
• Exploring the Economic Benefits of Water Sports Tourism
• Environmental Conservation in Water Sports: Practices and Challenges
• Investigating the Psychological Benefits of Water Sports
• The Role of Gender in Water Sports Participation and Performance
• Exploring the History and Evolution of Water Sports
• Analyzing the Safety Measures in Water Sports Activities
• The Influence of Technology on Water Sports Performance
• Assessing the Social and Cultural Impacts of Water Sports Events
• Understanding the Physiology of Water Sports Athletes
• Investigating the Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Water Sports Performance
• Exploring the Role of Coaching in Water Sports Training
• The Effect of Water Sports on Cognitive Function and Mental Well-Being
• Analyzing the Economic Viability of Water Sports Facilities
• Investigating the Environmental Effects of Water Sports Equipment and Gear
• The Impact of Water Sports on Coastal Ecosystems and Marine Life
• Understanding the Psychological Challenges Faced by Water Sports Athletes
• Exploring the Influence of Water Sports on Youth Development
• Assessing the Role of Media in Promoting Water Sports
• Analyzing the Cultural Significance of Traditional Water Sports
• The Influence of Weather Conditions on Water Sports Activities

Soccer Sports Research Topics

• Soccer Tactics Evolution: Analyzing the Impact of Formations on Team Performance
• Influence of Home Field Advantage in Soccer: A Statistical Analysis
• Roles of Mental Training in Enhancing Soccer Performance: A Case Study of Professional Players
• Player Positioning and Goal-Scoring Efficiency in Soccer: An Analytical Study
• Effectiveness of Different Training Methods for Developing Soccer Skills
• Impacts of Playing Surface on Soccer Performance and Injury Rates: A Comparative Study
• Psychological Factors Affecting Penalty Shootout Performance in Soccer: An Analysis
• Nutrition and Diet: Enhancing Soccer Players’ Performance and Recovery
• Relationship Between Soccer Team Diversity and Success: A Case Study of Professional Leagues
• Impacts of Weather Conditions on Soccer Matches: A Comparative Analysis
• Influence of Managerial Styles on Team Performance in Soccer: Exploring the Link
• Technology’s Role in Enhancing Soccer Fan Engagement and Experience: An Overview
• Economic Impacts of Major Soccer Events on Host Countries: Analyzing the Effects
• Impact of Player Transfers on Team Performance in Professional Soccer: An Investigation
• Relationship Between Soccer and National Identity: A Comparative Study
• Soccer-Specific Physical Conditioning Programs: Effectiveness in Injury Prevention
• Role of Soccer Academies in Player Development: A Comparative Analysis
• Effectiveness of Video Analysis in Improving Soccer Tactics and Strategy: A Study
• Impacts of Fan Behavior on Soccer Match Atmosphere and Player Performance: An Examination
• Influence of Soccer Broadcasts on Fan Engagement and Support: Analyzing the Effects

Extreme Sports Research Topics

• Exploration: Psychological Benefits of Extreme Sports
• Analysis: Impact of Extreme Sports on Physical Fitness
• Examining the Role of Risk-Taking in Extreme Sports
• Investigating the Evolution of Equipment in Extreme Sports
• Understanding the Sociocultural Significance of Extreme Sports
• Exploring the Environmental Impact of Extreme Sports
• Assessing the Role of Technology in Extreme Sports
• Analyzing Economic Aspects of the Extreme Sports Industry
• Investigating the Relationship Between Gender and Extreme Sports Participation
• Examining the Influence of Extreme Sports on Youth Culture
• Role of Media in Promoting Extreme Sports
• Analyzing the Impact of Sponsorship in Extreme Sports
• Physiology of Athletes in Extreme Sports
• Understanding Roles of Fear and Adrenaline in Extreme Sports
• Examining the Role of Extreme Sports in Overcoming Personal Challenges
• Investigating the Impact of Extreme Sports on Mental Well-Being
• Analyzing Cultural Appropriation in Extreme Sports
• Exploring the Relationship between Extreme Sports and Natural Landscapes
• Examining Safety Measures and Risk Management in Extreme Sports
• Investigating the Impact of Extreme Sports on Tourism
• Exploring Ethics of Extreme Sports

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Perspective article, artificial intelligence and machine learning in sport research: an introduction for non-data scientists.

• Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

In the last two decades, artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the way in which we consume and analyse sports. The role of AI in improving decision-making and forecasting in sports, amongst many other advantages, is rapidly expanding and gaining more attention in both the academic sector and the industry. Nonetheless, for many sports audiences, professionals and policy makers, who are not particularly au courant or experts in AI, the connexion between artificial intelligence and sports remains fuzzy. Likewise, for many, the motivations for adopting a machine learning (ML) paradigm in sports analytics are still either faint or unclear. In this perspective paper, we present a high-level, non-technical, overview of the machine learning paradigm that motivates its potential for enhancing sports (performance and business) analytics. We provide a summary of some relevant research literature on the areas in which artificial intelligence and machine learning have been applied to the sports industry and in sport research. Finally, we present some hypothetical scenarios of how AI and ML could shape the future of sports.

Introduction

It was in Moneyball ( Lewis, 2004 ), the famous success storey of the Major League Baseball team “Oakland Athletics,” that using in-game play statistics came under focus as a means to assemble an exceptional team. Despite Oakland Athletics' relatively small budget, the adoption of a rigorous data-driven approach to assemble a new team led to the playoffs in the year 2002. An economic evaluation of the Moneyball hypothesis ( Hakes and Sauer, 2006 ) describes how, at the time, a baseball hitters' salary was not truly explained by the contribution of a player's batting skills to winning games. Oakland Athletics gained a big advantage over their competitors by identifying and exploiting this information gap. It's been almost two decades since Moneyball principles, or SABRmetrics ( Lewis, 2004 ) was introduced to baseball. SABR stands for Society for American Baseball Research and SABRmetricians are those scientists who gather the in-game data and analyse it to answer questions that will lead to improving team performance. Since the success of the Oakland Athletics, most MLB teams started employing SABRmetricians. The ongoing and exponential increase of computer processing power has further accelerated the ability to analyse “big data,” and indeed, computers increasingly are taking charge of the deeper analysis of data sets, through means of artificial intelligence (AI). Likewise, the surge in high-quality data collection and data aggregation (accomplished by organisations like Baseball Savant/StatCast, ESPN and others) are key ingredients to the spike in the accuracy and breadth of analytics that was observed in the MLB in recent years.

The adoption of AI and statistical modelling in sports has become therefore more prominent in recent years as new technologies and research applications are impacting professional sports at various levels of sophistication. The wide applicability of machine learning algorithms, combined with increasing computing processing power as well as access to more and new sources of data in recent years, has made sports organisations hungry for new applications and strategies. The overriding aim is still to make them more competitive on and off the field–in athletic and business performance. The benefits of leveraging the power of AI can, in that regard, take different forms from optimising business or technical decision making to enhancing athlete/team performance but also increasing demand for attendance at sporting events, as well as promoting alternative entertainment formats of the sport.

We next list some areas where AI and machine learning (ML) have left their footprints in the world of sports ( Beal et al., 2019 ) and provide some examples of applications in each (some of the listed applications could overlap with one or more of the areas).

• Game activity/analytics: match outcome modelling, player/ball Tracking, match event (e.g., shot) classification, umpire assistance, sports betting .

• Talent identification and acquisition: player recruitment, player performance measurement, biomechanics .

• Training and coaching: assessment of team formation efficacy, tactical planning, player injury modelling .

• Fan and business focused: measurement of a player's economic value, modelling demand for event attendance, ticket pricing optimisation (variable and dynamic), wearable and sensor design, highlight packaging, virtual and augmented reality sport applications, etc .

The field of AI (particularly ML) offers new methodologies that have proven to be beneficial for tackling the above challenges. In this perspective paper we aim to provide sports business professionals and non-technical sports audiences, coaches, business leaders, policy makers and stakeholders with an overview of the range of AI approaches used to analyse sport performance and business centric problems. We also discuss perspectives on how AI could shape the future of sports in the next few years.

Research on AI and ML in Sports

In this section, we will not be reviewing examples of how AI has been applied to sports for a specific application, but rather, we will look at the intersection of AI and sports at a more abstract level, discussing some research that either surveyed or summarised the application of AI and ML in sports.

One of the earliest works discussing the potential applications of artificial intelligence in sports performance, and its positive impact on improving decision-making is by Lapham and Bartlett (1995) . The paper discusses how expert systems (i.e., a knowledge-based database used for reasoning) can be used for sports biomechanics purposes. Bartlett (2006) reviewed developments in the use of AI in sports biomechanics (e.g., throwing, shot putting, football kicking, …) to show that, at the time of writing, expert systems were marginally used in sports biomechanics despite being popular for “gait analysis” whereas Artificial Neural Networks were used for applications such as performance patterns in training and movement patterns of sports performers. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is a system that mimics the functionality of a human brain. ANNs are used to solve computational problems or estimate functions from a given data input, by imitating the way neurons are fired or activated in the human brain. Several (layers of) artificial neurons, known as perceptrons, are connected to perform computations which return an output as a function of the provided input ( Anderson, 1995 ).

Bartlett (2006) predicted that multi-layer ANNs will play a big role in sports technique analysis in the future. Indeed, as we discuss later, multi-layer ANNs, now commonly referred to as Deep Learning, have become one of the most popular techniques in sports related analytics. Last but not least Bartlett (2006) described the applications of Evolutionary Computation and hybrid systems in the optimization of sports techniques and skill learning. Further discussion around the applications of AI in sports biomechanics can be found in Ratiu et al. (2010) . McCabe and Trevathan (2008) discussed the use of artificial intelligence for prediction of sporting outcomes, showing how the behaviour of teams can be modelled in different sporting contests using multi-layer ANNs.

Between 2006 and 2010, machine learning algorithms, particularly ANNs were becoming more popular amongst computer scientists. This was aided by the impressive improvements in computer hardware, but also due to a shift in mindset in the AI community. Large volumes of data were made public amongst researchers and scientists (e.g., ImageNet a visual database delivered by Stanford University), and new open-source machine learning competitions were organised (such as Netflix Prize and Kaggle). It is these types of events that have shaped the adoption of AI and machine learning in many different fields of study from medicine to econometrics and sports, by facilitating access to training data and offering free open-source tools and frameworks for leveraging the power of AI. Note that, in addition to ANN, other machine learning techniques are utilised in such competitions, and sometimes these can be used in combination with one another. For instance, some of the techniques that went into the winning of the Netflix prize include singular value decomposition combined with restricted Boltzmann machines and gradient boosted decision trees.

Other examples discussing ANNs in sports include Novatchkov and Baca (2013) who discuss how ANNs can be used for understanding the quality of execution, assisting athletes and coaches, and training optimisation. However, the applications of AI to sports analytics go beyond the use of ANNs. For example, Fister et al. (2015 ) discussed how nature-inspired AI algorithms can be used to investigate unsolved research problems regarding safe and effective training plans. Their approach ( Fister et al., 2015 ) relies on the notion of artificial collective intelligence ( Chmait et al., 2016 ; Chmait, 2017 ) and the adaptability of algorithms to adapt to a changing environment. The authors show how such algorithms can be used to develop an artificial trainer to recommend athletes with an informed training strategy after taking into consideration various factors related to the athlete's physique and readiness. Other types of scientific methods that include Bayesian approaches have been applied to determining player abilities ( Whitaker et al., 2021 ) but also predicting match outcomes ( Yang and Swartz, 2004 ). Bayesian analysis and learning is an approach for building (statistical and inference) models by updating the probability for a hypothesis as more evidence or information becomes available by using Bayes' theorem ( Ghosh et al., 2007 ).

There are numerous research papers in which AI and ML is applied to sport, and it is not our aim to comprehensively discuss these works here 1 . However, we refer to a recent survey that elaborates on this topic. Beal et al. (2019) surveyed the applications of AI in team sports. The authors summarised existing academic work, in a range of sports, tackling issues such as match outcome modelling, in-game tactical decision making, player performance in fantasy sport games, and managing professional players' sport injuries. Work by Nadikattu (2020) presents, at an abstract level, discussions on how AI can be implemented in (American) sports from enhancing player performance, to assisting coaches to come up with the right formations and tactics, to developing automated video highlights of sports matches and supporting referees using computer vision applications.

We emphasise that the application of AI in sports is not limited to topics of sports performance, athlete talent identification or the technical analysis of the game. The (off the field) business side of sports organisations is rapidly shifting towards a data driven culture led by developing profiles of their fans and their consumer preferences. As fans call for superior content and entertainment, sport organisations must react by delivering a customised experience to their patrons. This is often achieved by the use of statistical modelling as well as other machine learning solutions, for example, to understand the value of players from an economic perspective. As shown in Chmait et al. (2020a) , investigating the relationship between the talent and success of athletes (to determine the existence of what is referred to as superstardom phenomenon or star power) is becoming an important angle to explore value created in sport. To provide an idea of the extent of such work, we note some sports in which the relationship between famous players/teams and their effect on audience attendance or sport consumption has been studied:

• In soccer ( Brandes et al., 2008 ; Jewell, 2017 ),

• In Major League Baseball ( Ormiston, 2014 ; Lewis and Yoon, 2016 )

• In the National Basketball Association ( Berri et al., 2004 ; Jane, 2016 )

• In tennis: superstar player effect in demand for tennis tournament attendance ( Chmait et al., 2020a ), the presence of a stardom effect in social media ( Chmait et al., 2020b ), player effect on German television audience demand for live broadcast tennis matches ( Konjer et al., 2017 )

• And similarly, in Cricket ( Paton and Cooke, 2005 ), Hockey ( Coates and Humphreys, 2012 ), and in the Australian Football League ( Lenten, 2012 ).

AI algorithms are being used in Formula 1 (F1) to improve the racing tactics of competing teams by analysing data from hundreds of sensors in the F1 car. Recent work by Piccinotti (2021) shows how artificial intelligence can provide F1 with automated ways for identifying tyre replacement strategies by modelling pit-stop timing and frequency as sequential decision-making problems.

Researchers from Tennis Australia and Victoria University devised a racket recommendation technique based on real HawkEye (computer vision system) data. An algorithm was used to recommend a selection of rackets based on movement, hitting pattern and style of the player with the aim to improve the player's performance ( Krause, 2019 ).

Accurate and fair judging of sophisticated skills in sports like gymnastics is a difficult task. Recently, a judging system was developed by Fujitsu Ltd. The system scores a routine based on the angles of a gymnast's joints. It uses AI to analyse 3D laser sensors that capture the gymnasts' movements ( Atiković et al., 2020 ).

Finally, it is important to note the exceptionally successful adoption of AI in board games like Chess, Checkers, Shogi and the Chinese game of GO, as well as virtual games (like Dota2 and StarCraft). In the last couple of decades, AI has delivered a staggering rise in performance in such areas to the point that machines (almost) constantly defeat human world champions. We refer to some notable solutions like Schaeffer et al. (2007) Checkers artificial algorithm, DeepBlue defeating Kasparov in Chess ( Campbell et al., 2002 ), AlphaGo Zero defeating Lee Sedol in Go ( Silver et al., 2017 ) (noting that AlphaZero is also unbeatable in chess) and Vinyals et al. (2019) AlphaStar in StarcraftII as well as superhuman AI for multiplayer poker ( Brown and Sandholm, 2019 ). Commonly, in these types of games or sports, AI algorithms rely on a Reinforcement Learning approach (which we will describe later) as well as using techniques like the Monte-Carlo Search Trees to explore the game and devise robust strategies to solve and play these games. Some of the recent testbeds used to evaluate AI agents and algorithms are discussed in Hernández-Orallo et al. (2017 ). For a broader investigation of AI in board and virtual/computer games refer to Risi and Preuss (2020) .

The rise of applying AI and ML is unstoppable and to that end, one might be wondering how AI an ML tools work and why are they different from traditional summary analytics. We touch upon these considerations in the next section.

The Machine Learning Paradigm

To understand why ML is used in a wide range of applications, we need to take a look into the difference between recent AI approaches to learning and traditional analytics approaches. At a higher conceptual level, one can describe old or traditional approaches to sports analytics, as starting off with some set of rules that constitute the problem definition, some data that is to be processed using a program/application which will then deliver answers to the given problem. In contrast, in a machine learning/predictive analytics paradigm, the way this process works is fundamentally different. For instance, in some approaches of the ML paradigm, one typically starts by feeding the program with answers and corresponding data to a specific problem, with an algorithm narrowing down the rules of the problem. These rules are later used for making predictions and they are evaluated or validated by testing their accuracy over new (unseen) data.

To that end, machine learning is an area of AI that is concerned with algorithms that learn from data by performing some form of inductive learning. In simple terms, ML prediction could be described as a function 2 from a set of inputs i 1 , i 2 , …, i n , to forecast an unknown value y , as follows f ( w 1 * i 1 , w 2 * i 2 , …, w n * i n ) = y , where w t is the weight of input t .

Different types or approaches of ML are used for different types of problems. Some of the most popular are supervised learning, unsupervised learning , and reinforcement learning :

• In supervised learning, we begin by observing and recording both inputs (the i 's) and outputs (the y 's) of a system, for a given period of time. This data (collection of correct examples of inputs and their corresponding outputs) is then analysed to derive the rules that underly the dynamics of the observed system, i.e., the rules that map a given input to its correct output.

• Unlike the above, in unsupervised learning, the correct examples or outputs from a given system are not available. The task of the algorithm is to discover (previously unnoticed) patterns in the input data.

• In reinforcement learning, an algorithm (usually referred to as an agent) is designed to take a series of actions that maximise its cumulative payoff or rewards over time. The agent then builds a policy (a map of action selection rules) that return a probability of taking a given action under different conditions of the problem.

For a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of machine learning and the popular ML algorithms see Bonaccorso (2017) . The majority of AI applications in sports are based on one or more of the above approaches to ML. In fact, in most predictive modelling applications, the nature of the output y that needs to be predicted or analysed could influence the architecture of the learning algorithm.

Explaining the details of how different ML techniques work is outside the scope of this paper. However, to provide an insight into how such algorithms function in layman's terms and the differences between them, we briefly present (hypothetical) supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning problems in the context of sports. These examples will assist the professionals but also applied researchers who work in sport to better understand the way that data scientists think so to facilitate talking to them about their approach and methodology, without requiring to dive deep into the details of the underlying analytics.

Supervised Learning: Predicting Player Injury

Many sports injuries (e.g., muscle strain) can be effectively treated or prevented if one is able to detect them early or predict the likelihood of sustaining them. There could be many different (combinations of) reasons/actions leading to injuries like muscle strain. For example, in the Australian Football League, some of hypotheses put forward leading to muscle strain include: muscle weakness and lack of flexibility, fatigue, inadequate warm-up, and poor lumbar posture ( Brockett et al., 2004 ). Detecting the patterns that can lead to such injuries is extremely important both for the safety of the players, and for the success and competitiveness of the team.

In a supervised learning scenario, data about the players would be collected from previous seasons including details such as the number of overall matches and consecutive matches they played, total time played in each match, categorised by age, number of metres run, whether or not they warmed up before the match, how many times they were tackled by other players, and so on , but more importantly, whether or not the players ended up injured and missed their next match.

The last point is very important as it is the principal difference between supervised learning and other approaches: the outcome (whether or not the player was injured) is known in the historical data that was collected from previous seasons. This historical data is then fed (with the outcome) to a machine learning algorithm with the objective of learning the patterns (combination of factors) which led to an injury (and usually assigning a probability of the likelihood of an injury given these patterns). Once these patterns are learnt, the algorithm or model is then tested on new (unseen data) to see if it performs well and indeed predicts/explains injury at a high level of accuracy (e.g., 70% of the time). If the accuracy of the model is not as required, the model is tuned (or trained with slightly different parameters) until it reaches the desired or acceptable accuracy. Note here that we did not single out a specific algorithm or technique to achieve the above. Indeed, this approach can be applied using many different ML algorithms such as Neural Networks, Decision Trees and regression models.

Unsupervised Learning: Fan Segmentation

We will use a sport business example to introduce the unsupervised learning approach. Most sports organisations keep track of historical data about their patrons who attended their sporting events, recording characteristics such as their gender, postcode, age, nationality, education, income, marital status, etc. A natural question of interest here is to understand if the different segments of customers/patrons will purchase different categories (e.g., price, duration, class etc.) of tickets.

Some AI algorithms are designed to help split the available data, so that each data point (historical ticket sale) sits in a group/class that is similar to the other data points (other sales) in that same class given the recorded features. The algorithm will then use some sort of a similarity or distance metric to classify the patrons according to the category of tickets that they might purchase.

This is different from how supervised learning algorithms, like those discussed in the previous section, work. As we described before, in supervised learning we instruct the algorithm with the outcome in advance while training it (i.e., we classify/label each observation based on the outcome: injury or no injury, cheap or expensive seats, …). In the unsupervised learning approach, there is no such labelling or classification of existing historical data. It is the mission of the unsupervised learning algorithm to discover (previously unnoticed) patterns in the input data and group it into (two or more) classes.

Imagine the following use case where an Australian Football League club aims to identify a highly profitable customer segment within its entire set of stadium attendees, with the aim to enhance its marketing operations. Mathematical models can be used to discover (segments of) similar customers based on variations in some customer attributes within and across each segment. A popular unsupervised learning algorithm to achieve such goal is the K-means clustering algorithm which finds the class labels from the data. This is done by iteratively assigning the data points (e.g., customers) from the input into a group/class based on the characteristics of this input. The essence is that the groups or classes to which the data points are assigned to are not defined prior to exploring the input data (although the number of groups or segments can be pre-defined) but are rather dynamically formed as the K-means algorithm iterates over the data points. In the context of customer segmentation, when presenting the mathematical model (K-means algorithm) with customer data, there is no requirement to label a portion (or any of) of this data into groups in advance in order to train the model as usually done in supervised models.

Reinforcement Learning: Simulations and Fantasy Sports

As mentioned before, in reinforcement learning, an algorithm (such as Q-learning and SARSA algorithms) learns how to complete a series of tasks (i.e., solve a problem) by interacting with an (artificial) environment that was designed to simulate the real environment/problem at hand. Unlike the case with supervised learning, the algorithm is not explicitly instructed about the right/accurate action in different states/conditions of the environment (or steps of problem it is trying to solve). But rather it incrementally learns such a protocol through reward maximisation.

In simple terms, reinforcement learning approaches represent problems using what are referred to as: an agent (a software algorithm), and a table of states and actions . When the agent executes an action, it transitions from one state to another and it receives a reward or a penalty (a positive or negative numerical score respectively) as a result. The reward/penalty associated with the action-state combination is then stored in the agent's table for future reference and refinement. The agent's goal is to take the action that maximises its reward. When the agent is still unaware of the expected rewards from executing a given action when at a given state, it takes a random action and updates its table following that action. After many (thousands of) iterations over the problem space, the agent's table holds (a weighted sum of) the expected values of the rewards of all future actions starting from the initial state.

Reinforcement learning has been applied to improve the selection of team formations in fantasy sports ( Matthews et al., 2012 ). Likewise, the use of reinforcement learning is prominent in online AI bots and simulators like chess, checkers, Go, poker, StarCraft, etc.

Finally, it is important to also note the existence of genetic or evolutionary algorithms, sometimes referred to as nature/bio-inspired algorithms. While such algorithms are not typically considered to be ML algorithms (but rather search techniques and heuristics), they are very popular in solving similar types of problems tackled by ML algorithms. In short, the idea behind such algorithms is to run (parallel) search, selection and mutation techniques, by going over possible candidate solutions of a problem. The solutions are gradually optimised until reaching a local (sub-optimal) or global maximum (optimal solution). To provide a high-level understanding of evolutionary algorithms, consider the following sequence of steps:

• We start by creating (a population of) initial candidate or random strategies/solutions to the problem at hand.

• We assess these candidate solutions (using a fitness function) and assign scores to each according to how well they solve the problem at hand.

• We then pick a selection of these candidate solutions that performed best at stage two above. We then combine ( crossbreed ) these together to generate ( breed) new solutions (e.g., take some attributes from one candidate solution and others from another candidate solution in order to come up with a new solution).

• We then apply random changes ( mutations ) to the resulting solutions from the previous step.

• We repeat the solution combination/crossbreeding process until a satisfactory solution is reached.

Evolutionary algorithms can be used as alternative means for training machine learning algorithms such as reinforcement learning algorithms and deep neural networks.

The Future of AI in Sport

There is no doubt that AI will continue to transform sports, and the ways in which we play, watch and analyse sports will be innovative and unexpected. In fact, machine learning has drastically changed the way we think about match strategies, player performance analytics but also how we track, identify and learn about sport consumers. A Pandora's box of ethical issues is emerging and will increasingly need to be considered when machines invade the traditionally human centred and naturally talented athlete base of sport. It is unlikely that AI will completely replace coaches and human experts, but there is no doubt that leveraging the power of AI will provide coaches and players with a big advantage and lead over those who only rely on human expertise. It will also provide sport business managers with deeper, real time insights into the behaviours, needs and wants of sport consumers and in turn AI will become a main producer of sport content that is personalised and custom made for individual consumers. But human direction and intervention seems to be, at least in the near future, still essential working towards elite sport performance and strategic decision making in sport business. The sporting performance on the field is often produced as an entertainment spectacle, where the sporting context is the platform for generating the business of sport. Replacing referees with automated AI is clearly possible and increasingly adopted in various sports, because it is more accurate and efficient, but is it what the fans want?

What might the future of sport with increasingly integrated AI look like? Currently, most of the research in AI and sports is specialised. That is to provide performance or business solutions and solve specific on and off field problems. For instance, scientists have successfully devised solutions to tackle problems like player performance measurement, and quantifying the effect of a player/team on demand for gate attendance. Nevertheless, our research has not identified studies (yet) that provide a 360-degree analysis on, for example, the absolute value of an athlete by taking into account all the dimensions of his or her performance on how much business can be developed, for example in regard to ticket sales or endorsement deals.

One of the main challenges to achieve such a comprehensive analysis is mainly due to the fact that data about players and teams, and commercial data such as ticket sales and attendance numbers, are kept proprietary and are not made public to avoid providing other parties with competitive information. Moreover, privacy is an important consideration as well. Regulations about data privacy and leakage of personal identification details must be put in place to govern the use and sharing of sports (performance and consumption) data. Data ownership, protection, security, privacy and access will all drive the need for comprehensive and tight legislation and regulation that will strongly influence the speed and comprehensiveness of the adoption of AI in sport. To that end, it is worth considering privacy and confidentiality implications independently when studying the leagues' journey of AI adoption compared to that of individual teams and ultimately the individual players. Eventually, the successful adoption of AI in a sports league will likely depend on the teams in that league and their players to be willing to share proprietary data or insights with other teams in the league. Performance data of players in particular is becoming a hot topic of disputation. It may well be AI that will determine the bargaining power of players and their agents in regard to the value of their contracts. As an extension of this it will then also be AI providing the information that will determine if players are achieving the performance objectives set by coaches and as agreed to in contracts. In other words, confidentiality and ownership of league, team or player level data will become an increasing bone of legal contention and this will be reflected in the complexity of contractual agreements and possible disputes in the change rooms and on the field of play. Being in control of which data can or cannot, and will or will not, be used is at stake.

From an economic perspective, relying on artificial algorithms could increase the revenue of sports organisations and event organisers when enabled to apply efficient variable and dynamic pricing strategies and build comprehensive and deep knowledge consumer platforms. Different types of ML algorithms can be adopted to deliver more effective customer marketing via personalisation and to increase sales funnel conversion rates.

Finally, for a window on the future of data privacy, it might be useful to return to baseball where the addiction to big data started its spread across the high-performance sport industry. Hattery (2017 , p. 282) explains that in baseball “using advanced data collection systems … the MLB teams compete to create the most precise injury prediction models possible in order to protect and optimise the use of their player-assets. While this technology has the potential to offer tremendous value to both team and player, it comes with a potential conflict of interest. Players' goals are not always congruent with those of the organisation: the player strives to protect his own career while the team is attempting to capitalise on the value of an asset. For this reason, the player has an interest in accessing data that analyses his potential injury risk. This highlights a greater problem in big data: what rights will individuals possess regarding their own data points?”

This privacy issue can be further extended to the sport business space Dezfouli et al. (2020) have shown how AI can be designed to manipulate human behaviour. Algorithms learned from humans' responses who were participating in controlled experiments. The algorithms identified and targeted vulnerabilities in human decision-making. The AI succeeded in steering participants towards executing particular actions. So, will AI one day be shaping the spending behaviour of sports fans by exploiting their fan infused emotional vulnerabilities and monitoring their (for example) gambling inclinations? Will AI sacrifice the health of some athletes in favour of the bigger team winning the premiership? Or is this already happening? Time will tell.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author Contributions

NC and HW had major contribution to the writing of this manuscript. NC contributed to the writing of the parts around artificial intelligence and machine learning and provided examples of these. HW shaped the scope of the manuscript and wrote and edited many of its sections particularly the introduction and the discussion. Both authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

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Keywords: artificial intelligence, machine learning, sports business, sports analytics, sport research, future of sports

Citation: Chmait N and Westerbeek H (2021) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Sport Research: An Introduction for Non-data Scientists. Front. Sports Act. Living 3:682287. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.682287

Received: 18 March 2021; Accepted: 15 November 2021; Published: 08 December 2021.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2021 Chmait and Westerbeek. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Nader Chmait, nader.chmait@vu.edu.au

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Supervisor: Dr Andrew Scott

Pre-surgical exercise testing is increasingly commonplace in UK hospitals to enhance post-surgical management, however there is sparse evidence of exercise interventions to enhance post-surgical prognosis. This project aims to investigate the optimisation of exercise to enhance post-operative outcomes. Such projects may involve patient groups or apparently healthy participants for pilot study purposes.

Structured and supervised exercise has been demonstrated to improve numerous health outcomes. This project aims to investigate models of best practice and identify areas requiring optimisation in community exercise referral services, possibly with an emphasis on a specific referred medical condition.

This project aims to investigate the efficacy of exercise provision for patients with cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, stroke, long term neurological conditions or at risk of falls. This includes increasing physical activity in patients with chronic heart failure and DESMOND attendees, as well as enhancing exercise maintenance in COPD and facilitating graduation from phase III to phase IV in patients with cardiovascular disease. This project could also investigate the feasibility of using established clinical exercise services for other non-commissioned clinical disorders/services.

The development of a non-invasive method of assessing muscle temperature in humans

Supervisors: dr joe costello  and  dr heather massey.

At present, measurement of muscle temperature is a time consuming, invasive, and expensive technique that requires trained staff and represents a risk for contamination. A method for tracking muscle temperature noninvasively would be useful, particularly during exposure to environmental extremes and during exercise. This project seeks to develop a non-invasive, practical, and inexpensive method of assessing intramuscular temperature when human are exposed to extremes of temperature.

Supervisor: Dr Matt Dicks

Current perceptual skill training approaches are based on the assumption that replication of one expert’s gaze pattern will lead to improvements in performance for all individuals. However, research has indicated variation in the gaze patterns of experts, leading to questions over the suitability of typical training approaches. This project will therefore seek to examine how the scheduling of different training interventions, based on the variation of different expert examples, impact upon on skill learning. Research in this area spans across a range of different domains including sport performance and health care settings.

Supervisor: Dr Tom Webb

This project would examine the current environments that match officials operate within. This could be domestically in an individual chosen sport or across sports, or in a number of European countries through comparative analysis. The research will aim to develop information around this subject area and to provide guidelines, policy recommendations and interventions to inform governing bodies on improving operational environments. Research will be explorative, given the lack of current research in this subject area. The research will be interdisciplinary in nature, predominantly focusing on management and social science approaches.

The impact of professionalisation on Women's Football

Supervisor: dr mike rayner.

With an estimated 26 million female players globally, of which 6 million are based in Europe, the evolution of football as a sport and as an industry over the last sixty years has been dramatic. When we look at elites able to earn a living from the game, a gender disparity is amplified: if there are 60,000 professional players registered in Europe, for example, very few are women. This is striking because the idea of amateurism has, to a large degree, defined what it is to be a professional. Even under FIFA rules, if a player earns more for their football-playing activity than the expenses that are incurred in performing those duties, they must have a written contract and are thereby considered a professional. While those who do not meet these criteria are considered amateurs, the word professional encompasses a considerable range of activity, from the essentially casual participant supplementing their main income through football, to the multi-millionaire players of Europe's big five leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

This research project will examine the direct impact that this ‘Professionalisation’ has had on Women’s football. The project will involve both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches in order to fully examine the phenomena of Professionalism within Women’s football and will be interdisciplinary in nature.

The game of rugby has changed significantly in the course of its history. In the early part of the 19th century it evolved from a folk game played by ruffians to a recreational activity of custom and ritual for public schoolboys (Collin, 2009, Harris, 2010, Smart, 2009). From the 1820s rugby represented an opportunity for gentlemen to demonstrate physical prowess and masculinity and in more recent times it has developed into an activity that reflects the changing attitudes towards professional sport. For the most part of the last one hundred years, rugby union has been arguably the dominant winter sport of the British upper and middle classes, predominantly the male members of the emergent entrepreneurial class. However in recent times, contact sports such as rugby union has seen a challenge to this central male hegemony through the evolution of the nexus between the issues of embodiment, professionalism and sexuality. This research proposes to explore the historical evolution of women’s rugby union and contextualize its development in the modern sporting landscape.

Supervisor: Dr Tim Exell

Incident rates of ACL rupture are greatest in 16-39 year olds at almost 1-in-1,000. Injuries to the ACL can severely impact mobility, physical activity and quality of life. ACL injuries also account for some of the largest amounts of time lost to injury in elite sports people, at a substantial cost to players and their clubs. The aim of this project is to use biomechanical indicators of asymmetry to inform recovery from ACL reconstruction. The research will involve collection of biomechanical data from a control group and participants that have previously undergone ACL reconstruction to assess how well people recover from the injury in comparison to a non-injured control group.

Supervisor: Dr Daniel J Brown

Sport performers can respond to the demands they experience in competition in a number of ways. For example, they may succumb to the pressures, they may manage them adequately, or they may thrive on them; that is, they may experience both development and success. Recent literature has suggested that a possible explanation for thriving may be the ability of performers to separate their matches into to positive and negative phases (e.g., poor first half, excellent second half). This project seeks to examine whether performers do evaluate match phases differently and how this affects their experience of thriving.

Supervisors: Dr Daniel J. Brown  and  Dr Richard Thelwell

The ability of sports coaches to cope with the demands they experience has important implications on their own performances and those displayed by their athletes. A growing body of literature has examined how coaches respond to these demands and the strategies they employ - however, no knowledge exists on the most adaptive of these responses (thriving). To provide insight in this area, this project will explore coaches’ experiences of thriving, the impact that it has, and the factors that may facilitate it.

Supervisor: Dr Daniel J. Brown

During their time at university student-athletes experience simultaneous transitions in athletic, academic/vocational, psychosocial, and psychological areas of their lives. These transitions are often challenging and require personal adaptation for them to be made successfully. An increasing number of studies have provided insight into these alterations during a student-athletes’ time at university, but little is known about whether the transitions have any lasting effects on his or her post-university career. The purpose of this qualitative project is to explore this question and to develop an understanding of how any changes experienced as a student-athlete influence future life experiences.

Biomechanical asymmetry of step characteristics (step velocity, length and frequency) has been shown to be present in many athletes. Asymmetry of these variables may predispose athletes to injury due to increased loading of one limb and may impact running performance. Causes of asymmetry may include strength imbalances between limbs, differences in limb length or range of motion of one limb. The aim of this project is to investigate the relationship between step characteristic asymmetry and asymmetry of limb strength, length and range of motion to determine whether a cause of asymmetry can be determined. The project will involve collection of kinematic data during running to calculate step characteristics and both kinematic and kinetic data during screening tests to assess for asymmetry of other variables.

Key research paper / chapter to read to understand the area further:

• Exell, T.A., Irwin. G., Gittoes, M.J.R. & Kerwin, D.G. (2016). Strength and performance asymmetry during maximal velocity sprint running . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport. Published On-line (DOI: 10.1111/sms.12759).

The identification and development of match officials in sport has never been more important. The retention of match officials is a significant consideration for governing bodies as the issues regarding the factors which cause drop out become more clear. Abuse, lack of accessible support networks and time constraints all impact on the decisions of match officials on whether to continue in their chosen sport. These projects would examine the training of match officials in order to prepare them for the different aspects and levels of performance (grassroots, children, adults and performance environments for example), the potential benefits of a wider development pathway and the importance of sampling or non specification of sports until the later teenage years. This would involve officiating across different sports in order to accelerate development skills in areas such as nonverbal behaviour and interpersonal skills in different environmental settings.

Supervisor: Dr Zoe Saynor  and  Dr Anthony Shepherd

We would be happy for individuals to join the Clinical Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT). Research will focus on exercise testing and training in individuals with chronic health conditions. We have current programmes of research running in the following groups which span both paediatric and adult care: cystic fibrosis (CF), non-CF bronchiectasis, asthma, diabetes, Raynaud’s, joint hypermobility, arthritis, chronic kidney disease. There are also opportunities for those who may be interesting in physical activity and exercise interventions to improve the health of children and adolescents.

Supervisor: Dr Jenny Burbage

The importance of women exercising during pregnancy is widely promoted, however little research has been conducted to investigate the effect of pregnancy on an exercising females’ biomechanics. By utilising established methodology for the calculation of breast biomechanics, this project aims to develop methodologies for the calculation of ‘bump bounce’. Once a method is established, further research can be conducted to understand the effect of different sports garments on the reduction of ‘bump bounce’ during running and the subsequent impact on lower back muscle activity and pain.

Other Research Projects

Find out more about current research projects in science and health:

• Pharmacy and Biomedical Science
• Health and Care Professions
• Biological Sciences
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Dental Academy

Please note, this list is not exhaustive and you'll need to meet and discuss the project you're interested in with a member of research staff before you apply.

10 Sports Science Project Ideas for High School Students

By Surya Ramanathan

Johns Hopkins University, B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, B.S. in Economics, and M.S. in Applied Economics

2 minute read

As you embark on your academic journey in high school, the opportunity to explore and delve into subjects that align with your passions can be a game-changer. For those who love sports or are interested in the science behind athletic performance, Polygence provides an incredible platform to pursue unique and enriching research projects. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten original project ideas in sports and sports science that will inspire you to unleash your potential.

Why Study Sports and Sports Science?

Holistic Health Benefits: Sports contribute to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Studying sports science allows high schoolers to understand how various activities impact overall health and performance. 

STEM Integration: Sports science seamlessly integrates with STEM topics. High schoolers can explore the practical applications of these disciplines in a context they’re passionate about. 

Real-World Problem Solving: Sports present real-world challenges, from injury prevention to optimizing performance. Studying sports science allows students to engage in problem-solving directly related to everyday concerns. 

Career Exploration: For those considering careers in physical therapy, coaching, nutrition, or sports medicine, studying sports science in high school provides a valuable head start.

10 Sports and Sports Science Project Ideas

1. swing dynamics in baseball.

Uncover the secrets behind a powerful baseball swing by delving into biomechanics. Investigate key factors like bat speed, launch angle, and body positioning to understand how they collectively contribute to hitting accuracy. Through the analysis of high-speed footage and data-driven insights, this project aims to provide baseball enthusiasts with a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics behind a successful swing. 

2. Hydration and Cognitive Performance in Athletes

Quench your curiosity by investigating the relationship between hydration levels and cognitive function during athletic activities. This project will employ cognitive tests, hydration monitoring, and performance assessments to explore how staying hydrated influences an athlete’s decision-making abilities, reaction time, and overall mental acuity during various sports scenarios. 

3. Protein Intake and Muscle Recovery

If you’re a fan of lifting, this is a project that will directly impact you. Dig into the role of protein in post-exercise muscle recovery across different sports. Through a combination of nutritional analysis, muscle biopsies, and performance assessments, this project aims to provide valuable insights into the optimal protein intake for accelerating recovery and promoting muscle growth in athletes of varying disciplines. 

4. Leadership Styles in Team Sports

Step onto the field of team dynamics by analyzing how different leadership styles impact cohesion and performance. Through surveys, player interviews, and performance metrics, this project aims to uncover the most effective leadership approaches in team sports, providing valuable insights for coaches, captains, and aspiring leaders on the playing field. 

5. Impact of Stretching on Injury Prevention

Expand your understanding of injury prevention by exploring the relationship between stretching routines and injury risk in various sports. Through controlled experiments and injury data analysis, this project aims to unravel the complexities of stretching and its impact on injury prevention, providing evidence-based recommendations for athletes and coaches. 

My Journey in Sports Analytics w/ Polygence Mentor Sejal Dua

Friday, May 5th @ 830 EST / 530 PST. Ask-Me-Anything webinar where Polygence mentor Sejal will discuss her journey in obtaining her MS Analytics degree from Georgia Tech University

Come join us on Friday, May 5th at 8:30pm EST | 5:30pm PST and meet Polygence mentor Sejal Dua! During the 1-hour webinar, Sejal will discuss her journey in receiving an MS in Analytics from Georgia Tech University and her professional experience at IBM and Nike. During the webinar, we'll discuss: 1.) Sejal's journey in receiving an MS in Analytics from Georgia Tech University and how she landed in the field of Sports Analytics 2.) How mentorship played an important role in Sejal's education and exploration of Sports Analytics field 3.) The impact of Sejal's mentorship on Polygence students and next steps for students to further pursue Sports Analytics (or data analytics in general!)

Click to register

6. Rehabilitation Strategies for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is one of the most common injuries in not just sports, but in general, due to the overuse of the joint. This project will involve working closely with athletes experiencing tennis elbow, implementing rehabilitation protocols, and assessing outcomes. By combining physical therapy principles with real-world application, this project aims to contribute valuable insights into optimizing the recovery process for this common sports-related injury. 

7. Wearable Technology in Athlete Monitoring

Embrace the future of sports science by evaluating the use of wearable devices in monitoring and improving athletic performance. This project will explore the integration of wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and biometric sensors, to collect real-time data on various performance metrics. The goal is to provide athletes and coaches with actionable insights to enhance training, recovery, and overall performance. 

8. Impacts of Sports on Academic Performance

This is one of the most popular topics in the sports science world today. Delve into the relationship between sports participation and academic achievement. This project will employ longitudinal studies, surveys, and academic performance metrics to explore how active involvement in sports influences cognitive abilities and educational outcomes. By uncovering potential correlations, the study aims to highlight the holistic benefits of sports engagement for high school students.

9. The Role of Sports in Community Building

Explore how sports contribute to building a sense of c community and social cohesion. This project will involve participant observation, interviews, and surveys to understand the social impact of sports events and team activities. By examining the connections forged through sports, the study aims to showcase the broader societal benefits that extend beyond the playing field. 

10. E-Sports and Cognitive Function

E-sports has seen a rapid rise in popularity in the past few years. Investigate the cognitive benefits and challenges associated with competitive e-sports. This project will involve cognitive assessments, gaming performance analyses, and interviews with e-sports athletes. By exploring the mental aspects of e-sports, the study aims to contribute to the evolving conversation about the intersection of gaming and cognitive function. 

Sports Research Project Ideas From Mentors at Polygence

Here are some examples of project ideas from our mentors at Polygence:

Impact of Basketball Angle on Shooting Percentage : This project involves analyzing the effect that the angle between which a basketball player receives a pass from a teammate and the basket has on their chance of making a shot. I hypothesize that as the angle decreases, the chance of making the shot increases. This project could help basketball teams strategize their offensive schemes to increase their shooting efficiency.

Project Idea from: Nick R at Syracuse University 

Evolving Landscape of Sports Audience and Viewership : Technology has brought on a swift change in the way fans consume sports. This project will uncover how many people consume sports (by sport) and how that has changed in recent years due to technology (and COVID). What are the business outcomes of such changes and where are the possible growth opportunities for firms/brands to invest.

Project idea from Cameron K at Northwestern University

Why ____ Will be the Next Successful Sports City : After the run of dominance of Boston in the first 20 years of the 2000's winning 12 combined championships among the four teams, which city is next primed to be a powerhouse for the next 20 years? Things to take a look at might include young talent on teams, new hires in front offices, economic development in cities, or maybe something else.

Project idea from Joseph S at Syracuse University

Finding Value in MLB Free Agency : Every offseason there are hundreds of professional baseball players who become free agents and can be signed by any team. This project involves determining which players might be a good "value" by deciding which statistics are most important to helping a team win relative to how players are generally paid. After deciding which stats are the most important, a ranked list of "value" can be produced based on expected salaries.

Project idea from Dante L at Washington State

These ten project ideas are just the tip of the iceberg, offering you the chance to combine your passion for sports with the excitement of scientific inquiry. Through Polygence , high schoolers have the unique opportunity to turn these ideas into reality, fostering a love for learning and opening doors to future careers in the dynamic world of sports and sports science. 

Related Content:

Idea Generation Techniques for Research Projects

How to Brainstorm Your Way to Perfect Research Topic Ideas

Passion Project Ideas for High School Students in 2024

Get Matched with a Mentor

Interested in doing one of these exciting research projects? Click below to get matched with one of our expert mentors!

Center for Sport Psychology and Athlete Mental Health

Current Sport Psychology Projects

The UNT Center for Sport Psychology and Athlete Mental Health's faculty and graduate students maintain active research programs.

Past Sport Psychology Projects and Grants

In conducting research, our purpose is to (a) add new knowledge and understanding to specific areas of study, and (b) translate what we learn into new and more effective ways of providing services to the athletes, coaches and parents with whom we work.

Publications

Along with maintaining active research programs, the Center’s faculty and graduate students seek to publish their findings in scientific journals and popular magazines to share what they have learned with other sport psychology professionals, students, and sport participants.

Presentations

Presentations provide us with the opportunity to share our research findings and ideas with (a) other professionals in order to stimulate new thinking and (b) athletes, coaches, parents, and other sport personnel to help them learn new information and improve their performances.

COVID and College Student Athlete Health and Well-Being Study

Impact of COVID-19 on ​College Student Athletes' Health, Performance, and ​Psychological Well-Being​ - Released July 8, 2020

Return to Sport: Athletes’ Confidence and Mindset Post-ACL Surgery

Physical therapy is standard for post-ACL surgical rehabilitation, though such protocols normally do NOT address directly athletes' psychological responses to the injury, surgery, and recovery.

NCAA Coaches' Perceptions of Transgender Athletes Inclusion

Coaches hold particular responsibility in developing sport environments and team cultures and have critical and often personal relationships with athletes; therefore, coaches have a direct role in athlete wellbeing and personal development.

Current Sport Psychology Grants

Student-Athlete Well-Being: PAC-12 Test of the Effectiveness of Bodies in Motion in Reducing Disordered Eating and Body Image Concerns, and Improving Psychological Well-Being, Among Male and Female Student-Athletes.

Thinking about UNT?

It's easy to apply online. Join us and discover why we're the choice of over 46,000 students.

Sports Science Science Projects (57 results)

Top athletes and coaches use a whole lot of science and engineering to improve performance and increase the chances of winning. Technologies like better tennis rackets, sleeker running and swimming outfits, and aerodynamic soccer balls, mean that current athletes are breaking world records left and right. Add to that better nutrition and science-based training regimes and you have an era of amazing athletes! Explore how science and engineering impact your favorite sport.

Explore Our Science Videos

Top 20 Sports Analytics Projects & Datasets (Updated for 2024)

Sports analytics is one of the fastest growing job segments in Big Data, having grown by 27% over the last decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sports analysts use various techniques, including statistical and quantitative analysis and predictive forecasting, to make on-the-field and off-the-field decisions. The idea was popularized by Moneyball when the Oakland Athletics used analytics to propel the team to the playoffs.

Sports analytics jobs are highly competitive and require experience in the field. Completing a sports analytics project is one of the best ways to gain recognition and hands-on experience working with sports data and analysis. We’ve compiled some of the best sports analytics projects and datasets to help you practice, including:

• MLB Mlb Sports Analytics Projects

NBA Sports Analytics Projects

Fantasy sports analytics projects, general sports analytics projects, types of sports analytics projects.

Teams can use sports analytics data to perform a variety of analyses. However, the majority of sports data science projects fall into four categories:

1. Predicting outcomes: These projects use data to forecast player or team performance. These models are used to determine the spreads or the results of games.

2. Competitor valuation: These projects value the impact a player has or the strength of a team.

3. Identifying problem areas: These analytics projects determine areas where players or teams can improve. For example, you could analyze a team’s free throw percentage on wins to see the impact improving free throw percentage would have.

4. Analyzing the game: Finally, these projects assess trends in the game, studying strategies or style of play. For example, this NBA data analytics project examined whether the 2-for-1 play was worth it.

MLB Sports Analytics Projects

Almost all MLB baseball teams employ data scientists and statisticians to predict player performance and gain a competitive edge. Baseball analytics projects typically examine performance or gauge the valuation of a team or player. Here are some MLB analytics projects you can try:

1. Swish Analytics Take-Home: Pitch Predictions

This sports analytics take-home from Swish Analytics is more of a shorter data challenge. You’re provided with a table of the pitches from the 2011 MLB season and metadata. And your goal is to build a model to predict the probability of a fastball, slider, curveball, etc.

This take-home challenge requires about 3-5 hours to complete, and it’s used as part of the interview process at Swish Analytics. Ultimately, the challenge asks you to build and evaluate a model that could be used in a production environment, including data analysis, feature engineering, and code assembly.

2. Gauging When Players Peak

This guided baseball analytics project is excellent for beginners. Using MATLAB, the project walks you through importing baseball data, calculating batting statistics, creating visualizations, and analyzing player careers.

Thanks to the step-by-step tutorial, this project provides a solid introduction to MLB stats analysis, and you’ll be able to answer the questions: What defines a great MLB hitter? And at what point do great hitters peak in their careers? If you want to re-create the project, use data from Baseball-Reference .

3. HOF Analysis with Random Forests

This project delves deep into understanding the factors that may influence a baseball player’s induction into the Hall of Fame. By using Random Forests and local importance scores, it offers a quantitative approach to what has often been a subject of speculation.

To begin, fetch the data from the Lahman package and address any missing values during data collection and cleaning. Following this, integrate multiple datasets, merging batting statistics, fielding statistics, and awards to create a comprehensive view. During modeling, Random Forests will be utilized for classification without splitting the data, allowing you to explore the entirety of it. The local importance scores will be especially useful in identifying the most significant variables for this classification.

In your analysis and interpretation, examine the importance of these variables and contrast them across different classes. A deep dive into outliers will further enhance your understanding, providing nuanced insights into the dataset.

4. Predicting World Series Winners

This project comes from the Baseball Data Science blog, which attempts to answer a classic pre-season sports analytics question: Which team is most likely to win it all?

This project uses tree-based models to determine top teams, and after training, it proved reasonably successful. For example, of the Top 5 teams predicted to be World Series winners in 2020, four teams made deep playoff runs, with the No. 2 team (Dodgers, 25%) winning it all.

Another source: See FiveThirtyEight’s MLB ELO ratings and read about how their MLB predictions work.

5. Predicting Pitcher Saves

This project - which you can see in a step-by-step tutorial here - attempts to forecast which MLB pitcher will have the most saves at the beginning of the season.

Using BeautifulSoup to scrape Baseball-Reference data, the author, Ethan Feldman, starts with a simple regression model, which just used the previous season’s saves as the only feature.

Ultimately, the project does prove difficult as there is significant variability in the number of saves, making this an excellent project for further model testing and development.

There are numerous NBA sports analytics projects and questions you can explore. See the top NBA articles on Towards Data Science if you’re looking for inspiration. Or you can follow along with these basketball analytics projects and datasets and create your own:

6. Predicting NBA MVPs

Predicting player performance is a common subject of sports analytics projects, and this one attempts to use machine learning to determine the most likely player to win the MVP award.

You can follow a tutorial , which will show you how to import data and apply various machine learning models, including linear regression, random forests, and XGBoost.

The models presented in this tutorial correctly predicted the 2021-22 MVP winner Nikola Jokic and the other Top 3 spots (however, the No. 3 prediction was No. 2 in the actual MVP race).

7. Predicting NBA Salaries

By leveraging data-driven insights to understand NBA player salaries, we can enhance league competitiveness and provide teams with a more accurate valuation of players. This leads to a smarter and more strategic signing.

In this project , we will delve into NBA salaries, focusing on data from the 2020-21 season onwards and particularly on Free Agents (FAs). The aim is to predict future salaries, giving a true reflection of a player’s worth on the court.

To get started, source your data using BRScraper from Basketball Reference. Next, analyze prevailing trends and apply regression models, including Random Forest and Gradient Boosting. To assess the results, lean on metrics like RMSE and R². Finally, delve into SHAP values to truly understand the key factors determining salaries. The end goal is to equip teams with the insights needed for well-informed contractual decisions.

8. NBA Draft Success Analysis

Drafting NBA players is an inexact science; however, some NBA franchises are more successful than others. For example, the Sacramento Kings have a poor draft record, one reason the franchise has missed the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons.

This tutorial walks you through determining draft rankings based on player performance, draft position, and other factors.

9. Predicting Double-Doubles

Predicting a double-double based on the number of games played by a player, the number of games played in a season, and other variables is challenging. But this project attempts to predict if one player, Nikola Vučević, will score a double-double in any game.

You can follow this tutorial to build a regression model in R to make such a prediction. Ultimately, the model correctly predicts double-doubles 61% of the time. Enrich the dataset and see if you can improve the model’s accuracy.

10. Simulating NBA Games in Python

This tutorial from Ken Jee evaluates win probability in games based on team points scored and team points against.

You’ll find a variety of sports analytics datasets on Jee’s site you can use. One option: This straightforward model uses only the team’s historical average. That’s why it’s an excellent project for beginners.

If you wanted to take this project further, you could incorporate historical player data to enrich the model.

Fantasy Sports can use data science to give your team a competitive advantage. In particular, most fantasy sports analytics projects look at the line-up and draft optimization, as well as predicting player performance. Here are some projects to try to improve your fantasy sports teams:

11. DraftKings Data Analytics Take-Home

Although this isn’t a project per se, DraftKings analytics take-home will help you practice skills and prepare for a sports analytics interview. We broke this data down into three parts.

1. Data Sense Test - Describe what you see in the chart above.

2. SQL Challenge - Writing queries to pull fantasy sports metrics.

3. Python Challenge - A quick test of your applied programming skills.

Many analyst roles at fantasy sports companies require take-homes like this. However, this is also a short SQL and sports analytics practice assignment.

12. Optimizing Your Fantasy Line-Up

Here’s an approach to daily fantasy football strategy. Build a model to value players based on a “cost per point” metric. This model valuates players by their predicted points divided by their latest salary cost.

However, the next step is determining the optimal line-up, and the author walks through two options: Random Walk or Integer Linear Programming to select the best line-up combination for your team.

Here’s another look at using Linear Programming for fantasy football optimization.

13. Winning English Premier League Fantasy

Bias and player favoritism affect team performance in English Premier League fantasy. Players tend to pick their favorites, and not necessarily footballers with the best ROI.

This tutorial shows you how to build an algorithm in Python to pick the best team , consisting of players with the best ROI.

14. Forecasting Performance Based on Defense

Does the strength of a defense affect a player’s performance in NFL fantasy football?

This fantasy football project found a slight correlation, e.g., when a player plays against a better defense, their production tends to decrease.

Another option: You can take this further and gauge performance against individual defensive players. For example, you could determine wide receiver performance against a top cornerback or quarterback performance against a leading pass rusher.

There’s an endless variety of sports analytics projects you can try. Here are some ideas for performing geographic clustering, predictions with random forests, and creating play-by-play visualizations with NFL data.

15. Realigning Divisions with Machine Learning

Professional sports teams are put into divisions that aren’t always geographically efficient. For example, the Dallas Cowboys play in the NFC East and New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC teams. Using a clustering algorithm, you can build a model to realign teams based on geographic distance.

This tutorial shows you how to use a K-means algorithm to minimize travel distance between teams. Ultimately, you can apply this technique to various geographic clustering problems.

16. Plotting NFL Play-by-Play Data in Python

Check out this tutorial using the Python package nfl_data_py to ingest NFL play-by-play data to build visualizations.

The tutorial walks you through plotting passing yards by quarterbacks throughout the 2021-22 NFL season. However, you can adapt this project to perform a variety of analyses.

You’ll find some ideas for questions you can analyze in NFL data analytics projects , like how defensive statistics affect points allowed or how quarterback play has changed historically.

17. Predicting World Cup Game Winners

With the 2022 World Cup right around the corner, this sports machine learning project is super relevant. In 2018, researchers tested three models for predicting World Cup winners : Poisson regression, random forest, and ranking methods.

Using a random forest model, they simulated the World Cup 100,000 times, using FIFA rating, average team age, and player ability as essential variables. The model performed moderately well, predicting 11 of the Round of 16 teams correctly.

The model predicted Germany would win it all; however, Germany lost in the Group Stage. Also, check out this article on simulating the 2022 World Cup for more ideas.

18. How Golf Drives Affect Scoring

What’s the better approach: Long drives that are crooked or shorter, more accurate drives? Ken Jee looked at this question to see which method strongly affected points. See his video for more explanation about this project .

19. International Football Results from 1872 to 2023

This dataset on international football matches provides an extensive compilation of football matches over a span of more than 150 years. For any football enthusiast, this is a goldmine of data waiting to be uncovered.

To start with the analysis, begin with data cleaning and pre-processing. Even though the dataset appears comprehensive, it’s vital to ensure it’s devoid of missing values, inconsistencies, or duplicates. Doing so greatly refines the precision of the insights that will be derived. After cleaning the data, dive into EDA using histograms, then transition to Temporal Analysis for historical trends.

For deeper insights, you can also study a specific nation’s metrics over time or identify historical rivalries by analyzing performance against specific countries.

20. F1 Performance Analysis

Formula 1 is a sport that’s as much about strategy and data as it is about speed. With races determined by split-second decisions, the information provided in this dataset can offer invaluable insights into the performance of each F1 racers over the season.

To begin, ensure that all datasets are consistent, free from discrepancies, and interlinked correctly. Perform an EDA to visualize metrics such as wins, podium finishes, and other pivotal performance metrics of the racers.

For a more challenging take, you could also analyze a racer’s performance over tracks and identify which tracks they perform the best in.

More Data Analytics Projects to Try

Suppose you’re looking for more projects to build your data science portfolio and present your data science project ; look at our list of data analytics projects , which feature more general tasks. You might also try a data science project from our list of 30 ideas and datasets or a Python data science project .

Sports Medicine Active Research Projects

Active research projects, explore the active research projects in the human performance laboratory:.

This study is aimed to identify a clinic-based decision tool that can be used to identify when an athlete, who has undergone ACL Reconstruction, is ready to return to sports. By having a tool that providers can use in clinic, we can improve the outcomes of ACL reconstruction patients to successfully return to their activities and reduce the risk of a second ACL injury.

In this study, we are investigating the implementation of booster visits after completion of physical therapy for adolescent athletes that have undergone ACL Reconstruction and how these visits may improve the outcomes after this injury.

This longitudinal project has investigated adolescent athletes after ACL reconstruction for the 2 years following their return to sport. With this longitudinal data, this study has identified risk factors of those who suffer a second ACL injury and also helped identify factors to consider when evaluating an athlete’s readiness to return to sport.

Juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain that may contribute to functional disability and reduced quality of life. One method to alleviate fibromyalgia associated pain is physical activity; however, patients with JFM regularly experience pain after exercising, which can cascade into a fear of movement (FoM) and reduced physical activity. The purpose of this PORTICO Center Pilot and Feasibility Program project is to investigate the movement profiles of patients with JFM and determine how pain and FoM influence the structure of motor behavior over the duration of a six-minute walk test.

Concussion diagnosis and recovery are critical to ensuring the safety of athletes. This study investigates tools and methods for diagnosing concussions and determining safe recovery and return to sport following a concussion.

Description to come

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact athletic trainers have on the quality of care for student athletes and on the resources of the healthcare system. 

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Home > Home > Resources > Research Guide > Ideas

Research Project Ideas

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few ideas I have for your research project in sport science - a school science project, honors or PhD project? I would love to know if you did follow up with any of these ideas.

Fitness Quotient

I have created a questionnaire to measure fitness , though it has not been scientifically validated. With this test, you could determine someone's fitness without doing any physical testing, relying solely on replies to a simple questionnaire that could be completed in minutes. The format needs a bit of work, but it could form the basis of a research project, using actual fitness testing to validate such a questionnaire.

RPE Hand Scale

I have created a 5-point rating of perceived exertion scale , using only hand signals. For this RPE Scale, the subject just holds up the fingers of their hand to indicate the intensity level - from 1 to 5. The advantages of this scale over the popular Borg RPE scales are that it is simple, non-verbal and based on the 5-point Likert scale. This scale has not been scientifically tested and validated, so there is an opportunity for someone to conduct research on this topic.

Beep Testing for the Deaf

I am unaware of any fitness tests designed specifically for the deaf. Although deaf people can perform many fitness tests without modification, a very common test of aerobic fitness, the beep test, relies on audio signals so is not easy for deaf people to take part. Once you create the modified testing equipment, it will need to be validated. You will need access to some deaf athletes, there is a potential partner as discussed in a Topend Sports newsletter. See more Beep Test Research Ideas .

Effect of Environmental Conditions on Fitness Testing Results

When living in the tropical north of Australia I conducted preliminary research on the effect of the hot climate on field fitness testing results . The results from fitness testing performed outdoors may be detrimentally affected by the environmental conditions, reducing the reliability and validity of the tests, and could make it difficult to compare to test results performed in other conditions and also to testing performed indoors. The effect would be expected to differ between types of tests.

Placebo effect and exercise

Could you be convinced that "fake" training is the real thing, and have performance benefits? I don't know how you can convince a subject that they are training when they are not, but you could try treatments that have no physical benefits but the athletes do believe that they have, and consequently improve in physical measures.

Encouragement Effect

How much benefit can you get by simple encouragement? Can you run for longer and lift more weight with some positive encouragement? What about the effect of music, used to motivate before exercise or during exercise to improve focus and calmness.

Sit and Reach Test Analysis

The sit and reach flexibility test — what does it actually measure? Design research to analyze the biomechanical factors of the test to see where the bending and stretching occur. This study could include a training element where different factors of the sit and reach test are specifically trained (e.g. stretching different muscle groups), then retest to see if the sit and reach test results change too.

New Fitness Tests

The details of a few new fitness tests have been provided to Topend Sports. As they are new, they have not undergone scientific study.

Do you have an idea for a research project, but do not have the resources to conduct it? You can send me your idea to have it published here, and hopefully, someone will think it is a worthwhile project. You could even be a partner in the research and get the credit for the idea.

Related Pages

• Fitness Testing Science Fair Projects
• Biomechanics and Physics Science Fair Projects
• Nutrition Sports Fair Projects
• Full list of research papers by Rob Wood

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Computer Science > Robotics

Title: spiking neural networks for fast-moving object detection on neuromorphic hardware devices using an event-based camera.

Abstract: Table tennis is a fast-paced and exhilarating sport that demands agility, precision, and fast reflexes. In recent years, robotic table tennis has become a popular research challenge for robot perception algorithms. Fast and accurate ball detection is crucial for enabling a robotic arm to rally the ball back successfully. Previous approaches have employed conventional frame-based cameras with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) or traditional computer vision methods. In this paper, we propose a novel solution that combines an event-based camera with Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) for ball detection. We use multiple state-of-the-art SNN frameworks and develop a SNN architecture for each of them, complying with their corresponding constraints. Additionally, we implement the SNN solution across multiple neuromorphic edge devices, conducting comparisons of their accuracies and run-times. This furnishes robotics researchers with a benchmark illustrating the capabilities achievable with each SNN framework and a corresponding neuromorphic edge device. Next to this comparison of SNN solutions for robots, we also show that an SNN on a neuromorphic edge device is able to run in real-time in a closed loop robotic system, a table tennis robot in our use case.

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arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs .

Smith: As populations decline elsewhere, a Wisconsin wild turkey research project begins

The department of natural resources study will focus on poult production and survival and combine gps/vhs tracking of hens and trail cams..

NECEDAH – Eight wild turkeys foraged along a two-track through the mixed deciduous forest in central Wisconsin.

As they had for most of the mild winter, the birds had easy access to acorns and other mast in the leaf litter.

But on this morning, March 3, they also came across a smattering of cracked corn on the lane.

It wasn't the only unusual thing in the woodlot. A researcher and volunteer watched the scene from a nearby tent blind and a cannon net was concealed along the path.

More: Outdoors calendar

When the birds stopped to feed on the corn, the researcher pushed a switch, a bang echoed through the woods and the net was cast up and over the turkeys.

The men ran out and placed blankets over the flapping birds. The turkeys calmed under the weight and darkness of the thick fabric. In the next minutes, the birds were measured, weighed, tagged and released.

It was the start of a unique chapter in the turkeys' wild lives.

And the beginning of a new research project in Wisconsin, too.

The work is part of a Department of Natural Resources study of wild turkey reproduction and recruitment – and how those factors are estimated – in the Badger State.

Its formal title is "Detectability and Movement of Wild Turkeys In Wisconsin: Implications for Turkey Recruitment Metrics."

The DNR's Chris Pollentier, upland game bird research scientist, and Jennifer Stenglein, quantitative wildlife research scientist, are leading the project.

Wild turkey populations decreasing in Missouri other states

Over the next two and possibly three years, department staff will closely monitor turkeys to assess how many poults are born and survive in three study areas. Survival – or recruitment – is key to the population of all species.

But over the last decade it has become the focus of heightened scrutiny in wild turkeys across the U.S.

Wildlife officials in many states, including Missouri, South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama, have reported substantial declines in their wild turkey populations.

In Missouri the turkey population plummeted by more than a third in less than 20 years, according to a National Wild Turkey Federation report, including a decline of nearly 50% in northern Missouri from 2004 through the late 2010s.

The NWTF based its comparisons on harvest rates, which it says are closely correlated to population numbers.

What could be causing the declines?

A five-year Missouri study that wrapped up in 2019 concluded the rate of poult survival was far less than normal.

However, the primary cause of poorer recruitment was not identified. The Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri in 2020 embarked on another multi-year research project that hopes to identify the reasons young turkeys are not surviving and produce strategies to reverse the decline.

Predators are known to eat turkey eggs and even kill nesting hens, as well as prey on poults. But predators have been around throughout the modern era of wild turkey management. And even if predator numbers have increased in recent years, they don't present a new source of mortality to the equation.

Among other factors being considered in wild turkey research across the U.S. are timing and intensity of spring hunting seasons, impact of pesticides and other chemicals on egg development and health of poults, and relative abundance of insects and other food sources critical for poult development.

Wild turkeys found in all Wisconsin counties

To be clear, the wild turkey population in Wisconsin is in much better shape than elsewhere. Following the 1976 reintroduction of the species to the Badger State, an effort of the DNR and the National Wild Turkey Federation, the birds are now found in all 72 counties.

Pollentier said although the state's turkey population is down from its peak in the mid-2000s (an expected drop from a post-reintroduction surge) it remains robust and at a sustainable level.

"On a statewide basis, turkey populations are pretty stable in Wisconsin," Pollentier said. "We certainly have annual ups and downs in the population. I don’t get too concerned with these annual fluctuations. I’m more concerned with evaluating our turkey population over longer time periods to assess long-term trends."

Pollentier said using the spring hunting harvest as a gauge, the Wisconsin wild turkey population seems to be holding fairly steady since the mid- to late-2000s.

But with wild turkey hunting second only to white-tailed deer hunting in popularity in Wisconsin and most of the U.S., there is great interest in increasing understanding of factors affecting turkey recruitment and, if possible, improving methods of estimating turkey numbers.

Turkey stamp sales, National Wild Turkey Federation support new study

The new Wisconsin work kicked off this year. It is being funded by $150,000 from the Wisconsin turkey stamp program (paid by turkey hunters), $25,000 from the Wisconsin chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and $17,000 from the headquarters of the National Wild Turkey Federation in Edgefield, South Carolina.

The work will involve a combination of GPS/VHS tracking of hens, visual observations by researchers and volunteers and trail cam data collected as part of the Snapshot Wisconsin project.

The trapping and tagging procedures will occur in three distinct study sites: a mixed agricultural and woodlot habitat in Iowa County, Sandhill Wildlife Area near Necedah in Wood County and the northern forest near Clam Lake in Sawyer County.

Pollentier and DNR colleagues have a goal of fitting 30 hens with GPS/VHS transmitters at Sandhill and 15 each at the Iowa and Sawyer county sites.

In addition the hens and any toms and jakes (1-year-old male turkeys) captured during netting will be marked with colored and numbered wing tags as well as leg bands.

The wing tags will allow for the birds to be identified from a distance in real time and in trail cam images.

The DNR staff will use the trail camera data to estimate the ratios of poults to hens, assess brood size and determine the proportion of hens that have successfully raised young.

By using different methods to monitor turkeys, researchers aim to create more exact estimates of the number of turkeys successfully hatching in each management zone. It's possible, Pollentier said, in future years the Snapshot Wisconsin system of trail cams will be the primary basis for tracking the state's wild turkey population.

"Research throughout the range of wild turkeys, including here in Wisconsin, has shown that annual production is an important driver that affects abundance and can have a profound impact on wild turkey population growth," Pollentier said. "Thus, the metric I often focus on is the poult-to-hen ratio (similar to fawn-to-doe ratios for deer). To sustain turkey populations, we believe poult-to-hen ratios should average about 2.5 poults per hen."

Trapping turkeys this winter has been more challenging than normal due to the lack of snow, Pollentier said. He hopes to have all the trapping and tagging completed by Friday.

"We'll definitely wrap up our trapping and tagging before the hens start nesting," Pollentier said. "That could start earlier than normal this year, so we're going to be done soon."

Turkeys measured, banded, tagged, will be monitored by trail cams

On March 3 the tagging process met with good success.

A group that included Pollentier, wildlife biologist Darren Ladwig and wildlife technician Jason Erichsen as well as Wisconsin NWTF volunteers Brian Dalsing and Tyler Hasheider converged on the netting site and processed the eight birds.

Four were hens, four were jakes. Each bird received an aluminum leg band, their upper bill and middle toe was measured and they were weighed. The beard and spurs are also measured on male turkeys.

After the wing tags (on all) and transmitters (on hens) were attached, the birds were set free. All eight flapped and ran off in good shape after the interruption in their normal day.

And all are wearing some new bling that will help researchers assess the game bird's status and possibly shape the future of turkey management tools in the Badger State and beyond.

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Windsor Spitfires Rookie Launches ‘Woody’s Hoodies’ to Support Cancer Research

Windsor Spitfires' rookie defenceman Carson Woodall launches 'Woody's Hoodies' project to support cancer research in the area, inspired by personal family experiences of cancer.

Woodall's initiative highlights the power of sports in driving community support for important causes like cancer research.

• Woody's Hoodies are priced starting at $59 and will also include t-shirts and baseball caps for sale.
• Woodall plans to sell the hoodies online and hopes to eventually have them in the Spitfires' pro shop at the WFCU Centre.
• The hoodies will also be available at the Play For A Cure tournament next month.

The project aims to raise money for cancer awareness locally in Windsor, utilizing Woodall's platform as a Spitfires' player for community impact.

Carson Woodall's 'Woody's Hoodies' project not only honors his grandmothers but also exemplifies using sports as a tool for meaningful community contributions.

The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI

windsorstar • Jim Parker, Windsor Star

Spitfires' defenceman Woodall's project aims to support cancer research in area

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New horizons in the sociology of sport

Richard giulianotti.

1 Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom

2 University of South-Eastern Norway(USN), Bø, Telemark, Norway

Ansgar Thiel

3 Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The relevance of a sociological view on the problems of society has never been as important as it is today. To quote the editors of the journal Nature in their editorial, Time for the Social Sciences, from 2015: if you want science to deliver for society, you need to support a capacity to understand that society. In other words, the technological and scientific disciplines cannot simply transfer their findings into everyday life without knowing how society works. But this realisation does not seem to have caught on everywhere. The sociology of sport is entering a critical period that will shape its development and potential transformation over the next decade. In this paper, we review key features and trends within the sociology of sport in recent times, and set out potential future challenges and ways forward for the subdiscipline. Accordingly, our discussion spans a wide range of issues concerning the sociology of sport, including theories and approaches, methods, and substantive research topics. We also discuss the potential contributions of the sociology of sport to addressing key societal challenges. To examine these issues, the paper is organized into three main parts. First, we identify three main concentric challenges, or types of peripheral status, that sociologists of sport must confront: as social scientists, as sociologists, and as sociologists of sport, respectively. Second, we consider various strengths within the positions of sociology and the sociology of sport. Third, in some detail, we set out several ways forward for the sociology of sport with respect to positioning within academe, scaling up research, embracing the glocal and cosmopolitan aspects of sociology, enhancing plurality in theory, improving transnational coordination, promoting horizontal collaborations, and building greater public engagement. The paper is underpinned by over 60 years (combined) of work within the sociology of sport, including extensive international research and teaching.

Introduction

The sociology of sport is a relatively young sub-discipline. In the 19th and early 20th century, prominent sociologists and social psychologists, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, Georg Simmel, Thorstein Veblen, and Norman Triplett, already discussed sport as a social phenomenon, for example with regard to the dynamics of social competition [for a detailed discussion of the history of the sociology of sport, see for example ( 1 )]. 1 However, sport, but also the body as the instrument of competition, remained only a marginal note in sociological reflections on the changes that swept societies throughout the 20th century. One of the first large-scale works explicitly devoted to the sociology of sport was published in Germany in 1921 by the sociologist Heinz Risse. Even though the 1920s were characterized by a rapid growth of interest in sports as a topic of mass entertainment, Risse's work essentially remained an outsider's venture. The continued lack of acceptance of Risse's work in scientific circles is basically symbolic of the stereotypical devaluation of any kind of deeper scientific examination of the phenomenon of sport as a rather non-intellectual pursuit.

This marginalization of sport as an “unworthy” object of social-scientific research can ultimately be understood as the consequence of a Cartesian dualism that long anchored academic thinking. In 1641, Renè Descartes published his Meditationes de Prima Philosophia (English translation: Meditations on First Philosophy , 2008) ( 3 ) which contained the principles of Cartesian Dualism. Descartes argued that, on the one hand, physical substances (res extensae) were distinguished from mental substances (res cogitans), and, on the other hand, the body was considered only as an extended “thing” steered by volitional physical processes which are controlled by the mind. The assumption of an independence of the mind, even more, of the “I”, the subject, from a rather “machine-like” functioning body, characterized Western philosophical thinking for a long time, even among those who criticized Descartes' work. The realization that the “I” only exists as something physiological, and is therefore part of the body, was rather ignored, even though this approach was becoming increasingly prevalent in research in social-psychology and neurophysiology ( 3 ).

In the 1960s and 1970s, both the increasing sportification of society and the emerging scientification of sport, led to a growing international interest in research on sport as an important part of modern society. Numerous sociological studies, for example from Elias and Dunning ( 5 ), Edwards ( 6 , 7 ), Heinilä ( 8 ), Kenyon & Loy ( 9 ), Klein & Christiansen ( 10 ), Lüschen ( 11 , 12 ), McIntosh ( 13 ), and Rigauer ( 14 ), just to name a few, marked the beginning of the “take-off” of sport sociology at universities, particularly in Europe and North America, where higher education, especially in the social sciences, was experiencing significant expansion. It was no coincidence to observe during this period an accumulation of international publications on the sociology of sport from a variety of academics. Thus, in the 1960s, the discussion about the significance of sport as a sociological object of research intensified, as did the question of suitable theories and research methods for studying sport. This discussion ultimately preceded the founding of the International Committee for the Sociology of Sport (ICSS) in 1965. Clearly then, and most appropriately, the modern genesis of the sociology of sport was very much an international process, involving many academics, and carrying a strong social and collaborative impulse to advance the development of the fledgling subdiscipline.

However, even though the following two decades could be considered as a phase of establishment and consolidation of sport sociology at universities in Europe and North America, it has been a long road to gain full acceptance for sport as a subject fit for scientific study. In 1972, Eric Dunning wrote that “it is clear that the sociology of sport is not yet widely regarded by sociologists as an area posing problems of sociological importance” [( 15 ): 101]. More than 25 years later, Dunning still saw the need to speak to this status concern, giving his sociological study of sport, violence, and civilization the umbrella title Sport Matters ( 16 ).

The sociology of sport shares this need to highlight and justify the importance of its subject matter with other sport science sub-disciplines in higher education, but also with physical education (PE) in school systems. Indeed, the reputation of the PE teaching profession is comparably low, sports lessons are sometimes taught by unqualified substitute teachers, while PE classes often undergo cuts in school curricula to accommodate other subjects (notwithstanding global medical concerns over the lack of physical activity among young people).

The international sociology of sport faces the further challenge that, as its subject is not only scientifically marginalized, so its scholars from different countries sometimes have differing conceptual understandings of “sport” per se . What is meant by “sport” is by no means unambiguous ( 17 ). In the German-speaking world, for example, even the everyday use of the term “sport” is very heterogeneous. Sport can be going to the gym, a morning jog, a yoga class, or even exercise therapy in the context of rehabilitation from coronary diseases. In contrast to the broad German meaning, “sport” is defined more clearly in the English language. Hence, for example, a more consistent distinction is made between “sport” and “physical activity” or “exercise”. The latter terms refer, often interchangeably, in common parlance to a broad spectrum of activities, such as walking and cycling through to systematic training regimes. In contrast, “sport”, on the other hand, usually refers to a form of physical activity that is characterized by an unproductive and rule-governed form of competition (cf. Caspersen, Powell & Christenson, 1985) ( 18 ). In this regard, the competitive aspect seems to be almost more significant for the understanding of the term “sport” than the physical activity, as sports such as darts, snooker and, more recently, e-sports make clear.

In line with the conceptual difference between a rather broad and a rather narrow understanding of the term, the institutional problems that the sociology of sport has to deal with are also not consistent in every respect in an international comparison. For example, networking between sociologists of sport and medical doctors, who study the benefits of physical training for heart health, may be easier in German-speaking and Scandinavian countries than in English-speaking countries, since health-oriented physical training is not necessarily an obvious subject for the sociology of sport in the Anglophone world. At the same time, we recognize too that academics may purposively seek to surmount these linguistic and disciplinary hurdles through pursuing collaborative research.

In the following, we will take a closer look at the current state of the sociology of sport, without wanting to go into too much detail about international differences. In doing so, we review key features and trends within the sociology of sport in recent times, and set out potential future challenges and ways forward for the subdiscipline.

The challenged status of social science, sociology, and the sociology of sport: periphery 1,2,3

It is not only the subdiscipline of the sociology of sport, but also the parent discipline of sociology, that continues to face a variety of major challenges with respect to its status and recognition. General concerns about the decline or demise of sociology are not particularly new: perhaps most famously, more than 50 years ago, Alvin Gouldner ( 18 ) anticipated a crisis in “Western sociology”. Yet it is our contention that these crises of sociology and sport sociology have reached particularly acute points in recent times.

It was not always so. Indeed, in the early 19th century, and prior to the founding of sociology per se as an academic discipline, the social philosopher Auguste Comte had envisioned that a preeminent “queen science” would be concerned with the study of human society ( 20 ). Yet, since the discipline was established, most sociologists have found themselves working in decidedly republican rather than regal times, where the prospect of ascent to an academic throne has long since been guillotined.

Here, we examine the marginal status of sociology and the sociology of sport with respect to three levels of peripherality: periphery 1 (as a social science), periphery 2 (as sociology, the discipline), and periphery 3 (as sociology of sport, the subdiscipline). We explore each of these levels primarily with respect to the academy, while also referring to other domains, such as policy and politics, and society and the wider public sphere.

Periphery 1 : the Status of the social sciences

To begin with, in the first level of peripherality ( periphery 1 ), most social sciences have a weak status both within their universities, and in the national and international academic sectors, compared to the natural sciences. That peripherality is further weakening in several ways. On the one hand, social sciences have to compete with natural sciences for research funding. Over the last few years, there has been a tendency for social science to increasingly fall behind scientific-technological and medical projects in this area. In this context, particularly the research of newer technologies, such as AI, IoT, and quantum computing, competes with the social sciences for the distribution of funding. On the other hand, the peripherality of social sciences is manifested in its increasing replacement by the discipline of ethics when it comes to researching consequential problems of scientific-technological or medical innovations. This holds true for large-scale scientific-technological and medical research in general. Social scientific expertise is obviously not esteemed enough to become an indispensable part of corresponding projects. In contrast, there is hardly any medical research on a larger scale on societally relevant issues without the involvement of representatives from the ethics of science. The apparent omnipotence of ethical reflections is also evident in the power attributed to ethics committees with respect to the conception of research designs and thus the perspective on the phenomenon under investigation. Critics claim that the interventions of ethics committees can lead to considerable losses in quality with regard to the analytical acuity of the investigation itself [cf ( 21 ).]. Israel and Hayes even note that “social scientists are angry and frustrated. They believe their work is being constrained and distorted by regulators of ethical practice who do not necessarily understand social science research. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia, researchers have argued that regulators are acting on the basis of biomedically driven arrangements that make little or no sense to social scientists” [( 22 ), p. 1].

For medical research, the ethics of science has become a multi-purpose weapon for analyzing non-medical issues, both as part of the research group itself and also as an institution of meta-reflection on research. Thereby, it obviously does not matter that the competence of ethics of science rather lies in initiating (quite necessary) debates about relevant moral questions and providing guidance for concrete action (applied ethics) than in the systematic reflection of consequential societal problems of medical research. There is a fundamental difference between ethics and social science with regard to how scientific problems are approached. Zussman ( 23 ) argues, for example, that sociologists cannot answer normative questions that constitute the core of medical ethics, but they can provide a “realist” critique of medical ethics in practice, for example, by analyzing the reasons why physicians persistently deflect challenges to their authority or under what circumstances patients are able to autonomously decide on therapeutic options. In this sense, we do not argue for the abolition of ethical reflections on scientific, technological and medical research, but note that ethics is far from being able to cover all the questions that arise in connection with such research.

Some prominent natural scientists have obviously already recognized this when doubting that the technological and scientific disciplines can transfer their findings into everyday life without knowing how society works. A Nature ( 24 ) editorial titled “Time for the social sciences” emphasized the relevance of social scientific expertise for natural scientific and technological research. The editors stated that “governments that want the natural sciences to deliver more for society need to show greater commitment towards the social sciences and humanities” [( 24 ), 7,532]. Summarizing the key message of the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser's annual report for 2014 (Walport & Beddington, 2014) ( 25 ) they added that “if you want science to deliver for society, you need to support a capacity to understand that society” [( 24 ), 7,532].

From this, we might ask: How can social science manage to make itself heard? And what type of social scientific research is best positioned to be heard? The societal environment of social sciences certainly seems to have specific expectations of their services. Both medicine and scientific-technological researchers, but also the media, which report on scientific results and their practical applicability, obviously tend to prefer relatively quantitative, causal, and predictive research findings, that are rooted in large-scale datasets, and which can, for example, provide politicians and other key decision-makers with “hard data” about prospective returns on their investments. Conversely, much of social scientific research generates qualitative, interpretive, and highly contextual findings that are usually rooted in relatively small-scale empirical studies, and which are less focused on generating predictions or policy recommendations. The challenge for social scientists, then, is to find ways of responding to these circumstances, to find explanatory techniques for engaging these audiences, or to endure continuing, perhaps even intensified, peripherality vis-à-vis the natural sciences, with all the attendant institutional consequences.

Periphery 2 : the Status of sociology

A second level of peripherality—the periphery-squared or periphery 2 —involves the relatively weak standing of the discipline of sociology within the social sciences on the one hand and politics and policy on the other hand. In a similar way as compared to the social/natural science power imbalance, the lower status of sociology compared to a host of other social sciences such as economics, political science, and social psychology, is reflected in interrelated areas such as research funding and impact, student recruitment, the professional or career pathways that are afforded to sociology graduates, and the lack of influence of sociological research in the private and public sectors. A relative exception lies with demographers and other quantitative sociologists, whose “scientism”, in Gouldner's phrase, in regard to methods, findings, and recommendations, mirrors those within the natural sciences in ways that tend to be favoured by external research partners. Arguably in the UK and other nations, sociology has also been one of the disciplines most adversely affected by financial squeezes on social science, and on higher education more generally, which have occurred since the 1990s.

Sociology has been adversely affected by the long-standing hegemony of neoliberal social and economic policies, which emphasize individualism and self-responsibility, in marked contrast to the themes of society and social interdependencies that underpin much sociological scholarship. Additionally, there are few if any sociologists who can justifiably be described as public intellectuals in terms of social profile and influence. Arguably the situation has worsened since the 1980s and 1990s when Ulrick Beck, Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens, and Jurgen Habermas exercised significant presence in political and wider public debates. The lack of awareness of sociologists and sociological research by policymakers may also stem from sociology's failure to generate public interest. The observation that “Sociology is only marginally recognized by its own subject: society” describes this problem very accurately. Sociology generates a lot less social and political resonance than it actually should. This became abundantly clear during the Covid-19 pandemic, when its causes and consequences were almost entirely considered from a medical-scientific perspective, more precisely by virologists and epidemiologists. In contrast, the social consequences of the pandemic were as much neglected as its social dynamics. Certainly, questions with social scientific relevance were raised by both health policymakers and journalists. For example, there were strong discussions on how to allocate intensive care beds in the event of insufficient capacity, taking into account socio-economic and educational inequalities. Another topic concerned socially just vaccination priorities, considering the assurance of medical care, the issue of maintaining the economy and work vis-à-vis pandemic lockdowns, and the provision of cultural and leisure activities. Not least, critical journalists asked how medicine can meet the needs of socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the pandemic, or to what extent high-income countries should support low-and middle-income countries in coping with Covid-19 and its consequences. All these questions have direct thematic relevance to the core area of sociology. However, despite some exceptions, sociology has obviously not succeeded in convincing politicians or medical, epidemiological, and virological scientists of its particularly well-developed theoretical and methodological competence for analyzing the most complex, interconnected, and societal problems.

Two further points might be made here on the factors that lurk behind sociology's limited purchase in policy and public domains. First, the self-referentiality of sociology may be one hurdle. The prominent sociologist Peter Berger once said that “it is fair to say that the first stage of wisdom in sociology is that things are not what they seem” (2011: 41) ( 26 ). Sociological theorizing does not have a practical value per se . To critically reflect on everyday theories and to “de-construct” popular interpretations of patterns within social phenomena is a merit in itself. However, critical reflections produce little effect if they do not reach the public. In sociology itself, however, the question of how to generate political and/or public interest, seems to be discussed rather little. Rather, discussions on science-policy are largely limited to (often self-defeating) arguments about methodological paradigms (e.g., qualitative vs. quantitative research), the appropriate degree of advocacy (e.g., critical vs. descriptive-explanatory research), or basic epistemological questions (e.g., anti-positivism vs. positivism). The continuous questioning of competing theoretical models for the description and explanation of social phenomena and empirical methods for their recording is certainly necessary to keep pushing the discipline forward. From a social scientific perspective, this makes sense because critical thinking is an essential prerequisite of systematically “scrutinizing” theoretical assumptions, and replacing them with theories that carry a higher explanatory power. Positively speaking, sociologists cultivate “a kind of “art of distrust” (not only) towards the self-evident facts of everyday life” (Eickelpasch, 1999: 10) ( 27 ), but also towards the fruits of their own creations. More problematically, for non-sociologists, these important practices may resemble a form of obscure sociological navel-gazing that has no obvious beneficial outcome.

Second, and in part following from this, sociologists may also appear to be unduly preoccupied in some contexts—especially in German-speaking countries—with often fractious and inconclusive debates on the status or meaning of “critical thinking” within their discipline. The discussion on the extent to which sociology may engage in “advocacy” goes back to Max Weber and received special attention through the controversy between the sociologists Jürgen Habermas and Niklas Luhmann. This dispute was basically about whether it is sufficient for sociology to limit itself to describing how society changes, but not how it should change. (Note: here, in line with the philosophical tradition of “critical theory”, the term “critical” refers at least in part to the advocacy of social change and to envisioning alternative ways in which society should be organized.) The criticism of an “apolitical” sociology was that an exclusively “uncritical” sociology could not initiate any necessary social changes but would ultimately have a rule-legitimizing function. Luhmann's counterargument was that (normative) criticism of existing conditions leads to hasty judgments. Thus, the attempt to prove the possibility of a “better” society fails because of the complexity of the world; accordingly, criticism falls into inconsequential humanity. We return to this question of critical thinking later on, but here, the key point is that, to outside observers, sociologists fail to communicate the significance of such debates, and thus appear overly distracted with such concerns. In this sense, sociology is confronted with the dilemma of the simultaneous need for analytical value freedom and inspiration for social change. On the one hand, there are political, policy, public, and, in some areas, philosophical expectations that the “critical” standpoints of sociologists should include normative sketches of alternative social arrangements. On the other hand, however, there is the counter-expectation that such normative statements automatically fail to encapsulate or to account for the complexity of society. This latter position further contends that, to the extent that sociology claims the competence to make normative statements, it inevitably disavows its scientific analyses. From these types of debates, we would highlight the broader point, that the “critical” is understood in diverse ways within sociology, and that such diversity is indicative of the vitality of the discipline, and also its positive capacity to investigate and to engage with social phenomena in a variety of ways.

Periphery 3 : the Status of the sociology of sport

All of these challenges are magnified when we move from the positions of social science, and of sociology, to examine the specific standing of the sociology of sport, which occupies a third level of peripherality—the periphery cubed or periphery 3 —within academe, as well as in other, non-academic domains.

In academe, there are dual challenges for the sociology of sport, in its overlapping positioning within the fields of sociology and sport studies. On one hand, within the general sociological community, the subdiscipline's struggle for recognition and credibility is evidenced by the rarity with which it variously is taught or researched within mainstream sociology departments; contributes papers to leading sociology journals, particularly in the United States; and secures significant levels of competitive research funding from major foundations. At the same time, the topic of “sport” in general sociology tends to be a pastime for scholars who otherwise deal with topics such as social inequality, the evolution of the financial system, the family, or conflict, and so on. To adapt Rowe's ( 25 ) observation of sports journalism within the news media, sociologists have long tended to view sport as the “toy department” of their discipline, in marked contrast to deeply established subject areas, some of which, such as religion, have been in long-term decline in many late modern societies. This corresponds with the fact that chairs designated for sport sociology are at many universities either nonexistent or still located in institutes of sports science. Hence, one could say that the institutional problems with which the sociology of sport must deal have changed less than we representatives of the subdiscipline might wish.

On the other hand, in sport studies, the sociology of sport faces a further set of challenges at two main levels. First, at the level of periphery 1 , sociology and the other social sciences tend to have relatively marginal statuses in sport studies overall. For example, the natural rather social sciences tend to hold greater influence and presence in many departments or schools that focus on sport, physical activity, and/or exercise (or “kinesiology”, in North America). They are also viewed—by schools, faculties, and universities—as much better placed than the social sciences for attracting students, research, and enterprise income, and for influencing policy and practice within the sport sphere. Second, at the level of periphery 2 , within the social sciences of sport, sociology also faces significant challenges. Other social sciences in sport—such as sport management and those in the business spheres—are seen as having greater practical and vocational relevance, and are able to attract more students, particularly international postgraduates, by offering more direct entry to preferred employment and careers. These developments reflect a wider criticism that the sociology of sport has been slow to respond to the large and rapid expansion of the global “sport industry” since the 1980s.

These challenges have long-term consequences for the sociology of sport within academe. They threaten the volume and quality of funded research, and subsequent publications, within the subdiscipline. Many students (as future academics)—whether on sociology, social science, or sport studies undergraduate or postgraduate degree programmes—have relatively fewer opportunities to study the sociology of sport in some depth and detail. Hence, we find that many of those whom we do attract into the sociology of sport—such as PhD students, association members, and prospective contributors to subdiscipline journals—have not had the benefit of an initial, substantial grounding in the subdiscipline or in the parent discipline of sociology.

In turn, the sociology of sport finds itself in a recruitment dilemma. On the one hand, young sport sociologists need to complete their qualified training in sociology, to know and be able to apply the most important theories and methodological approaches on sport specific phenomena. On the other hand, sport is a highly complex subject that cannot be adequately understood by only observing sporting events, as some sociologists and economists still claim today. To analyze sports in a competent scientific manner, sports sociologists also need at least a basic understanding of wider sport-related issues and processes, such as how movement and training processes work, how tactical systems evolve, or what the motives of different population groups are for doing sports. Hence, an education in sports science makes perfect sense. Yet, alone, it is not sufficient for research in the sociology of sport. If young researchers in sports sociology are recruited from sports science, kinesiology, or physical education, then they must therefore acquire sociological knowledge during their doctoral studies, just as sociologists without sports science training would benefit from familiarizing themselves with other disciplines within the sport and physical activity fields, such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, and sport pedagogy.

Overall then, the sociology of sport finds itself in a position where three layers of peripherality (as social science, discipline, and subdiscipline) are in play. In passing, we might note too that these insights provide an uncomfortable contextualization to any references to “stars” within the subdiscipline. As sociologists, we consider it important to set out the context in which the subdiscipline is located before turning to discuss the strengths and potential ways forward for sociologists of sport.

Strengths in the position of sociology and the sociology of sport

We may highlight some of the potential strengths and positive aspects of sociology and the subdiscipline of the sociology of sport vis-a-vis academe and in wider non-academic contexts.

First, the fundamental premise of sociology should be viewed as a core strength in securing and enhancing the discipline's academic and wider standing. In 1987, the UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, opined that, “there's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families.” 2 In contradistinction to this New Right, neoliberal credo, sociology is the academic discipline that, more than any other, reminds us that there is such a thing as human society. There are very strong audiences for that social philosophy in most if not all societies. Moreover, it is also a central tenet of most social sciences.

Second, as we have indicated earlier, the diversity of critical dimensions of sociology, and the sociology of sport, represent a further positive. The task of sociology is not to substantiate what seems to be self-evident, but to reveal the contradictions inherent in it. In this sense, the rejection of critical analysis of social reality, with reference to Weber's postulate of value freedom ( 26 ), is based on a misunderstanding. Critical thinking also has a function from a Weberian perspective, for example, to the evaluation of a means to fulfill a purpose, i.e., whether the use of a means is appropriate to that purpose. To think “critically”, however, from this perspective, should not mean to base sociological analysis on premises foreign to science, for example, on politically motivated a priori distinctions of “good” and “bad”. In this sense, by critical, we we are referring to what sociologists sociologists, in the course of their analysis of academic literature and while undertaking social research, should focus on: de-constructing any errors, misunderstandings, inconsistencies, and contradictions that may be identified in the scientific, politic, medial, and public descriptions of social issues; examining the key features and patterns of social relations; comparing and contrasting, and identifying strengths and limitations, in theories, policies, and patterns of social relations; highlighting and investigating social relations of power, as characterized for example by social inequalities and divisions; and, identifying alternative possibilities for how societies may be organized, including within particular areas of social life, such as in sport. This type of critical ethos within the discipline has strong resonance across diverse social groups, who are both curious and furious about how sport and wider aspects of society are organized, and how power is unequally distributed in ways that lead to marginalizing and depriving outcomes for many.

Third, we appreciate also that sociology has consistently been an avant-garde discipline, in terms of identifying and highlighting progressive public issues that go on to gain some traction with wider publics, policy-makers, and corporations. Areas such as EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) and ESG (environment, social and governance)—that are rooted in themes relating to social division and social justice, which have long been a major concern for sociologists—are illustrative of this avant-garde impulse. Sociologists had been highlighting forms of racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of social abuse, discrimination, and intolerance within sport long before these were addressed as serious social issues by most sport authorities. There is then the need for sociologists to continue exploring progressive new domains of research and social commentary, where they may have future influence. One approach here would be for (sport) sociologists to consider alternative possibilities for the social organization of sport for two decades' time, and to think about what social roadmap would be required to get there.

Fourth, the plural, diverse, and in many ways diffuse disciplinary nature of sociology is a strength. Unlike some other subjects such as economics or law, which rather restrict entry into their respective academic fields, sociology has been and continues to be open to diverse disciplinary contributions and influences. This is very much a two-way street: sociology has always bled into, and been significantly shaped by, other disciplines, particularly related ones such as anthropology, education, history, human geography, political science, social policy, and social psychology. Sociology is also a core constituent of many of the transdisciplinary “studies” domains, such as the vast field of cultural studies, which to a large extent encompasses other, more specific fields such as gender studies, race and ethnicity studies, and LGBTQ+ studies; as well as in the similarly vast, if rather different domain of “business studies” or “management studies”. Particularly in management studies, there is reason enough to apply sociological knowledge when analyzing the organization of sport. Many sports organizations, for example, are not commercial enterprises but voluntary organizations. However, blindly applying economic concepts to volunteer organizations negates the fact that the two types of organizations follow completely different operational logics ( 27 ). On the other hand, intellectual exchanges and collaborations with these other disciplines and transdisciplines help to invigorate and to revitalize sociology, through the infusion of fresh research theories, methods, and paradigms. They also highlight how sociology's influence in academe may be relatively broad and diffuse, reaching well beyond the formal (and, usually, shrinking) realms of academic departments of sociology.

Fifth, following from this, we may identify a diffuse influence of sociology within wider non-academic spheres—in politics, social administration, media, business, civil society, and so on. The point here might be more clearly made if we differentiate between “capital S” Sociology, representing the institutionalized master discipline as practiced by recognized, professional sociologists, often operating within named Sociology departments; and “small s” sociology, as practiced by anyone who draws upon sociological ideas, keywords, principles or themes, even without recognizing their formal association with the discipline of sociology per se . This connects to the earlier points on the avant-garde aspects of sociology, in fields such as social inclusion. It is here, in “small s” sociology, that the discipline might exercise its best influence, such as through feeding sociological themes and approaches into diverse degree programmes, research projects, policy analysis and guidance, and public debates.

Sixth, the sociology of sport has a particular need to be open to transdisciplinary views on the phenomena it is dealing with. Due to the complexity of the subject of sport and due to the necessity of frequently also having to consider economic, psychological or even physiological aspects when analyzing the sport of society, sociologists of sport have to be generalists in a certain sense. The advantages of the generalist perspective are at least two-fold. On the one hand, it ensures that the problems of sport, which are usually very complex and demand multidisciplinary study, can be understood as a whole. On the other hand, researchers in the sociology of sport are also predestined to look beyond the confines of their own subdiscipline, which in turn makes it easier to collaborate with colleagues from other scientific disciplines.

Seventh, sociologists of sport have to find ways to secure positions within academe. These prospects continue to be squeezed by the contraction and in some cases closure of sociology departments, research units, and degree programmes for a variety of stated reasons. In response, many sociology units have innovated by connecting or combining with other disciplines—such as criminology or social policy—which appear to attract more students and/or research funding. 3 In sport studies, the most obvious partner discipline is sport management, which tends to attract larger cohorts of students, particularly at postgraduate level, while affording opportunities for collaborative research and teaching, notably in areas such as social inclusion and sport for development. Indeed, it may be that such a necessary, pragmatic approach will involve “small s” rather than “capital S” sociology continuing to operate in sport studies degree programmes or departments. For example, while named “Sociology of Sport” degree programmes may be closed due to low student recruitment, it may remain feasible to feed sociological content into courses at more everyday levels through lectures and seminars. Such innovative responses will vary by context—particularly along national or regional lines, where the discipline and subdiscipline will encounter different pressures and potential opportunities—but are likely to continue to be required at least in the medium term.

Ways forward for the sociology of sport

We have discussed in detail the problematic status and other challenges that face sociology and the sociology of sport, as well as various strengths in their positions particularly within academe. It is appropriate now for us to turn here to consider some of the ways forward for the discipline and subdiscipline in this regard. There are several ways in which sport sociologists may respond here, and we begin by assessing their positionings within academe.

Positioning within academe

First, the theme of interdisciplinarity in academic work has been advocated, celebrated, and even fetishized for several decades; it has also been heavily commodified through the allocation of funding—from small travel grants through to multi-million Euro research programmes—to those who commit to undertake such work. Moreover, universities are increasingly set up to facilitate such work, notably through interdisciplinary research centres and Institutes for Advanced Studies. Here, we echo these calls for interdisciplinary activity, but would add that such work involving sociologists needs to be adventurous and open-ended wherever possible, involving for example looking beyond close, cognate disciplines (such as anthropology, history, political science) to explore collaborations with a wider array of disciplines, including in the natural sciences. The structure of sport studies departments—in which the social and natural sciences coexist—provides comparatively favourable ground for exploring such collaborations. One potential consequence is to enable sociologists to be more actively engaged in high prestige, large scale, and heavily-funded research programmes that tend otherwise to be fully dominated by the natural sciences.

Second, to build on our points earlier, we note the need for the sociology of sport to engage with other academic disciplines and subdisciplines in open, collegiate, mutually beneficial ways. On one hand, there is the concern to enhance the full participation of sociologists of sport within interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research projects and other academic initiatives. Such collaborations across disciplines have come to dominate the research funding landscape, hence the subdiscipline needs to follow this path for strategic as well as for intellectual and wider academic reasons. On the other hand, sociologists of sport would do well to engage more with, and to gain enhanced inspiration from, the broader, parental discipline of sociology. This would enable the subdiscipline to draw more fully on emergent and diverse sociological theories and methods; to highlight the work of prominent “mainstream” sociologists (such as Wacquant) who engage with sport; and, to draw more of these scholars into projects and papers on the sociology of sport. These wider engagements would serve to underline the legitimacy, significance, and vibrancy of the subdiscipline, and to start to tackle its peripherality, vis-a-vis wider communities of scholars in sociology and social science.

Third, sociologists, whether in sport or in other fields, would do well to maximize their social, cultural, and political capital within academe. University leadership roles—such as Rectors (the head of universities), Deans (of Faculties), and Heads of School—provide important positions that, ceteris paribus , may serve to safeguard the interests of sociology and other social sciences, when alternative leaders, drawn from other disciplines, may be decidedly more skeptical or even hostile. Further beneficial leadership roles in this regard include those within national and international academic associations and networks, particularly those that encompass a wide spectrum of social sciences or both social and natural sciences; and those that offer formal connections between the academy and important external organizations, such as with global sport governing bodies or UN agencies.

Fourth, in part to enhance its positioning within academe, the sociology of sport needs to be agile, inventive, and relevant in both the research that it undertakes, and in its external activities. Sociologists benefit from commitments to investigating fresh substantive areas, particularly given that sport is constantly being shaped and reshaped in economic, social, cultural, political, environmental, and technological terms. Such a research approach is more likely to enable sociologists of sport to collaborate with other disciplines that are concerned (and, often, funded) to investigate cutting-edge issues. The development of original research is also significantly enhanced if sociologists of sport engage with and potentially draw upon innovative aspects, in theory and in substantive research, within the parent discipline of sociology as well as in other disciplines or fields, such as anthropology, cultural studies, development studies, geography, international relations, and political science. Further benefits can only accrue from continuous self-critical inquiry, asking for example, what fresh theories, methods, concepts, keywords, research topics, and pedagogical techniques might be explored by us. The alternative approach—involving an instinctive, even institutionalized reluctance to explore fresh thinking—not only makes for a stultifying and boring subdiscipline. It also makes the subdiscipline appear somewhat ossified to our colleagues in mainstream sociology and other disciplines—and thus, far less likely to be considered as a worthwhile research collaborator.

Fifth, all research fields, as international communities of practice, prosper when diverse scholars engage in collegiate collaborations, and in open and temperate debates. The sociology of sport has many such examples involving teams of scholars who operate within and/or across different institutions, for example in teaching units and research projects, or in collaborative publications and gatherings at conferences. As new generations of scholars emerge, often without lifelong commitments to “defending” fixed theories and paradigms, there also appear to be fewer vituperative exchanges or interrelations than in the past few decades. Moreover, in the post-Covid academic environment, we detect strong atmospheres of friendly sociality and restored community within at least some sociology of sport gatherings. It is vital that the sociology of sport builds on such collaborative and collegiate activity to safeguard the subdiscipline.

Scale up: towards large-scale research collaborations

The sociology of sport, and indeed the wider social scientific study of sport, continues to do research that is mostly qualitative and relatively small-scale, and which commonly features individual studies of specific groups, communities, or organizations with reference to involvements in sport or physical activity. Much of this work also reflects a “methodological nationalism”, in terms of empirical focus, research team collaboration, and/or academic reference points. Even comparative studies continue to be small scale, usually focusing on a handful of research groups or locations, while engaging relatively small research teams. This stands in marked contrast to much quantitative research, especially in the natural sciences, which has the capacity to generate much wider-reaching data, and benefits increasingly from technological advances that allow for rapid large-scale data production and processing, and for the meshing of multiple datasets. Such research is also more likely to be undertaken or written up by relatively large teams of researchers, who may each contribute their own data sets, or diverse types of expertise for producing and analysing data—hence, the large numbers of co-authors that we find on many quantitative papers. Furthermore, this large-scale approach carries appeal for many grant-making foundations and external stakeholders—whether in policy, commercial, or civil spheres—in terms of promising findings with relatively greater reach, reliability, and validity, which may in turn guide investments and other strategic actions by key decision-makers.

Here, we call for academics and students in the sociology of sport, particularly those working with qualitative methods, to consider how they may “scale up” their research activities and aspirations. By “scaling up”, we are referring to various potential actions, most obviously the extensive enlargement of research teams, and/or a substantial increase in the number or variety of social groups or locations that are the focus for research. There is, then, every reason for scaled-up research in the sociology of sport to engage research teams of 20+ scholars working in a similar number of locations. Such scaling up of research teams and research designs would enable sociologists of sport to undertake challenging programmes of research that would aim to generate findings that are richer in content and depth, more rigorous in how they have been produced, more comprehensive in their reach and scope, and more influential for future researchers and external stakeholders. This would, for example, enable sociologists of sport to respond more effectively to calls by officials within government and civil society for research findings that are sufficiently specific, detailed, and wide-reaching, and which provide the basis for guiding key decision-makers on how to construct policy and on how to invest money and other resources in different areas of sport.

We may observe too that scaling up would enable sociologists of sport to contribute more fully to enlarged, interdisciplinary research programmes. A problem that has received little attention to date, but is all the more relevant and can only be adequately addressed by larger interdisciplinary teams, concerns the mechanisms of interaction between the social and the biological. In terms of research methodology, there are as yet only few multidisciplinary explanatory models of how the diverse, elusive, and chaotic, and thus ultimately unpredictable, environmental influences interact with biological adaptations at the epigenetic level ( 31 ). However, there is certainly reason to believe that social structures and social regulations are directly and causally linked to genome structures and gene regulation ( 32 ). For example, studies indicate that nutrition in early childhood, on the one hand, conditions metabolic structures at the molecular level, which in turn have an effect on nutritional physiology in adulthood ( 33 ). On the other hand, nutrition in early childhood is in turn, simply put, dependent on the parents' attitudes toward nutrition, the extent to which they have the educational prerequisites to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy food, what food is available in the first place, and what food the parents can afford in light of their economic situation. It can also be assumed with regard to individual sports activities that being socialized into sedentary living conditions leaves traces not only on the attitudinal level of people, but also in their biological makeup. Within scaled-up and interdisciplinary research programmes, the sociology of sport, together with sports medicine and epigenetics, could well contribute to finding explanations of how the “sportive body” develops in its unique, ever-changing relationships with the world, and how biological systems react to environmental influences and in this sense “learn” in a rudimentary way ( 31 , 34 ).

The sociology of sport has the professional, social, and technological infrastructure to scale up its research. Many of the research fields within the sociology of sport have a substantial critical mass of scholars located across the world. Each of these scholars will have their own networks of research groups that they study, and fellow academics with whom they tend to collaborate. A scaled-up set of research collaborations would be facilitated by a “network of networks”, drawing together these different groupings. We also have the online technologies and experience for making research collaborations viable online. The routine use of online communication platforms (Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet et al.) during the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated how social science research and teaching, engaging large numbers of participants, could be successfully undertaken through virtual technologies. The return to normal academic life—albeit, still, an uneven and incomplete process—has been a positive, social experience for many, marked for example by strong senses of community such as at international conferences and other gatherings. 4 Arguably, then, the post-Covid camaraderie within the academic community, which we noted earlier, provides relatively auspicious ground for the scaling up of research. Finally, a host of core themes in contemporary social science—relating, for example, to globalization, development, postcolonialism, decolonization, and EDI (equality, diversity, and inclusion)—has pressed the transnational academic community, still dominated by global North, to explore ways in which academics, students, and institutions in the global South may become full leaders and participants within world academe. The process of scaling up will require sociologists of sport to ensure that the global South is much better engaged in shaping research issues and designs, and in contributing to and leading research teams.

We may pick one research field, by way of illustration. Sport for development and peace (SDP) has mushroomed into one of the largest, genuinely global research fields in the sociology of sport and related subdisciplines over the past two decades. 5 Yet, most academic work in SDP continues to involve qualitative research that is relatively small-scale, both in empirical focus and reach, and in the composition of research teams. To scale up, the field of SDP research may establish a large transnational team of academics—why not 20–30 scholars?—drawn from the global South and North, pulling together their diverse research networks, to undertake a systematic programme of research across the world, focused on a common set of research issues and questions. This scaled-up research would be best placed to drive a step-change in SDP studies, providing research findings with new levels of reach and significance than hitherto, and offering a potential model for research programmes in other fields of the sociology of sport.

With regard to collaborations with researchers from other disciplines, one has to keep in mind that it is not a matter of course that the participants of an interdisciplinary research group are able to understand the language, methodology, and operational logic of representatives of other disciplines. Disciplines are per se autonomous and operationally closed systems that cannot simply exchange knowledge without translation work [cf ( 36 ).]. Cross-disciplinary collaboration requires an understanding of the theories, methods, and practices of dealing with knowledge gained in each other's disciplines, but also an acceptance of the scientific value of the knowledge produced in the “foreign” discipline. Hence, researchers from different disciplines involved in an interdisciplinary knowledge production process do not necessarily recognize or understand the object under analysis in the same fundamental ways. Thus, in any inter- and transdisciplinary work, attention also needs to be given to the “translation” that occurs between disciplines. If this translation work is not part of the process of knowledge production, then any forms of “interdisciplinary cooperation” will, in reality, be restricted to adding single disciplinary findings to an additive “multidisciplinary” bundle.

Embrace the glocal and cosmopolitan aspects of sociology

We appreciate that the sociology of sport, like the overarching discipline of sociology, has a largely glocalized academic status. In other words, while sociology and the sociology of sport constitute a global discipline and subdiscipline respectively, their shapes and statuses can vary significantly by national or regional context. 6 In much of Europe and North America, as we have outlined, the sociology of sport has been heavily marginalized by neoliberal policies, the marketization of higher education, and late modern ideologies and cultures of acquisitive individualism. The stronger presence of the public sector in higher education in some contexts, notably in France or Germany, can work to protect sociology's role to some degree. Significant cultural differences also arise. In the United States, quantitative sociology has greatest traction. In France, sociologists contribute prominently to social and political debates in the public sphere. In Latin America, social sciences, including in the sociology of sport, have tended to convey relatively direct and extensive forms of oppositional political critique—reflecting decades of structural crises, and academic activism against authoritarianism and social injustices—alongside adventurous and expansive forms of social and historical analysis. In other regions—such as in East Asia—the sociology of sport tends to be relatively well represented within sport-focused departments and universities, in part reflecting institutional commitments to housing a comprehensive array of disciplines.

The glocal aspects of sociology and the sociology of sport—particularly in how the discipline and subdiscipline are understood and performed with respect to theory and method—should be strongly embraced and nurtured. Such glocal processes reflect how sociologists, with diverse cultural and other backgrounds, seek to apply and develop the discipline and subdiscipline, in ways that are most meaningful and applicable within their different locations and traditions of scholarship. They protect and sustain the cosmopolitanism of sociology, and of the sociology of sport, by recognizing and valuing cultural “difference”, in this case with regard to the plurality of sociological perspectives per se . Further, these glocal and cosmopolitan aspects are in line with calls for global sociology to advance the voices of relatively marginalized approaches and perspectives, such as those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and from non-Anglophone cultures (see our further comments, below). Ideally, they should also enhance greatly the vitality of the discipline and subdiscipline, by enabling diverse approaches and perspectives to commingle—such as through research projects, publications, and conference debates—in ways that inspire further, original work, in theory, method, and empirical inquiry.

Theory: plurality, and fresh approaches

Following from this, we contend that it is important for any discipline or subdiscipline in the social sciences to have as wide a range of theoretical and methodological techniques at its disposal as possible, so that in social research the most appropriate theories and methods may be used, to the greatest effect, in order to study, analyse, and explain social phenomena or processes that are under investigation. In addition, theoretical and methodological diversity and innovation represent important indices of the health and vitality of any social science. Fresh theoretical developments point to a vibrant academic community, whereas little conceptual innovation suggests a discipline that is staid if not entropic.

The sociology of sport has an uneven position in regard to theory. On one side, the subdiscipline has a long history of diverse theoretical approaches that have been utilized, often with significant variations by nation or region. Further theoretical range is afforded by referring back to the master discipline of sociology, and by engaging with cognate disciplines that often have significant sociological dimensions, such as anthropology, education, geography, and political science.

On the other side, the subdiscipline has arguably become too reliant on a small number of theories, some of which have been reproduced over three to four generations of scholars with few really significant redevelopments or reconfigurations of the main precepts or arguments. Among the most influential theorists here have been Bourdieu and Foucault, known worldwide in the social sciences; Elias, mainly known and used in the UK and some parts of the European continent; and, Luhmann, best known and understood in Germany and Scandinavia. Notably, with the exception of the even older Elias (1897–1993), these modern theorists were of a largely similar historical period, being born in the interwar period (1920s–1930), and developing their oeuvres and magni opi in the 1960s through to the 1980s. In other words, their main work was developed some 40–60 years ago, with the apogee in their usage within sociology and the sociology of sport perhaps having been in the late 1980s or early 1990s, some 30 years ago.

We have no doubt that sociologists of sport will continue to draw significantly on these theorists. Indeed, as the space and time allocated to sociology within sport-related degree programmes come under pressure, it becomes more likely that they will be among the few if only social theorists that students encounter to any significant extent. However, we contend that the sociology of sport needs to pursue and to sustain a wider range of theoretical approaches, for the reasons mapped out above, including with respect to the benefits of maintaining a cosmopolitan and glocal array of standpoints, and to enhance the subdiscipline's vitality and capacity to respond to fresh research challenges. Thus, looking forward a further 20–30 years, to the 2040s–2050s, sociologists of sport should aspire to engage with a wider array of theorists and theoretical frameworks, keeping in mind that the primary works of the quartet above would by that point be some 60–90 years old, and in the case of Elias (1939) ( 38 ), even over a century in vintage. As noted earlier, lack of theoretical variation and renewal would leave the sociology of sport more open to appearing staid and entropic to those in sociology or wider social science. In turn, it would weaken our appeal in terms of securing research funding, or being invited into multi-disciplinary research collaborations.

Transnational coordination

Given its challenging circumstances, sociologists of sport across the world need to do all they can to transform and enhance the transnational constitution and coordination of their global field. Three key points follow here.

First, the transnational sociology of sport continues to be dominated by the Anglophone global North, most obviously involving North America, the UK, Australasia, and Anglophone scholarship in Europe, East Asia, and elsewhere. This transnational field has far more to do in order to engage fully with actual, emergent, and potential scholarship across the vast diversity of low- and middle-income countries. Such an engagement is vital if the sociology of sport is to be a genuinely “global” field. It is also vital if the subdiscipline is to observe, through a kind of collective self-practice, its own incessant and ubiquitous demands for all institutions in sport to tackle fundamental issues of marginalization, colonization, and decolonization. This would enable the subdiscipline to rethink its ontological, epistemological, methodological, and substantive dimensions in ways that fully engage LMIC and non-Anglophone perspectives. Moreover, it is essential that we recognize the vast social divisions and inequalities across the global South; hence, for example, we must do all we can to ensure that the social scientific “voices” of the “global South” are not purely or primarily those of national or regional elites.

A particular problem of international collaboration, however, lies in what we might term the language and the ontology of publication. For many years, the Anglophone research community took little notice of research in other countries. This is, of course, because representatives from Anglophone countries have had no need to adopt another language for international discourse. However, in so many other countries—for example France, Spain, Germany, and Poland in Europe; Brazil, Argentina, and Chile in South America; China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in East Asia—research projects were and continue to be conducted, books written, and articles published, but in the local languages. The increase in the importance of world rankings for the self-image of universities and the increasingly demanded internationalization of research cooperation has led to a rethinking of academic work (including in the social sciences) in these countries. Now, English is increasingly the lingua franca of scientific communication for these countries as well. And yet, there is a large number of highly interesting research results that have not been published in English and will never find their way into the international sport sociology community if they are not translated. At the same time, academics in many of these countries argue that the Anglophone ontologies of writing or publishing in the social sciences—particularly for journal articles, but also for larger works such as PhD theses—are very different to the approaches found in their home nations. Again, there is a concern that global sociology may become too homogenized, and undermine its glocal diversity, if scholars in Anglophone countries fail to recognize significant cultural differences in how sociology and other social sciences are “done” in non-Anglophone and/or global South contexts.

Second, the principles behind the points above—centred on tackling tendencies towards homogenization and marginalization within the subdiscipline—apply across the world, including of course in the global North. Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) concerns must be directed onto the subdiscipline in full, and that means by looking beyond “acknowledgements of privilege”, to continue to press higher education institutions to redistribute resources such as studentships, posts, research grants, leadership roles, and academic status. Thus, the sociology of sport is ripe for transformation with regard to repairing the consequences of social divisions along the lines of class, gender, ethnicity, race, disability, and, as flagged above, North/South and Anglophone/Non-Anglophone divisions.

Third, transnational networks and associations need to identify ways in which the subdiscipline can become far more coherent and coordinated, to tackle tendencies towards fragmentation. The most obvious area lies in respect of the international associations for sociologists of sport, such as EASS, ISSA, NASSS, 3SLF, and also the various national or regional associations and networks within the subdiscipline, such as in different parts of Europe, East Asia, and Oceania. 7 Currently, each association tends to engage particular clusters of academics, with some overlaps. However, we find that North American academics tend not to attend conferences in Europe hosted by EASS/ISSA in the summer, while NASSS conferences (staged in November) tend to attract a relatively limited cohort of European academics, especially non-Anglophone ones. It is vital that these associations, particularly through their leadership groups, explore ways to facilitate more effective communication and coordination. The benefits here would include greater volume of interaction and exchanges between individuals and research groups across these diverse associations and networks; and, a stronger cross-fertilization of research ideas, networks, and projects. This would also enable associations potentially to co-stage events—as we saw with the EASS and ISSA joint conference in Tübingen in 2022—and it would also avoid the particularly counter-productive occasions, which have happened twice in recent years, when two international associations have staged their own conferences at the same time as each other. Further, a focus on international associations and conferences would draw sociologists of sport to reflect on how they may engage with other associations, whether these are more all-encompassing ones (such as the European College of Sport Sciences, which includes a significant social science dimension), or more disciplinary specific ones (such as those in sport management, physical education, sport history, sport philosophy, sport economics, and so on).

More horizontal and less vertical collaborations

There needs to be a better balance between vertical and horizontal types of networking and collaboration in the sociology of sport. By “vertical”, we mean hierarchical collaborations, mainly between academics at senior (e.g., professor), mid-career (e.g., associate professor), early career (e.g., assistant professors, postdoctoral research associates), and doctoral researcher levels. Conversely, “horizontal” refers to collaborations among academics at the same level, such as between early career researchers or between PhD students.

We recognize that the volume and variety of vertical collaborations have grown substantially over the last two or three decades. Doctoral researchers and their supervisors now co-author many more papers than in the past, in ways that are coming to mimic the formats found with colleagues in the natural sciences. We find that funded research projects often feature teams of researchers, usually led by an established academic, with early career and doctoral researchers also on board with the role of collecting and analysing data. We appreciate there are further structural and cultural reasons for these hierarchies. In some countries, university employment and departmental structures are set up with Chairs (professors) at the centre, supported by collaborating clusters of more junior colleagues. Younger academics may also seek to work with specific senior colleagues, developing their research skills, publication profiles, and, crucially in many contexts, professional networks in ways that enhance future employment and career-building opportunities. On occasion, however, these vertical relations can inhibit the academic development and personal freedoms of younger colleagues, such as when senior staff act almost as conservators with their early career and doctoral researchers, controlling which other academics they can talk to, or restricting their freedom of association at conferences.

In our view, this verticality in academe needs to be balanced by a much greater focus on horizontal collaborations, particularly with doctoral and early career researchers. More horizontal collaborations of this kind would help to enhance the vitality of the sociology of sport; the exploration of new theories, methodologies, and substantive areas of research; and, the array of interdisciplinary and international partnerships across the subdiscipline. These horizontal forms of networking enable young academics to gain valuable experience in genuinely collaborative, creative research projects and publishing; to build new networks and communities of colleagues internationally; and, to share their accounts, experiences, and perspectives with peers at similar stages of career development.

It is worth recalling that, from the late 1960s onwards, it was groups of young academics at similar career stages who undertook much of the foundational work within the sociology of sport, and also who led much of the adventurous development of new research paradigms across the subdiscipline. Such horizontal collaborations among young scholars would help to revitalize the sociology of sport in this way. Of course, to facilitate this process, more powerful, senior staff would at least be required to take a step back, or, better still, to positively encourage and enable such peer-based collaborations.

Public engagement

Famously, CW Mills (1959) ( 39 ) argued that a defining feature of the sociological imagination was the capacity to view “personal troubles” as “public issues”, that impact on many people, and which are shaped by diverse structural factors and cultural processes. From this, we may consider how this sociological imagination may be fostered and harnessed by sociology, and the sociology of sport, in ways that enhance their social relevance and public engagement. Crucially, if sociology is to enhance its public engagement, it has no choice but to break away from a pure observer role and to develop greater competence in the translation of its results. In this context, contact with both politics and sports practice plays an important role.

Public engagement takes many forms, including advising leading decision-makers and other officials within key organizations; working with organizations to enhance their policy and practice; and, contributing to debates in the public sphere (e.g., through mass and social media). The easiest way of doing this latter form of public engagement is through short articles in media open to sociological contributions; the online outlet, The Conversation , provides an obvious example. These outputs may accumulate many “reads” or “clicks”, and may enable PhD students and early career researchers to put down markers for their research and academic presence, but the extent to which they have direct non-academic influence or impact is very much open to debate. On the other side, perhaps the most fully impactful approach is to ensure that sociologists are able to take positions on scientific advisory bodies and other such panels, which feed directly into policymaking at national and international levels. Further impactful and direct modes of external engagement include organizational collaborations, which may involve the “co-creation” of research projects, and the translation of findings into fresh strategies, policies, and practices for the outside partner.

There is a long-term trend for national and international research foundations to direct social scientists towards these types of external collaboration or impact in order to secure research funding. Hence, sociologists would do well to build these links in the pursuit of funding. We should recall also that these external partners take many forms. Certainly, sport clubs and governing bodies, governmental bodies (local, national, and international), and corporations are included here, but so too are NGOs, campaign groups, social movements, and other agencies that are perhaps more likely to engage directly with, and to champion the causes of, marginalized social groups, and which perhaps also offer relatively close fits with the theories and perspectives that are held by some sociologists. In many universities—especially for sociologists and other academics holding privileged positions within “research-intensive”, low-teaching institutions—the pursuit of this research funding is a strategic necessity. Failure to do so serves mainly to marginalize further the discipline in terms of securing its requisite share of research funding, its relevance or influence with external organizations and publics, and its future within higher education; otherwise, university leaders will inevitably be required to ask: why invest in this discipline, and not in others that are willing to pursue funded research and external impact?

Our aim here has been to examine critically the academic and wider societal position of the sociology of sport, and to advance specific ways forward (or “new horizons”) for the subdiscipline. We have argued that social science, sociology, and the sociology of sport hold comparatively peripheral positions—which we have termed periphery 1,2,3 respectively—within academe and more broadly; indeed, much of the subdiscipline's marginality derives from its location within these wider academic milieux. In contrast, we also highlighted a range of strengths and advantages that sociology and the sociology of sport possess within academic and wider, non-academic fields. These two sections provided the critical context for our discussion of routes ahead for the sociology of sport, specifically in improving its positioning within academe, scaling up to produce large-scale research collaborations, embracing and building upon its glocal and cosmopolitan aspects, enhancing transnational coordination, advancing horizontal collaborations, and strengthening public engagement.

To conclude, we put forward three main points. First, our intention has been to advance an analysis that is critically realistic and plausibly aspirational with regard to the contemporary position and future possibilities of the sociology of sport, particularly within the academic context. In doing so, we have sought to exercise the type of critical reflexivity that is broadly advocated in much of sociology and the sociology of sport, and to refer this back onto the discipline and subdiscipline themselves. In our view, this type of concerted critical reflection is essential for the future development of any subdiscipline within sport studies, whether these might be located within the social or natural sciences. Hence, we would encourage scholars in diverse fields such as sport biomechanics, geography, history, management, medicine, nutrition, physiology, political science, and psychology also to reflect critically on their respective conditions, positions, and future possibilities, within academe and beyond. Many of the key themes that we highlight here—such as the relative positioning of the subdiscipline within academe, its transnational coordination, and public engagement—may be relevant and applicable to such critical assessments.

Second, our analysis is ultimately directed towards enhancing the sociology of sport, particularly within the academic realm. Sociology has a critical role to play in the full gamut of interdisciplinary research fields within and beyond sport. As we have argued, we do not work in the most auspicious circumstances: disciplines such as psychology and biology tend to have greater prominence, and at times to display a degree of triumphalism, within many research fields. Yet, as the Covid-19 pandemic alone has demonstrated, there is an essential need to look beyond the biological and the psychological, and to examine the sociological dimensions of any research issue. 8 At the same time, a critical task for sociologists within sport and other fields is to adapt and to reposition the discipline, in the ways that we have outlined, to secure its necessary centrality within the academy and beyond.

Third, in this context, we would also like to emphasize once again that even the most advanced empirical methodology for capturing psychological, biological, and social patterns of human coexistence is no substitute for theory-led, critical sociological reflection. Big data research provides a current example for the irreplaceability of critical sociological reflections where they are increasingly being considered as unnecessary. The number of researchers who are convinced that collecting tons of behavioural or communicational data from millions of people automatically leads to “the truth” is continuously rising. Using big data research techniques to analyse patterns of social interactions, collective behavioural patterns, or consumer trends, certainly means progress for certain types of studies in social science studies, considering the chaos of societal communication. However, this does not mean that critical thinking, and particularly a critical theory-driven sociological analysis, has become useless. On the one hand, pure big data approaches have the disadvantage that “no matter their “depth” and the sophistication of data-driven methods (…) in the end they merely fit curves to existing data” ( 41 ). To give one example ( 42 ): even if it is possible to collect billions of data about sentiments of football fans' tweets, the findings regarding collective emotionality in football still remain superficial if the tweets cannot be contextualized against the background of discursive strategies on Twitter, emotional contagion in larger groups, the typical “language” of fans in this sport (or in other words, theoretical sociological reflections on the dynamics of collective emotions in sports), as well as the large-scale, social structural processes (such as globalization, commodification, securitization, mediatization, and postmodernization) that have reshaped elite-level global football over the past few decades ( 43 ). On the other hand, to avoid an uncritical approach to the results of big data surveys, it is necessary to figure out “the sociotechnical processes involved along the “data building chain”” ( 44 ). Data does not just appear out of thin air. They build on previous research, but they are also influenced by existing actor constellations in the relevant research field, by power relations in scientific circles, and, last but not least, by scientific trends. Research, including big data research, is therefore always characterized by a pre-selection of questions, variables and study populations, which in turn depend on the social context in which they are “created”.

Sociological thinking, it can be said, is therefore not replaceable, either in science in general or in sports science in particular. On the contrary: in a world in which it is possible to manipulate publics via social networks, in which political pressure can influence the selection of research questions that are publicly considered relevant, and in which complexity is a central characteristic of every world problem, critical sociological thinking is even more important than ever.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the editor and the two reviewers for their very constructive and insightful comments on the initial version of this paper.

1 Triplett ( 2 ) – likely less familiar to sociologists – wrote what is widely considered to be the first study in sport psychology.

2 Interview for Women’s Own magazine, published 1 October 1987.

3 In the UK, many sociology departments have established criminology programmes. One of us recommended and planned out a full criminology undergraduate programme in the mid-2000s for a sociology section at a university in Scotland, but this failed to gain the support of the section head. 15 years later, a criminology undergraduate programme was established by that same sociology section.

4 We have in mind here the communal atmosphere at the joint European Association for Sociology of Sport (EASS) and International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA) conference at the University of Tübingen in June 2022.

5 See for example Collison et al. ( 35 ).

6 On glocalization as a theory and social process, see Robertson ( 37 ).

7 These refer to European Association for Sociology of Sport (EASS), International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA), North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), and Société de Sociologie du Sport de Langue Française (3SLF).

8 See for example the arguments of Connell ( 40 ) on the role of sociology with respect to Covid-19.

Author contributions

The two authors made relatively equal contributions to the paper. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Times of San Diego

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

Former SDSU President Stephen Weber, Who Championed Research and Athletics, Dead at 82

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Dr. Stephen L. Weber , former president San Diego State University from 1996 through 2011, has died, SDSU President Adela de la Torre said Monday.

According to de la Torre’s office, Weber — who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in October 2021 — died Sunday at his home in New Jersey, on his 82nd birthday.

“This is a devastating loss, as Weber was beloved and highly regarded by many at SDSU, in our local community and across the country,” de la Torre said in a statement.

“Our community has been incredibly fortunate to continue to enjoy the wisdom and contributions of Weber who, as president emeritus, remained a dedicated advocate for SDSU and the success of our faculty, staff and students. I send my deepest condolences to the Weber family and to all those who knew him.”

Weber “shared that his legacy and his most esteemed moments of professional pride were tied to the success of SDSU,” de la Torre said. “Weber held a profound love for SDSU, investing himself wholly in its well-being and sustainability. For that and many other reasons, he leaves a permanent mark on the university and those he served.”

Weber positioned SDSU for greater educational access and economic development, “which he regularly said were two significant drivers of a thriving society,” according to SDSU officials. “Throughout his 15-year tenure, the university saw historic increases in student success — including improved academic rankings and rising graduation rates that outpaced many others in the nation.”

To garner community support, Weber launched The Campaign for SDSU, which raised $800 million, according to the university.

Other achievements from Weber’s tenure were the university’s six-year graduation rate rising to 66% and expanding local partnerships that attracted local students to SDSU, contributing to diversified student enrollments, the university said.

Under his tenure, SDSU faculty and staff secured over $1.1 billion in external research and development funding, as well as the addition of new buildings, including the Arts and Letters Building, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center and what is now the Donald P. Shiley Bioscience Center, according to the university.

Weber’s impact also applied to student athletics, resulting in a competitive sports program, according to de la Torre. In the 2010-11 season, the Aztecs football team competed in a bowl game for the first time since 1998; the men’s basketball team broke into the AP top 25, followed by the top four later; and the women’s basketball team won Mountain West championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

According to de la Torre, after establishing the President Stephen Weber Fund for Excellence — to  ensure faculty support in the College of Arts and Letters — Weber said he looked back “with a great deal of pride and satisfaction” during his time at San Diego State.

“I had great colleagues,” Weber said. “They had real ambitions for the university, for their students and for the larger community.

“I am so proud of San Diego State and what it has done,” Weber said. “It’s important that healthy organizations continue to evolve and move forward. I see San Diego State as a vital, living institution that is reinventing itself regularly, sometimes in ways I could not have imagined, but always in ways I respect and applaud.”

Industries Overview

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Esports provide marketers with a vast and engaged audience, the ability to target specific demographics, interactive engagement opportunities, extensive brand exposure through sponsorships and content, influencer collaborations for direct fanbase access, valuable data insights, a platform for innovation showcase, and a global reach unbound by geography. By fostering partnerships, embracing evolving trends, and respecting the community’s values, marketers can effectively leverage the esports landscape to enhance brand visibility, engagement, and long-term success.

What are esports?

Short for electronic sports, esports are a subset of gaming video content and are defined by EMARKETER as organized gaming competitions among professional players and teams.

Like traditional sports, many esports tend to feature the same structure, such as having leagues, teams, and players. ​​Esports has hit this stratosphere in large part because of the social component of livestreaming and gaming. Its inclusivity of gaming, media, pop culture, and ecommerce shines a light on opportunities beyond gaming events alone.

Benefits of esports for marketers

Just like traditional professional sports, esports teams have owners, franchises, endorsement deals, cash prizes from tournament winnings, and more—all contributing to their annual revenues and total valuation. 

When looking at esports from a marketing perspective, it’s often pictured as amateur video game players who also stream on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Some marketers approach these different facets of the gaming industry in tandem, as there is a good deal of overlap between the players and platforms. 

This means that marketers who offer esports advertising can benefit from advertising and sponsorship revenues from organized esports competitions hosted on digital platforms.

Esports don’t come with the same tech hurdles for brands that advertising in the metaverse does, and it can still be the right channel for specific advertisers.

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Types of esports marketing

• Advertising: Rewarded, banner, and in-game ads are a few examples of how advertising is used during esports gaming.
• Sponsorship: Brands like Honda, Totino’s, and Puma have sponsored esports teams, while the gaming hardware company HyperX holds the naming rights to an esports arena in Las Vegas.
• Gamer influencer collaborations: Marketers often collaborate with popular gaming influencers to establish their brand presence. For instance, Chipotle initially provided influential streamers with “celebrity cards,” unlimited gift cards for brand promotion. In2018, Chipotle sponsored Team SoloMid, a leading esports organization.
• In-stream video ads: Most esports tournaments are streamed live on digital platforms. The biggest players in this space are Twitch and YouTube. Marketers approaching the gaming space will often advertise on professional esports as well as amateur gaming streams. These platforms have licensing deals with leagues and players, often vying for exclusive rights over the most popular content. 
• Partnerships: For brands that want to dive deeper into esports, publishers and streaming platforms offer different ways to reach multiple touchpoints that tie to more standard esports sponsorships. Outside of selling advertising during an esports broadcast, video game developer Riot Games also works with brands to create custom content that’s branded with the intellectual property of the relevant game. 

What marketers needs to know about esports 

Marketers should understand that the esports industry is rapidly expanding, with a passionate and tech-savvy audience that offers immense engagement potential. Building authentic relationships with the esports community through branded content, partnerships with influencers and teams, and in-game integrations can foster meaningful connections. 

How large is the esports market?

In 2023, 31.6 million esports viewers will be accounted for, according to EMARKETER’s forecast. Esports ad revenues are expected to grow 10.0% to $264.3 million in 2023. However, esports are less of a priority for advertisers who are hesitant about spending in a niche area.

What are marketing and advertising trends in esports?

• Although esports are creating more opportunities for sponsorships and advertising, most esports marketers believe that digital video advertising and influencer collaborations are the most alluring aspects.
• The esports industry is also closely tied to the creator economy, according to EMARKETER senior analyst Blake Droesch. “Most advertisers assumed that because streamers were getting massive views, it would eventually trickle into organized esports,” Droesch said. “That, in turn, would help build fandom around esports leagues.”
• Many marketers have been focused on creating branded content within popular esports titles, including in-game skins, items, and other virtual assets that players could use to customize their in-game experience. Brands have also recognized the value of integrating their products or logos within the gaming environment, creating a seamless connection between the brand and the game.

Esports viewership and streaming platforms

Esports viewers are internet users of any age who watch organized gaming competitions among professional players and teams hosted on digital video platforms at least once per month. Livestreaming is where video and gaming overlap : In 2023, 31.6 million people in the US will watch esports at least once per month, per EMARKETER’s forecast. Twitch, used to watch non-esports gaming content as well as non-gaming content, will boast 35.3 million users in 2023. And 62.2 million people will watch some kind of gaming video content, which includes non-live video as well.

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Thu, Mar 21, 2024 page2

Nycu, uk research center team up to address aging.

• Staff writer, with CNA

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) to address issues raised by societal aging using methods such as big data analysis.

NYCU president Lin Chi-hung (林奇宏) and NICA deputy director Lynne Corner signed the memorandum at a news conference in Taipei, making the university the center’s first partner in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s focus on health and its technological advantages are conducive to making it a global model for an aging society, said Corner, who is also the director of VOICE, an organization established by NICA to improve geriatric research by collecting knowledge and ideas from around the world.

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University president Lin Chi-hung, left, and Lynne Corner, deputy director of the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing, sign a memorandum of understanding in Taipei on Tuesday.

The focus of work on aging populations should be shifted from care to “prevention,” and to designing services tailored to industry needs based on user experiences, she said.

Lin said that aging is not solely a health issue, but also affects economics, society, public health and even national security.

Just like the UK, Taiwan is at a critical point regarding its aging population, and collaboration has highlighted Taiwan’s role as an international player in fostering a vibrant and long-lived world, he said.

“Transforming academic proposals into policies is another major challenge.” Lin said.

As one-quarter of the administrative regions in Taiwan are categorized as super-aged — where more than 20 percent of the population is aged 65 or older — an elder care service supply chain needs to be established to meet society’s needs, said Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津), a senior adviser to the president.

Shen said he hoped that NYCU would leverage Taiwan’s advantage in the field of digital technology to promote research outcomes globally.

British Office Taipei Economic Director Jessica Henry said that with NYCU’s 20 years of experiences in geriatric research, she hoped cooperation between the two parties would be smooth.

She also promised continued assistance from the office.

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SILENT MAJORITY: Only 1 percent of Chinese rejected all options but war to annex Taiwan, while one-third viewed war as unacceptable, a university study showed Many Chinese are more concerned with developments inside their country than with seeking unification with Taiwan, al-Jazeera reported on Friday. Although China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary, 23-year-old Chinese Shao Hongtian was quoted by al-Jazeera as saying that “hostilities are not the way to bring China and Taiwan together.” “I want unification to happen peacefully,” Shao said. Al-Jazeera said it changed Shao’s name to respect his wish for anonymity. If peaceful unification is not possible, Shao said he would prefer “things to remain as they are,” adding that many of his friends feel

Taiwanese man seeks help to return from Seoul

A Taiwanese man has sought help from local media to return home, saying he has been stuck in South Korea for more than two months after he received a travel ban for allegedly taking photos of a South Korean woman without her consent. He accused Taiwanese officials of not providing legal assistance. The man, 24, who preferred to be known as “Yoyo” (柚柚), wrote a letter to Taiwanese media and said that he booked a self-help trip to South Korea, arriving on Dec. 21 last year. He later went to Seoul’s Hongdae commercial district and took random street scene photographs, he

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Three accused of recruiting officers on behalf of China

A retired army colonel surnamed Liu (劉), a retired rear-admiral surnamed Sun (孫) and a man surnamed Chu (祝) were indicted on Thursday for allegedly developing an organization in support of China in contravention of the National Security Act (國家安全法). As Sun and Chu are considered a flight risk, the High Court’s Kaohsiung branch has authorized prosecutors to detain them for three months, the Kaohsiung High Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement, adding that a trial is ongoing. The trio were allegedly recruited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and used their personal connections to find retired high-level military officers to visit

Audrey Tang participates in Summit for Democracy

CHINA ANGERED: Video footage of the digital affairs minister was also screened in 2021 at the conference, which is one of US President Joe Biden’s initiatives Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang (唐鳳) yesterday delivered an unannounced video message at a US-backed democracy summit in Seoul. Tang told the third Summit for Democracy that Taiwan has suffered disproportionately from concerted cyberattacks and that the nation was willing and able to work with all stakeholders to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) develops safely and sustainably. Taiwan is a key global supplier of the semiconductor chips critical for such technology applications. The conference being hosted by South Korea is an initiative of US President Joe Biden aimed at finding ways to stop democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms. China said

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DARPA picks Northrop Grumman to develop 'lunar raiload' concept

Railroads could open the moon to serious and sustained economic development, as they did in the American West in the late 19th century.

That's apparently the hope of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ), which is supporting the development of a "lunar railroad" concept proposed by aerospace giant Northrop Grumman.

"The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface, contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners," Northrop Grumman representatives wrote in a press statement on Tuesday (March 19).

Related: DARPA wants to build a 'thriving commercial economy' on the moon in 10 years

Northrop Grumman was one of 14 companies that DARPA selected this past December to participate in its 10-Year Lunar Architecture ( LunA-10 ) Capability Study, which aims to help humanity extend its economic footprint into deep space.

"A large paradigm shift is coming in the next 10 years for the lunar economy," Michael Nayak, program manager in DARPA's Strategic Technology Office, said in a statement last August , when the agency announced the LunA-10 project.

"To get to a turning point faster, LunA-10 uniquely aims to identify solutions that can enable multi-mission lunar systems — imagine a wireless power station that can also provide comms and navigation in its beam," Nayak said. Such work, he added, will accelerate "key technologies that may be used by government and the commercial space industry, and ultimately to catalyze economic vibrancy on the moon ."

While DARPA's December press statement revealed the 14 selected companies — which also include big names like SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin — it did not describe the work that they will do.

Northop Grumman gave a brief outline of the lunar railroad investigation in its statement on Tuesday. The company's LunA-10 study will do the following (in Northrop Grumman's words):

Define the interfaces and resources required to build a lunar rail network.

Establish a critical list of foreseeable cost, technological and logistical risks.

Identify prototypes, demonstrations and analyses of a fully operating lunar rail system’s concept design and architecture.

Explore concepts for constructing and operating the system with robotics, including grading and foundation preparation, track placement and alignment, joining and finishing, inspection, maintenance and repair.

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—  Can NASA's Artemis moon missions count on using lunar water ice?

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Northrop Grumman's Tuesday statement did not provide funding details. DARPA gives a ballpark number in its August 2023 announcement, stating that selected studies "will receive an Other Transaction award not to exceed $1,000,000."

The selected LunA-10 companies will share their work at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Spring Meeting next month and write up final reports that will be released in June, according to DARPA.

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