A comparative analysis of the home advantage in handball and rugby as contact sports

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the home advantage effect in Spanish handball and rugby, as contact sports where physical contact and aggressiveness is present in the game. The research objectives were: 1) To study home advantage in professional Spanish handball and rugby leagues; 2) To compare the results obtained between the two leagues, to know whether there are differences between them; 3) To study whether team ability influence home advantage, and if so, whether there are differences between best and worst teams. Nine seasons in both leagues were examined, from 2002-03 to 2010-11. Home advantage values were higher than 50% in both leagues, with significantly higher values in the rugby league (65.12% compared to 59.65%). The greater importance of physical contact and aggressiveness in the game actions in rugby can be a factor to be considered in the higher home advantage values found in the rugby league. The results showed the influence of team ability in home advantage in the two leagues, with no differences between the teams. Keywords: home advantage, contact sports, team sports, handball, rugby.

Keywords

• ventaja de jugar en casa
• factor cancha
• deportes de colaboración-oposición
• balonmano
• rugby