Sideline Slants

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JOE KLEINSASSER
Research has made a significant impact on our lives. Many modern day comforts would not exist if not for the tireless efforts of researchers.

Research is responsible for cars and airplanes. It has helped cure many illnesses. It has enabled us to have whiter teeth.

But research doesn’t exist solely in the realms of medicine and technology. There are many helpful research projects still needed involving the sociological aspects of society.

To that end, I’d like to suggest a few research projects for some enterprising graduate student. As a sports columnist, I’ve got plenty of theories, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some scientific research to back it up.

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Are more technical fouls called during the basketball season when there’s a full moon? Recently, a coach was ejected during a game in Hillsboro. On that same night in another city, I gave a technical foul to a coach-my first one this season. It was the night before a full moon.

Coincidence? I think not.

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Why aren’t more women officiating high school basketball in Kansas?

In three of the leagues I work – Wichita City League, Ark Valley League and Chisholm Trail League, only a handful of women officiate. College has more women officials than high school does. Is that because competent female officials are quickly moved up to the next level?

Girls’ basketball in Kansas has been around for several decades. Why aren’t more young women taking up officiating? Is it because they are smarter than the guys?

On the other hand, many women have entered the coaching profession, so they can’t be that much smarter.

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Do officials contribute to what’s termed a “home-court advantage?”

A little research has already been done on this topic, although it’s not comprehensive.

One study suggests that home-field advantage might include help from the officials.

A researcher from the University of Wolverhampton in England published a study that says soccer teams in England’s Premier League win more at home because referees cave in to the crowd.

Researcher Alan Nevill divided referees who took part in the study into two groups. He showed them video of 47 tackles from a match. One group could hear crowd reactions. The other saw the video without sound. Neither group knew what calls were made by the officials at the game.

The study group of referees who heard the match’s sounds was more reluctant to penalize the home team, calling 15 percent fewer fouls by home players. The group hearing match sounds made calls more similar to those of the original game official.

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While not currently the subject of comparable research, here are some other questions to which inquiring minds want answers.

How much does an emotional, hard-fought basketball game affect the blood pressure of coaches, players, and spectators? Are fans that turn beet red when expressing their opinions more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who sit on their hands?

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Do coaches that regularly hold long and hard practices have better results than teams that practice less?

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Do coaches who use yelling as a major motivational tool have more success than coaches who are more reserved?

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Why do so many young people quit participating in sports as they grow older? Is it because they aren’t skilled enough to continue, or do sports cease to be fun?

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In this age of specialization, are kids enjoying sports more or less today because of all the camps and the focus on one or two sports?

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What are the major things athletes learn from participating in sports? What sticks with them 20 or more years after they finish their athletic career?

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P.S. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

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