Scheduled for Poster Session: Socio-, Cross-Cultural, and Motivational Concerns Impacting Sport and School Contexts, Thursday, April 10, 2008, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall, Reseach Consortium Poster Sessions


Home Advantage: Performance Effects in Female Collegiate Division I Gymnastics

Timothy M. Baghurst and Inza Fort, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance effects of competing at home or away in female collegiate division I gymnastics. Participants were teams (N=15) ranked in the top 25 nationally at the end of each regular season during the period of 2003 to 2007 with the exclusion of 2005. Data were collected from all regular season home and away meets during this period. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed home scores to be significantly higher than away scores. Additionally, with the introduction of the Judges' Assignor System (JAS) in 2005, team scores at home and away were compared before and after its introduction. Team scores were significantly higher at home prior to and following the introduction of JAS. However, scores were found to be significantly lower at both home and away with JAS. The results of this study suggest that teams perform significantly better at home than away. In addition, the findings suggest that JAS has significantly reduced gymnastics scores at home and away, yet have not significantly altered the effects of competing away from home. Findings are discussed in light of current research and application for coaches and officials is provided.
Keyword(s): coaching, college level issues, sport topics

Back to the 2008 AAHPERD National Convention and Exposition (April 8 - 12, 2008)