ICPS

2021 APS Virtual Convention · 2021

First Game Outcome Predicts Season Performance across Multiple Professional Sports

Virtual · May 2021

Posters · Cognitive Psychology

  • Brian McGuire
    Niagara University
  • Anna McNab
    Niagara University
  • Patrick Tutka
    Niagara University
  • Milen Radell
    Niagara University

Abstract

In multiple professional sports, teams that won their first game of the season had significantly higher season performance compared to teams that lost their first game, even after accounting for past season performance. The strongest effect was found for sports with fewer games per season.

Motivation