Keywords
football
handball
hockey
rugby
volleyball
water polo
How to Cite
Abstract
Home advantage is a well-established phenomenon in sports, referring to the superior performance of teams playing at home compared to those playing away. Although this effect has been documented across numerous sports, time periods, and countries, few studies have examined multiple disciplines and both sexes simultaneously within a single national context. The present study aimed to analyse home advantage across men’s and women’s team sports in Poland over the last decade and to compare its magnitude before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 11 men’s and 7 women’s top-tier team sports leagues in Poland. Home advantage was quantified using Pollard’s method, expressed as the percentage of points earned by home teams out of all possible points. Significant home advantage was observed in most sports for both men and women, with higher home advantage observed in most men’s competitions. These findings align with previous research. Substantial differences between the two time periods were observed in certain sports for both sexes. In addition to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent changes in sports rules and modifications to league structures may have influenced changes over time in home advantage across various sports in both men’s and women’s Polish leagues.
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