Undergraduate at Loughborough University, Aspiring Professional in the Sport and Exercise Industry
A very impromptu post but something I noticed while watching pre-match coverage of Scotland vs. Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series. When showing live feed of both teams’ changing rooms, it was obvious that Scotland as the home side have much better facilities. The home changing room was very large and spacious with plenty of room in the centre. Then, when the coverage switched to pictures of the away changing room (pictured below), it is clear that it has been designed so that there is minimal space everywhere, including a structure in the middle so Fiji are unable to get into a huddle. This is, of course, a psychological tactic that was used to benefit the home side. Obstacles have been deliberately placed in an effort to disrupt the away team’s focus and concentration as much as possible. While ‘home field advantage’ is typically attributed to a familiar routine and home crowd, other examples like the difference in facilities, no doubt, also contribute. There are also plenty of other examples of practical things teams do in order to make playing at home more advantageous. One that comes to mind is the Miami Dolphins having the away sideline being in direct sunlight resulting in up to 15°C difference between the home and away sideline. Are there any other examples of teams attempting to create home field advantage? Let me know in the comments.
Ben Greenwood
2mo
Well said Isaac 👏
Tuba playing, music loving, rugby union fan!
1moI understand that the 'structure' in the middle of the away changing room at Murrayfield has no structural function whatsoever!