Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Socio-Psychological and Behavioral Factors of Home Court Advantage in Men’s Professional Basketball

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2025 18 (2)
Authors
Kolmakov, Vladimir I.; Chernyakova, Svetlana N.
Contact information
Kolmakov, Vladimir I. : Siberian Federal University Russian Federation, Krasnoyarsk; ; Chernyakova, Svetlana N. : Siberian Federal University Russian Federation, Krasnoyarsk
Keywords
basketball; home court advantage; pandemic; socio-psychological factors; behavioral factors
Abstract

Home-court advantage is a key phenomenon in men’s professional basketball and a topical issue for researchers. Following the global Covid‑2019 pandemic, which saw a unique “natural experiment” in basketball history of playing games either without spectators or with a limited number of spectators to maintain social distancing, it became possible to study in more detail the contribution of socio-psychological and behavioral factors to home-court advantage. The article presents a comparative analysis of statistical data from matches in the National Basketball Association and leading European leagues during the pandemic and pre‑pandemic seasons. Socio‑psychological (the influence of fans on players and referees) and behavioral factors (fatigue from long trips and disruption of circadian rhythms in away teams’ players) determined the level of home court advantage in European leagues and the NBA. During the pandemic, home-court advantage either was absent or decreased in games without spectators, compared to the pre-pandemic level. The impact of a particular socio-psychological or behavioral factor on home advantage varies depending on the geographical size of the country and the skill of the teams. The information presented in the article may be useful for players, coaches, and sports managers to apply in competitive activities

Pages
425–432
EDN
FLZNQP
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/154960

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