The development of sport in Donegal, a peripheral Irish county which was rather isolated from the more centralised areas of the British sporting 'revolution', has attracted only limited academic attention. This thesis will examine the origins and development of the GAA in Donegal between 1884 and 1934. The state of Donegal society in the late nineteeth century will be assessed and the factors which benefited, and hindered, the growth of codified sports there will be discussed. The reasons why the GAA failed to become established until the 1920s will be investigated and a comparison with provincial and national trends will be offered. The growth of clubs will be chartered through an assessment of the areas in which Gaelic games were played. The rivalry between organisers of Gaelic football and soccer will be addressed and the impact of the press on this will also be explored. The reasons for the failure of hurling within the county will also be outlined. How the GAA became integrated into Donegal society will be examined through an investigation of the role of the players, administrators and patrons in the Association and the Donegal GAA's involvement in Ireland's fight for independence will be discussed. This thesis will make a valuable contribution to the historiography of the British sporting 'revolution' while adding to the increasing range of academic writing on the development of sport in regional Irish areas.

This thesis examines the desire for inclusion in association football amongst minority ethnic communities in England. The thesis is based on two case studies informed by semi-structured qualitative interviews. These case studies focus on two minority ethnic groups, the Asian community in Bury and the black community in the City of Liverpool, and the relationship of these respective communities with local professional football clubs (specifically Bury FC and Everton FC). The thesis notes that despite, by most objective measures, football grounds being less dangerous places to visit nowadays, members of minority ethnic groups continue to reject live spectatorship. Such rejection exists despite evidence of engagement in football amongst the male members of these minority ethnic groups. Asian respondents expressed little civic pride in Bury or interest in Bury FC, and thus their rejection of spectatorship opportunities was unconscious. Data from black respondents identified widespread sense of belonging and identification with the City of Liverpool, but conscious rejection of spectatorship at Everton FC. Despite recognition of the clubs anti-racist work black respondents argued that the idea persists that Everton are institutionally racist with racist fans. While such a perception had also previously been ascribed to Liverpool FC (Everton s near neighbours), such perceptions had changed quicker at Liverpool FC, who appear more effective at attracting minority ethnic spectators. A number of factors emerged that contribute to the continued rejection of spectatorship amongst British minority ethnic groups at professional football clubs. One of these is the perception that football clubs are unwelcoming places and white spaces . Fear of racism and fear of violence were also often cited although these were found not to be absolute in nature for either minority ethnic group. Indeed, evidence from both groups found that they are developing their own we image rather than internalising their own group disgrace , though it is also argued that Elias and Scotson s notion of two groups, the established (white s) and the outsiders (blacks), is too simplistic and a more fluid conceptualisation is called for. Overall, the data illustrated that the identities of members of minority ethnic groups are complex, multifunctional, context specific and fragmented and thus so are their relationships with football.

Tesis para optar al grado de Magister en Marketing / En un contexto de audiencias cada vez más fragmentadas y autónomas, los medios de comunicación y avisadores enfrentan el desafío de encontrar nuevas estrategias para alcanzar audiencias masivas. Una de las pocas instancias que aún permite atraer un público numeroso es la de los mega‐eventos deportivos, tales como las Copas del Mundo FIFA, los Juegos Olímpicos o la Copa América. La posibilidad que abren estos espectáculos deportivos, impulsa a los canales de televisión y avisadores a pagar grandes sumas de dinero por ser parte de estas competencias.  Dada la magnitud de la inversión que realizan medios y marcas, comprender y conocer la conducta de las audiencias en estos eventos es fundamental para maximizar el beneficio económico de ambos actores. La presente investigación analiza, a través de un modelo de regresión lineal, los factores que determinan el tamaño de la audiencia televisiva de los mega‐eventos deportivos en Chile utilizando como caso de estudio las últimas cuatro ediciones de la Copa del Mundo FIFA. El principal resultado de la investigación es proporcionar evidencia de que la presencia o ausencia de la selección nacional en estos torneos configura dos escenarios distintos en términos de la significancia que muestran las variables que inciden en el tamaño de la audiencia.

Yes / Motivated by excessive managerial pressure and sackings, together with associated questions over the inefficient use of scarce resources, we explore realistic performance expectations in association football. Our aim is to improve management quality by accounting for information asymmetry. Results highlight uncertainty caused both by football’s low-scoring nature and the intensity of the competition. At a deeper level we show that fans and journalists are prone to under-estimate uncertainties associated with individual matches. Further, we quantify reasonable expectations in the face of unevenly distributed resources. In line with the statactivist approach we call for more rounded assessments to be made once the underlying uncertainties are adequately accounted for. Managing fan expectations is probably impossible though the potential for constructive dialogue remains.

Memoria (licenciado en ciencias jurídicas y sociales) / En Chile, recién hoy empezamos a ver cierta especialización del derecho hacia realidades deportivas, mediante la publicación de leyes especiales en los últimos años como el “Estatuto del Futbolista” (Ley N° 20.178), que reconoce los contratos de los deportistas profesionales como un tipo de contrato especial, que debe ser tratado de manera separada y la ley de sociedades anónimas deportivas (Ley 20.019) , una ley creada especialmente para permitir la profesionalización de los dirigentes del fútbol nacional y el ingreso de capitalistas a estas entidades, todo bajo el supuesto de que con un escenario manejado bajo reglas de mercado y con intervención de los organismos reguladores correspondientes se lograría mejorar las estructuras del fútbol nacional. Las dos leyes anteriormente citadas, son las únicas en Chile que tienen como denominadores comunes estar referidas al deporte y regular relaciones entre privados. Las demás leyes relativas al deporte tienen como principales objetivos regular las relaciones del Estado con el deporte, como entidad promotora de las prácticas deportivas en nuestro país. Pero además, hay un denominador común aún más interesante para estas dos leyes, que es el fútbol. A pesar de que ambas leyes no se refieran específicamente a él, fueron creadas a partir de las necesidades que este deporte, como industria, mostraba. Ambas incluso fueron negociadas y conversadas en su momento con los dirigentes de la Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. Lo anterior encuentra una justificación que es evidente; hoy por hoy el fútbol es el único deporte realmente profesional que se practica en Chile. El fútbol además, es el deporte más popular, en Chile y en el mundo, lo que ha llevado a que en países más avanzados en la materia, haya hoy doctrina que habla del “derecho futbolístico”, mientras que en nuestro país aún ni siquiera se valida al derecho deportivo como rama del derecho.

The growth and development of sport in Co. Tipperary, 1840 to 1880, was promoted and supported by the landed elite and military officer classes. In the instances of cricket, rugby union and association football, the military were the principle agency through which these sports were disseminated among the people of Tipperary. Sporting trends which were fashionable in Great Britain also became evident in Ireland, and by extension, Tipperary. The thesis demonstrates the emergence of these sports at a micro-level in Tipperary and the qualitative research is indicative of the trends by which they became apparent. The degree to which horse racing and hunting to hounds became an integral aspect of the social lives of the elite class is reflected countywide. The associational culture among this class became evident in summer time recreations most notably archery, lawn tennis and cricket. Cricket was the one sport which was quickly diffused throughout the sporting community of Tipperary as it became, in the 1870s, the most prolific team sport in the county and played by all classes. Sport took place without borders and to this end patronage was a key element of this support. There were some notable supporters who gave of their time and money to ensure that the best resources were in place to bring this about. In this respect the 3rd Marquis of Waterford was a leading figure. The thesis clearly shows that sporting diversions continued through the traumatic famine period. As everyday life continued, so too did recreational sport. Hurling remained a part of Tipperary life and the research identifies new sources to demonstrate this. The growth and evolution of sport in Co. Tipperary, 1840-1880, is put into context with comparable studies in Ireland and Great Britain as the Victorian penchant for sport manifested itself in this part of rural Ireland.

呈現足球的公共形象在19世紀中晚期英格蘭地區的演進，以及此形象的演進如何促成現代足球(特別是協會足球)成形與流行，就是本論文的主要目的。 　　目前學界對於現代足球起源與成形有兩種主要看法：出身社會中上層的公學、大學師生，在19世紀中葉透過制定成文規則，「馴化」並保存此前社會上原有的民俗足球，最後促成統一足球規則的努力──此為其一；修正派學者則認為，早在公學、大學師生投入前，19世紀中葉以前的英格蘭社會中早已存在有組織、有規則的足球，而早期學者過分誇大了社會中上層對於現代足球帶來的影響。然而，現有史料尚不足以證明上述足球活動實際如何進行、組織，也無法顯示各種以「足球」為名的運動間是否有因果關係。 　　人們呈現過去的方式，足以暗示了他們希望別人，甚至是自己應該如何看待目前的現實。足球的規則，以及人們希望足球所能承載的價值、作用，都會隨著時間改變。除了用規則的出現與演變來追溯現代足球的起源，由制定規則的群體來判斷現代足球受到哪一階級影響較深以外，從時人對於足球的「印象」、「觀感」，也就是他們所相信的東西著手，或許更能推演出「現代足球」的「概念」源起於何時。 　　《英格蘭19世紀中晚期足球形象的演進》即以此為目標，利用19世紀《倫敦時報》的讀者投書，以及其他運動報紙和嚴肅期刊文章，試圖重建足球在19世紀中晚期英格蘭輿論中的公共形象，繼而回應、調和學界已有的兩種不同觀點。第一章〈斷裂或延續：現代足球起源問題〉呈現公學觀點與修正派學者的主張與其優劣擅場，並提出以足球的當代「形象」做為解決起源問題的可能方式。第二章〈公學地位競爭與足球議題上升的能見度(1858-63)〉直接回到上述學術論爭所指向的關鍵時代，透過當時媒體上有關「統一足球規則」的爭論來證明當時公學、大學師生與社會中上層人士對提高現代足球運動地位的影響。第三章〈從惡名昭彰到男子氣概：19世紀末輿論中足球形象的演進〉，則綜觀整個19世紀，在長時段中呈現足球形象在英格蘭輿論中的轉折，進一步突顯現代足球概念成形的時間。 　　透過足球形象的轉變與形塑，以及時人對於足球發展歷程的看法，我們得以了解19世紀中晚期的英格蘭人為何投身一種新興的運動，從而接近他們所追求的價值，並希望別人如何看待他們的所作所為。 關鍵詞：現代足球　協會足球　《倫敦時報》讀者投書

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Sport Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) initiated a national Club Development Programme (CDP) in 2006. Its aim is to increase sport participation, physical activity, talent identification and fast-track the development of community clubs in South Africa. The CDP has numerous sporting codes: football, netball, cricket, athletics, rugby and aquatics. Football is the main focus for this study because the majority of clubs in the CDP are football associated. There is a perception amongst football clubs that some clubs receive more attention and support in terms of development as compared to others in the CDP. Therefore, the aim of the research is to identify key factors that affect the delivery of the CDP within selected football community clubs in the Cape Metropole. In total, nineteen CDP community football clubs were studied. In each club, key stakeholders such as the chairperson/president, secretary/administrator, captain/vice captain and volunteer/coach were targeted to receive questionnaires, totalling seventy six with fifty seven usable questionnaires returned. Fourteen face-to-face structured interviews were conducted with experienced and key CDP officials representing the three spheres of South African government. The respondents indicated that the CDP has not exceeded their expectations, mainly because of the following: community clubs are still waiting for equipment; a lack of experts to identify talent; lack of motivation from the CDP officials; lack of competency of the CDP officials in terms of their capacity to liaise with stakeholders and develop mechanisms to review the programmes’ impact. CDP appears to be largely ineffective within communities due to a lack of communication, qualified and competent personnel, talent identification, motivation from the CDP coordinators, education and training as well a review mechanism system. Therefore, it is critical for CDP management to ensure that communication systems improve; qualified and suitable personnel are recruited to assist with the programmes’ implementation; talent identification programme is developed; there should be incentive programmes and ongoing sustainable activities throughout the year, as well as structured social leagues in communities where people live; all CDP coordinators need to undergo training to improve their implementation skills; the review mechanism system needs to be developed and effectively implemented within the communities; and the mechanism system should be periodically monitored and evaluated to objectively assess the impact of the programme within communities.

Sports analytics is an area that is growing at a rapid rate. It can be described as the use of data and analytics to gain an advantage in sports. It can include scouting, recovery, tactics and so on. This thesis uses data about association football passes to analyse players passing attributes. The dataset that has been used is acquired from the company Football Analytics Sweden AB and is produced by a subcontractor. The dataset includes event data for all games played in the Swedish division 1 during the 2020 season. In total there are 48 different types of events, but only the category passes accurate are analysed. Accurate passes are represented by x and y coordinates for the start and end point of the pass. The thesis's intention is the study how passes can be categorized in order to differentiate different players passing attributes, and how to identify types of players in regard to passing from that categorization. The categorization has been made possible by dividing the football pitch into different zones. The zones have been chosen on sports science and football grounds. Every pass is assigned a category based on which zone the pass starts in and what zone the pass ends up in. The proportion of passes a player hits for every category is then calculated and is used to perform factor analysis. The factor analysis identifies 13 underlying factors that can describe players different passing attributes. These factors have been interpreted and given names. The factors describe both general attributes as well as more specific attributes. Factor scores are then used to compare and identify which or what type of passing player a particular player is. / Sports analytics är ett begrepp som används mer och mer. I allmänhet kan det beskrivas som användningen av data och dataanalys för att få en fördel inom sport. Det kan vara allt från scouting (rekrytering av spelare), återhämtning och taktik. Den här studien använder information om fotbollspassningar för att undersöka fotbollsspelares passningsegenskaper. Datamaterialet som använts är erhållet från företaget Football Analytics Sweden AB och är framtaget av en underleverantör. Datamaterialet innehåller händelsedata för alla matcher som spelades i division 1 under säsongen 2020. Totalt finns det 48 olika typer av händelser, men endast händelsen lyckade passningar tas i beaktande. Lyckade passningar representeras av x och y koordinater för start- och slutpunkten för passningen. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur passningar kan kategoriseras för att göra det möjligt att differentiera olika spelares passningsförmågor och hur man kan identifiera typ av passningsspelare utifrån kategoriseringen. Kategorisering av passningar utfördes med hjälp av en zonuppdelning av fotbollsplanen. Zonuppdelning är grundad på sportvetenskapliga och fotbollsmässiga grunder.  Varje passning tilldelas en kategori beroende på vilken zon passningen startar och slutar i. Andelen av passningar en spelare slår inom varje kategori beräknas, för att sedan användas i en faktoranalys. Faktoranalysen identifierar bakomliggande faktorer som påverkar en spelares andelar av passningar inom varje kategori. Totalt identifierades 13 bakomliggande faktorer och dessa kan beskriva en spelares passningsegenskaper. Dessa faktorer har verklighetstolkas och namngetts. Faktorerna beskriver både allmänna egenskaper och mer specifika egenskaper.  Faktorpoäng som beräknats från dem bakomliggande faktorerna används sedan för att jämföra och identifiera vilka eller vilken typ av passningsspelare en spelare är.