REVIEW OF THE INFLUENCE OF BIORHYTHM
ON PERFORMANCE OF SOCCER PLAYERS - PARTICIPANTS
OF THE 20TH WORLD SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
BRAZIL 2014Research workDrago Mari, B.Sc (Psychology) and
Journalism
Boris Mari, B.Sc.Business AdministrationVladimir Mari, Media
Analysis Experthttp://biorhythminsoccer.blogspot.com/SUMMARYIn
modern age, being successful in almost any activity business,
sports and even personal life decision making - dominantly depends
on the level of success in forecasting.
In the environment of dominant neoliberal limitlessness,
biorhythm becomes one of old-new possibilities of predicting
behaviour and success. Nowadays, every computer and/or smartphone
application worth mentioning enables a user to calculate more than
ten biorhythm indicators.
It is not surprising that biorhythm has intrigued coaches and
athletes alike.
The topic of this research is a review of biorhythm theory on a
specific sport sample the last FIFA World Cup in Brazil (2014). The
research plan focused on five segments, each with its own
hypothesis.
Research covered 55 matches each having a winning outcome (out
of which 78% of victories were achieved in regular time including
referee time, and 22% in the course of extended time and in the
course of the elimination rules valid for the final phase). There
have been calculations for 1,460 individual biorhythm sets.
Testing of statistical significance of differences in number of
plus, minus and C days of four primary and three secondary
biorhythm cycles conducted in pairs of soccer players and coaches
as selected by research plan - has confirmed all five initial
Null-hypothesis (Ho). Despite biorhythm theory related
controversies (which, as we believe, became more articulated with
results of our research), we find that biorhythm, to a certain
extent, can increase motivational capacities of athletes, in this
case, soccer players.Keywords: biorhythm, biorhythm cycles, plus
and minus phase, C- days, motivation of athletesAbbreviations and
terminology used in this research workBiorhythm abbreviations
A. PRIMARY BIORHYTHMS
PcPhysical cycle
EcEmotional cycle
IcIntellectual cycle
INTcIntuitive cycle
Plus (+)Sign for active, more favourable days of each cycle
Minus (-)Sign for passive, unfavourable days of each cycle
"C"-daysDays of each cycle when biorhythm shifts from active to
passivephase (and vice versa) the most unfavourable period
B. Secondary biorhythms
MsBBinomial combination of Physical and Intellectual cycle
(Pc+Ic)
PsBBinomial combination of Physical and Emotional cycle
(Pc+Ec)
WsBBinomial combination of Emotional and Intellectual cycle (Ec
+Ic)
Research terminology
HoNull-hypothesis
HAlternative hypothesis
pHoNull-subhypothesis
pHAlternative subhypothesis
X -scoreSingle Chi-square statistics, calculated value for
subhypothesis level (one biorhythm cycle)
X -scoreAggregate Chi-square statistics calculated value for
subhypothesis level (all four - or three - biorhythm cycles)
DfLevel of freedomintegral part of the procedure for
determination of X -score significance.
The base for Contingency table (table with statistically
analysed frequencies), and is calculated according to the formula =
(number of rows-1) x (number of columns-1) of this table
GVMarginal value for determination of significance of obtained
results
= 0.05Given value of significance with 5% probability of
error
PEmpirical (calculated) value which indicates (percentual) error
probability for making a decision regarding substantiation of
formulated hypotheses
NNumber of cases in a sample
INTRODUCTIONAmong all human aspirations, two of them have
accompanied human development for the longest period of time. The
first one is summarised in the message to man, coming from ancient
Greeks: Know thyself. The second powerful human aspiration is being
able to predict future events. Its genuine source is human
primordial fear of uncertainty as the main feature of each upcoming
unit of time, whether we speak about a second, an hour, a year, or
a century. In older periods of history, this uncertainty was mainly
related to weather conditions important for agriculture and hunting
but also, on a personal note, to fear of death. In the modern age,
however, being successful in almost any activity business,
politics, sports and even personal life decisions - dominantly
depends on the level of success in forecasting.Forecasting the
future is in the midst of constant battle between sceptical
scientific enthusiasts and self-confident quacks. While scientists
are looking for methodologically and statistically relevant proof,
those on the other side of the wall - classified as false prophets
- base their popularity on constant demand for their visions. The
problem is that this demand, starting from beginning of this
century, has been accelerated by enormous growth of available
applications designed for computers and mobile phones. Hence, today
even those who never cared for astrology, tarot, numerology, or
interpretation of dreams, can easily download applications for
supposed forecast of their behaviour and upcoming events by using
these techniques. It is only a matter of time when (the already
famous) Balkan prophetess using kitchen spoons for fortune telling
will appear on the internet and offer a mobile application for her
method. For that matter, it is not surprising to see the
resurrection of some earlier theories which, even at the time of
their greatest popularity, could not win over enough scientific
affirmation. However, with the absence of documented research
counter-arguments, they managed to get a new chance in the modern
times.
One of these reanimated ideas, and now available in applicable
form, is the Theory of Biorhythm.
I. HISTORY AND CONCEPT OF THE BIORHYTHM THEORY
I.1. It all began with the magic of numbersThe crossroad between
the 19th and 20th century was marked by a couple of intriguing
ideas brought about by three doctors from two European capitals
(Vienna and Berlin). One of these ideas, much more familiar but
also more often disputed, was introduced by Dr Sigmund Freud. The
idea in question is, of course, that of psychoanalysis. The other
idea that looked at specific periodicity of internal changes and
manifested behaviour of a person was named biorhythm (Very often
used in plural form: Biorhyhtms).Initial authorship for biorhythm
is shared between two eminent European intellectuals at the end of
nineteenth century: Dr Herman Swoboda, professor of psychology at
Vienna University and Dr Wilhelm Flies, a Berlin-based academician
who was a nose and throat specialist. Judging by more than 100
letters exchanged between Flies and Freud in the period from 1887
to 1902, the father of psychoanalysis was a very strong supporter
of Fliess biorhythm activities and at the same time was almost
failing to notice loud gossips in Vienna medical circles regarding
Swoboda's work. Their friendship was surely one of the reasons for
Freud preferring Flies, as well as the fact the father of
psychoanalysis was actually one of Flies's patients. (Freud
eventually died of one type of mouth cancer).
In this initial part of its history, biorhythm comprised of two
separate cycles distinguishable by rhythmical shifts of
physical/organic and psychological oscillations in the human body.
One of them was Physical (Pc) and the other Emotional (Ec). The
first lasts 23, and the latter 28 days. Some promoters have
assigned gender attributes to these cycles, so the physical cycle
was called masculine, while emotional was referred to as the
feminine cycle. Flies himself was obsessively practicing the magic
of numbers (especially multipliers of number 23!). He even believed
his biorhythm formula could determine the gender of a conceived
child.
At the beginning of last century, Swoboda published 4-5 books
about his version of biorhythm, one of those with an impressive 600
pages. Flies was not less productive, publishing 4-5 books, one
with 564 pages!
Despite such extensive literature, due to strong contempt from
the academic guild community, primarily in Vienna and Berlin, the
entire biorhythm concept was doomed to be forgotten (as was
psychoanalysis too).Biorhythm found itself again in the focus of
public interest immediately after World War I. An Austrian engineer
Alfred Teltscher (teaching professor in Innsbruck) noted the
existence of good and bad days for studying among his students. The
fact that this result matched with Platon's concept of cyclical
changes of favourable and unfavourable periods in human life, has
made it particularly attractive. Teltscher left no books written on
the topic, but nevertheless he did establish the third biorhythm
cycle. He named it intellectual (I) whose sinusoidal cycle lasts 33
calendar days.
And so, the psychologist (Swoboda), doctor (Flies) and an
engineer (Teltcher), independent of each other, completed the
unique biorhythm theory, yet it took just a little over half a
century for it to reach its golden age.
The story about biorhythm was revived in the USA after World War
II. This idea was strongly spurred up in the mid seventies of the
last century by the book of G.S. Thomen Is This Your Day? News
stories and books regarding research of these cycles in regard to
accidents at work, traffic incidents, days of death and results of
sports events increased hope that it was possible to predict
important personal and social events. It was also a kind of timid
prelude for New Age. By uncritical affirmation of psychological
and, even more, parapsychological approaches to everyday life, this
movement was raising belief in the possibility of self-improvement,
but also in managing internal and external factors of health and
happiness.
Of course, the critics were also very active, providing
statistically supported results in favour of senselessness of those
expectations. Soon, this battle spread rapidly from America to
other continents and resulted in multitude of research papers,
scientific articles and books. In the closing two decades of the
last century, biorhythm was again about to be forgotten, for it
seemed advocates of strictly methodological provisions and relevant
statistical parameters prevailed over users of the so called
anecdote-based approach to researched phenomena. The bottom limit
of tolerance from the first group, as it seems, was an approval for
use of biorhythm as a pseudoscience.
Despite the constant and battle between the pros and cons,
biorhythm entered the information age still standing on its
feet.Software presentation of biorhythm replaced the previous
complex pencil calculation. Easy access and even easier use of
computer and mobile applications reignited the public interest for
Swoboda-Flies-Teltscher theory. To put it simply, it was very in
again to have a personal or team biorhythm.
In the environment of dominant neoliberal limitlessness,
biorhythm becomes one of old-new possibilities of predicting
behaviour and success. Nowadays, every computer and/or smartphone
application worth mentioning enables the user to calculate more
than ten biorhythm indicators. The possibility of calculating the
so-called compatibility factors indicators of mutual
(in)compatibility of two or however many persons, has brought an
additional appeal.
Although he was not occupied with this topic at all, the author
of former world's bestseller the book Stumbling on Happiness-
briefly diagnoses the human need for predicting future events (so
evident with both founders and followers of biorhythm):
The influence of feeling that we keep things under control is
beneficial, whilst the belief that we create our own future makes
us happy (LIT. 2, p. 42).
Although the return of biorhythm into the public sphere (in
fact, into the market) was more visible in media than in scientific
circles, this fact does not reduce the need to continue testing to
what extent this theory really works.
Before we bring up the results of one thorough research of
biorhythm influence on performance in one (team) sport, we will
briefly introduce main elements and features of the theory
itself.I.2. - Minus is (like every) minus, but C is even
worse...The existing software solutions mainly thanks to
imaginative graphics enable easy reading of cyclical values,
enabling fast comprehension of the idea of biorhythm itself.
The concept is simple: each cycle is really a sinusoid with a
plus (active) and minus (passive) phase. Besides, the points on
central flat line, where cyclical sinusoids cross from one phase to
another, are specially emphasized. They are time-synchronous with
the first and middle day of each cycle period. In Pc-cycle (which
lasts for 23 days) these are day 1 and day 12, in Ec-cycle day 1
and day 15, in I-cycle day 1 and day 17, and in the Intuitive-cycle
(38 days) day 1 and day 20.
These points are called critical days (C-d) because they hide,
according to this theory, the highest risk and the highest lack of
energy, will, physical strength, optimism and patience. C days in
the middle of each cycle are especially risky. In addition, by
default, critical days belong to the minus (passive) phase, but
with a much more emphasised dimension of dysfunction of all kinds.
For that reason, each biorhythm story in every research pays
special attention to C-days. vGraph 1. Biorhythm sinusoids of each
cycle have a plus and minus phases, while C-days are identified on
horizontal line with the number of days (1-38), located on the
points of passover from plus to minus phase (and vice versa)
Regardless of their different duration periods (23, 28, 33 and
38 days), all biorhythm cycles, according to the theory, start
together with the day of birth. In the first 11 days of life, all
four cycles are in the plus phase. Afterwards, Physical cycle
enters the minus phase first, while INT-cycle does so last.
The situation of all four cycles starting together (Graph 1.)
repeats itself only at the age of 57. It is interesting to mention
that in Japanese tradition there is a belief that human life starts
anew exactly at the age of 57.
Due to their relatively low representation in total number of
biorhythm days of each cycle (up to approx. 20%), and due to
rigorous methodological constraints for groups with small number of
frequencies, C-days are often statistically analysed combined with
the minus phase data.
Plus and minus sinusoidal areas can be directly linked to
surplus, or deficit of physical and mental energy of a human being.
The central sinusoidal horizontal line symbolically represents the
separator between growth and decline of these capacities. The
tallest and the lowest sinusoidal points represent optimum and
minimum of each cycle.
Roughly speaking, minus phase of each cycle means additional
quantities of energy, will and concentration are needed for
achieving given goals. However, if important tasks and goals fall
into C-days, it is best to prolong them into upcoming calendar
days. Biorhythm followers emphasise that C-days do not necessarily
forecast catastrophes or personal disasters, but, according to
them, failure or misfortune is by far more probable during those
days than in any other day before or after. Favourite and often
illustrated example of this rule is a practice in some Swiss and
Japanese hospitals whereby surgeons do not conduct surgery during
their C-days. Certain airline companies give their pilots free
days, and some taxi companies in certain countries do the same.
I.3. - Duets (perhaps) say more than a single cycleSince its
emergence, the idea of biorhythm seemed unfinished. This
represented a great challenge for reformers and innovators. In the
multitude of attempts, often linked to Far East philosophies and
thinkers from ancient Greece, Mort Gale, an American, deserves
special attention. In his book Biorhythm Compatibility (Warner
Books, Inc, New York, 1978.) he introduces, a little known piece of
information in biorhythm literature that he identified and named as
the fourth biorhythmical entity in human behaviour Intuitive cycle
(INTc).
It is interesting that in relation to this, Gale (just like
Flies) referred to one psychoanalyst, Freud's competitor, Carl
Gustav Jung. And so, with Gale joining, the already famous trio of
biorhythm story creators: Swoboda Flies and Teltscher became a
quartet. Most of current computer and mobile applications include
all four cycles.
These four cycles are named primary cycles, while their binomial
combinations (Pc+Ic, Pc+Ec and Ec+Ic) make the group of secondary
biorhythms.
Combination of Pc and I-cycle is named Mastery Biorhythm (MsB).
When both cycles are in plus phase, the person's physical and
intellectual superiority boosts and promises above average success
on those days.
For the context of this research, and for the sport as a whole,
of special interest is the binomial combination of Pc and Ec-cycle
(Passion Biorhythm, PsB) which is responsible for the control of
physical endurance and enthusiasm (motivation). Since the first
research of the application of biorhythm in sports, assertions
arose that these two cycles are crucial for motivational and
physical readiness of athletes. There are many studies that prove,
with more or less argumentation, a higher frequency of injuries and
unexpected bad results for athletes in periods of Pc-cycle minus
phase. O the other hand, others have discovered a connection
between athletes' Ec- cycle plus phase with their exceptional
achievements.
The third biorhythm duo marked as Wisdom Biorhythm (WsB), brings
the synergy between Ec and Ic- cycle. In short, when these cycles
are in the plus phase together, the person is more creative in
performing activities and behaves more wisely. Both characteristics
are of reduced capacity in minus phases.
Two three-cycle packages are added to all the above, one based
on ancient Chinese meditations (I-Ching), and the other on binomial
correlation of the Intuitive cycle with the other three primary
biorhythms (Extra biorhythms).
In any case, it appears logical if the biorhythm theory is (at
all) sustainable that these or different combinations have much
more influence on behaviour, and success of failure of biorhythm,
than single biorhythms and their individual phases.
I.4. - Fast, fitter the most successful?Mass professionalism and
blatant commercialization of many sports inevitably caused panic
pursuit for training methods, and game tactic likewise, that would
produce champions more quickly, or would ensure promoted leaders
remain in the winning track as long possible.
In this unstoppable process the native Olympic motto: Faster,
Higher, Stronger has over time been reformulated into an imperative
of Fast, Fitter, Most successful, where (non)performance is closely
intertwined with careers and destinies of sportsmen and
trainers.
For the same reason and equally passionately, the demand for
help from psychologists and sports medicine specialists is on the
increase. The quest for a formula of (fast) success, i.e. for the
more desirable formula of happiness in predicting sports results,
does not stop on the boundaries of science, but dives into the
turbid waters of quackery.
There are many coaches, athletes and sports betting players who
strongly believe in astrological projections and in power of
various talismans. Others follow numerology axioms, or keep in
touch regularly with celebrity fortune-tellers of different
orientations. The Internet fame of Paul the Octopus, from an
aquarium in the German town of Oberhausen, could be placed in this
context. He made several accurate predictions of results of the
German national football team during of the 19th World soccer
championship in the South African Republic (2010). Therefore, it is
no wonder that biorhythm, with its already described attractive
performances of personal behaviour predictability and efficiency,
intrigued coaches and even athletes.
Nowadays computer and mobile applications exclude complex
mathematical calculations and experts-intermediaries. Easily
available computer programs enable retroactive, proactive and
multidimensional achievements tracking of unlimited number of
persons/athletes including, of course, all of their biorhythm
parameters.
Prediction capacity of biorhythm in sports has been tested since
the 70s. One thematic book, containing detailed list of examples of
biorhythm application in sport, including research on the topic,
had two editions within the same year (LIT. 3).
Lists of affirmative and disclaiming studies on the topic are
equally long. Biorhythm followers benefited from research of
individual sports, while their adversaries from team sports.
The most quoted example in literature favouring biorhythm
certainly is the achievement of American swimmer Mark Spitz who
during XX. Olympic Games in Germany (1972) won gold medals in seven
disciplines in a row, in a period of just 13 days. Although Spitz`s
period of unprecented individual achievement started and finished
with a duet of critical C-days of Fc and Ec cycles, the secret of
success was actually hiding between them. Namely, during these ten
or so days in between, both cycles were in the plus phase (LIT 7.
pp 99-100).Somehow at the same time (1972), based on the analysis
of personal biorhythms of 1000 sports record-holders, G.
Shonholzer, G. Schilling and H. Muller from the Swiss centre for
the research of biorhythm, resolutely concluded that biorhythm
theory has neither biological, nor mathematical foundation.
Applying biorhythm in collective-team sports is more complex and
more questionable. Some even explicitly refuse such a possibility
(LIT 6., pp 79-81). Forty years ago, a research duet, Michael R.
Wallerstein and Nancy Lee Roberts became media celebrities in
American newspapers and magazines by claiming to be able to predict
not only individual, but also team results, by using their
mathematical-graphical invention Bio-curve. They were pretty
successful in predicting results in American football, and were
also passionate advocates of using biorhythm in business
spheres.
Subsequently, many research papers followed, spreading optimism
for biorhythm utilisation in team sports. There were also those who
used biorhythm in practice. The literature points out an example of
a Swiss soccer coach Helmuth Benthaus who, from his personal
experience, claimed biorhythm was an excellent tool in
preparing-training of the players (LIT 3. p. 51, LIT 4., pp.
102-3).II. RESEARCH TOPIC AND METHODOLOGYII.1 - The dream sample
FIFA World Cup in Brazil 2014From the methodological and research
point of view, World championships and Olympic Games are the most
worthwhile statistical units for testing research hypotheses in
sport.
First, they are always a summit of best teams and individuals,
champions and record-holders. These are dream research samples for
determining factors of competitors` success or failure. Such events
are characterized by high incidence of independent variables (as
they are called in research practice) such as territorial
(continental) representation of participants, their nationality,
sex and age grouping, etc. The last, 20th FIFA World Cup in Brazil
(held in June and July 2014) represents one such research
challenge. Factographic competition profile confirms it all: 32
national teams from all 5 continents, 64 ultimately competitive
games, 736 registered players, 171 goals scored, 13 penalty kicks
in regular time including referee time and 36 after extra time.
The subject of this research is a review of biorhythm theory on
this specific sport sample 20th FIFA World Cup in Brazil (2014).
Research plan focused on five segments, and within those, five
research hypotheses were defined:1. Primarily, we were interested
in knowing if biorhythm parameters specify differences between
winning and losing teams.
In this competition, in the first group phase of 48 matches, 39
matches ended with one of the national teams winning. Nine matches
in this phase ended with a draw, and these matches were not covered
by this research (but their players were included in all research
records of individual achievements such as scored goals, penalty
cards, etc.) In next, eliminatory phase with 16 matches, eight
ended with a winning outcome by the end of regular time (90 mins.),
while the winners of four matches were decided after extra time (30
min), or after the penalty shoot out.
Therefore, this research comprises 55 matches with winning
outcomes (out of which 78% victories were achieved directly in
regular time and 22% through eliminatory rules valid for the final
stage).
2. Furthermore, we wanted to test whether better-ranked soccer
players had superior biorhythm than their colleagues from the
defeated team.
Statistical testing was performed on marks allocated by
reporters of eminent American internet media company Bleacher
Report (BR) that in our opinion - objectively and competently
covered all 64 matches in Brazil.
Soccer players with marks 6.0 and above made the group of
better-evaluated players (1092 players), and those with marks 5.9
and lower were classified in the group of lower evaluated (360
players).
We were also interested in:
3. Peculiarities of biorhythm parameters of goal scorers and
their comparison with equivalent parameters of players who did not
score goals in the Championship (in this group, of course, there
were no goalkeepers).
4. Peculiarities of biorhythm parameters of soccer players with
yellow and red cards and their comparison with equivalent
parameters of players with no cards, and
5. Peculiarities of biorhythm parameters of coaches of winning
and defeated national teams.
In accordance with research standards, we have formatted
detailed and precise templates for keeping records of necessary
data.
Pre-designed research plan also included criteria for
representation in data as well as all other necessary
methodological limitations in relation to dependent and independent
variables.
In addition, we have determined in advance the relevant sources
of necessary biographical data of soccer players (and coaches), and
selected the appropriate computer software for calculation of
biorhythm parameters.
Summarized, per each match we entered in appropriate templates
approx. 600 various data (individual identification data, biorhythm
values, types of performance in the field and other information for
each soccer player and coach). In this way 40,000 pieces of data
was processed for all 64 matches.
II.2 HypothesesAlthough the available data fundus allowed for
higher number of hypotheses in standard research form of
Null-hypothesis (Ho) authors of this work chose the following
five:
1. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days at the level of
each of the four biorhythm cycles, between winning teams and
defeated teams;
2. There is no statistically significant difference in the
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days - at the level of
each of the four biorhythm cycles - between players who got higher
marks for their match performance (6.0 and higher) and those with
lower marks (5.5 and lower);
3. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles - between goal scorers from one side,
and soccer players who did not score goals in this Championship on
the other side;
4. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between soccer players with yellow
and red cards and players without these types of referee`s
punishment; and
5. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between coaches of winning teams and
coaches of the defeated ones.Alternative hypotheses (H), as well as
alternative subhypotheses (pHo), in the context of this research
defines the existence of relevant correlation between the same
variables as well as in the Null-hypotheses from 1 to 5.
The test of significance of the differences for all hypotheses
has been done by using standard statistical X-square test
(chi-square test) with additional utilisation of its statistical
infrastructure (Summed-up X-square, p-value, contingency tables,
correction formulas, etc.)
For the purpose of this research work, 1460 individual biorhythm
packages have been calculated. Each individual package includes
four primary (Pc, Ec, Ic and INTc) and three secondary biorhythms
(MsB, PsB and WsB). Individually, they belong to 528 soccer
players. That is 69% out of total number of players participating
teams submitted to FIFA. These players played 3 matches on average,
and that is also the average number of biorhythm sets per each
soccer player.
Results of statistical analysis, whose interpretation is about
to be presented, can be expressed with a common sports headline:
Null-hypotheses vs Biorhythm 5:0!
III. RESULTS
III.1. - Common debacle of Brazil - and BiorhythmThe first
semi-final match of this championship was played on July 8th 2014
between the host country Brazil and Germany. Everybody expected
great soccer and few goals. The only thing nobody expected was a
debacle of either one of the confronting national teams. However, a
real soccer miracle happened: Germans simply sank the host`s boat
having won with Guinness-standard result of 7:1!
It was a catastrophic day even for the boldest of betters, if
ever existed someone believing that Brazil, playing in front of its
fans and so close to the final - could lose with a 3 or 4 goal
difference. Among those unsuccessful forecasters, there was also
biorhythm whose cycle parameters announced a mediocre match with
miserable goal scorers and close to sleepy goalkeepers. The host
even had fewer players with their minus phase in three out of four
cycles, whilst Germans additionally had one soccer player with a
critical C-day (in the Intuitive cycle).
To biorhythm's disadvantage, this player was Andre Schrle, who
scored no less than two goals in this match. He scored those goals
after only 32 minutes on the field (he entered the game in the 58th
minute of the match). The fact the other three Schrle`s cycles were
in minus phase almost equalize the failure of biorhythm theory with
the Brazilian score debacle.
Biorhythm has shown weak validity of prediction in most of other
53 matches with nominated winners.
As it can be seen in Table 1a, calculated X values for Pe and
INT cycle are far below borderline value for which is 0.05. At the
same time, corresponding p values in both cases are higher than
0.05. This undoubtedly supports our first formulated
Null-hypothesis (Ho).
Darker shaded X square for E-cycle is very close to the
borderline value but remains in the acceptable zone of Ho. However,
X for I-cycle (non-shaded field in the table) is higher than
borderline value for 0.05, so the Alternative subhypothesis (pH),
or better said - the possibility these differences are not
coincidental - is accepted. But, are these differences in favour of
the biorhythm theory?
In cases where Xi-square does not identify direction and the
logic of real differences between examined groups, the occurrence
and the logic sequence of the obtained results is determined by
insight in the distribution of the obtained data itself. Table 1b
(Annex page 24), with frequencies of number of soccer players in
each of the three biorhythm phases (plus, minus, C-days), shows the
winning teams having 50% of their soccer players with Ic- cycle in
minus phase, and the defeated teams only 45%. Besides this, winning
teams also had 4% of players with C-day, while the defeated teams
had half of this number 2%. An almost identical inversion of data
and significance can be seen in Ec- cycle whose X value is very
close to the borderline value.
It is all contrary to key postulates of the classic biorhythm
theory.
The aggregate Xi-square (X) for all four cycles sums up to
14.039, which is lower than borderline value for 95% reliability (
0.05 =15.510).
For this reason, the first formulated Null-hypothesis, claiming
that there is no statistically significant differences in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days in biorhythms of
winning and defeated teams, can be accepted.
Table 1a also shows that (X) for the group of secondary
biorhythms does not come even close to borderline value either and
this, again, goes in favour of the formulated Null-hypothesis.
III.2. The one and only and missed!In Brazil, Lionel Messi
(Argentina) has been proclaimed as the best player of the
tournament. Many argued that there were better players, among other
things, due to the fact Argentina lost in the finals, and that
Messi was not the best goal scorer. However, Messi was the only
player in the Championship given straight ten mark (10,0) by
evaluators of the Bleacher Report for his play performance in a
game. It happened in the Nigeria-Argentina match (2:3), when he
scored two out of four goals he scored in total during this
tournament.
And what was the predisposing biorhythm profile of this
Argentinian on July 26th 2014 when this match was played?
In short: more worrying than optimistic. F, I and INT cycles
were all in a minus, and Emotional cycle was the only one with a
positive prefix. The state of combinations of secondary biorhythms
was even worse. MB and PB were in minus and WB which, according to
the theory, is directly responsible for success or failure of goal
scorers and midfielders fell into a C-day on that day. It turned
out, despite bad biorhythm profile Messi was in great form.
This convincing failure in predicting Messi`s performance during
this match is an integral part of the more detailed statistical
argumentation for acceptance of our second Null-hypothesis proving
that existing differences in number of plus, minus phases and
C-days between better and worse ranked soccer players in this
competition do not have statistical relevance. More precisely
speaking, this statement is related to three of four primary
biorhythms (F, I and INT) whose X -scores - as it can be seen from
Table 2a are lower than borderline values.
However, X -score of the fourth, emotional cycle, equals 8.328
and is therefore higher than marginal value (5.991), so in this
case the alternative pH , that is different in number of plus,
minus and C-days of better evaluated and worse evaluated players of
the World Cup in Brazil 2014 are not coincidental, but
statistically significant.
Relatively high X -score for the E-cycle has taken the aggregate
X -score for all four primary biorhythm cycles almost to the
borderline value, but not above it, so in regard to paired
variables the third Null-hypothesis is also accepted. As such, the
third Null-hypotheses is not contested by the obtained X -score for
binomial combinations in the group of secondary biorhythms either.
Namely, neither individual, nor the aggregate X -scores have
exceeded corresponding borderline values (5.991 and 12.590).
III.3. Three goals with three (biorhythm) plusesThe only hat
trick scored from the game in this championship was achieved by a
member of the Swiss national team, Shaqiri Xherdan during the match
against Honduras (3:0). On that day (June 25, 2014), the ball
really was on his side. Perhaps also because biorhythm was on his
side too. Three of his cycles were in plus phase (E, I and INT)
with only the Physical cycle being in the passive phase. Besides,
all three binomial combinations in secondary group had a positive
prefix.
Even so, noted differences in the aggregate number of plus,
minus and C-days between goal scorers and soccer players who did
not score during the game in this championship appeared from the
statistical point of view - irrelevant. The obtained X -scores for
all four primary cycles were below corresponding borderline value
(Table 3a) and therefore do not annul the Null-hypothesis.
III .4. - Identical biorhythms completely different
performancesZokora Didier, an Ivory Coast defender, was given a
yellow card in the 58th minute of the match against Japan (2:1).
For his performance in this game, evaluators gave him just a
comforting mark of 5.5. Biorhythm followers would probably say: it
could have been even worse for him considering on the day of the
match his E and INT- cycles were in C-days, while F and I- cycles
were in minus (- C, -, C).
Ten days later (June 24, 2014.) Japan and Colombia played
against each other (1:4). Japanese offensive player, Yoshito Okubo
had exactly the same biorhythm combination as Didier (-C, -, C).
Even so, in this match, it's not just that he did not get any
yellow or red cards, but he also achieved the best mark of all
players of his team that of 7! By the way, the only Japanese player
to get a yellow card on that day was the defender, Y. Konno.
Biorhythm followers would cheerfully say: completely justified, for
he had all four cycles in the passive, minus phase!
These are typical anecdotal (individual) instances of cases for
and against biorhythm. For larger samples at least in the scope of
our research this balance is disturbed at the expense of the
biorhythm approach. Statistically speaking, key differences in
biorhythm parameters between players with red and yellow cards and
those without being penalised by the referee in that way - are
coincidental and irrelevant.
Values of X- scores in Table 4a illustrate this:
III.5. Coaches in the jaws of biorhythm tooStrategy and team
game tactics are the primary responsibilities of any coach. Very
often, other roles are assigned to the coach, from club leadership
to the role of an alternative psychologist. In any case, the coach
is held responsible for the results, and particularly for the
failures. Moreover, a coach needs to be the leader into something
improbable(LIT. 1. p 251). By actively using his intellect,
knowledge and personality, the coach participates in club's
achievements often to a critical degree. It is logical to assume
then if biorhythm theory is functional that coach`s biorhythm
should be some kind of an psychological additive which gives a
taste of success or failure to club`s achievements.
The championship in Brazil was a good opportunity to test this
assumption as well. There were 55 matches in total ending with a
winner, and equally as many coaches in groups of winners and losers
that were subject of our research.
Statistics remained unchanged towards biorhythm in the case of
this part of research too. There were no biorhythm cycles with
statistical indicators (X) having a reference level of significance
(Table 5a). Hence, the Null-hypotheses no. 5 is also affirmed
stating that there are no significant differences in the number of
plus, minus and C days between the group of winning teams' coaches
and group of coaches of defeated teams.
If we apply the so-called Anectodal method of comparison, that
is, if we focus on individual cases, the situation is much more
favourable towards biorhythm.
Result-wise very rare semi-final match between Brazil and
Germany (1:7) has already been used as an illustration for
explanation of the first Null-hypotheses in this piece of work.
There we compared biorhythm of soccer players, and here we compare
same indicators of two coaches.
Table 6: Biorhythm profiles of coaches on the day of
BrazilGermany match (1:7)ManagersPRIMARY CYCLESes
PcEcIcINTcMsBPs
BWsB
Luiz F. Scolari BRA-C-+-+-
Joachim Lw GER+-+++++
The host team's coach had a very bad biorhythm combination with
two biorhythms in the minus phase (Pc and I- cycle) and Emotional
cycle with a C-day. On the other side, coach of the (dominant)
winner had three cycles in plus phase and only E- cycle in the
minus phase. The German coach also had all three secondary
biorhythms in the plus phase, while the Brazilian coach had minus
in two out of three cycles.
Coaches of teams playing the final match of this Championship
also had very interesting - conditionally speaking
"pro-biorhythmic" combinations of cycles. The Argentine coach was
in an absolute minus, whilst the winning team's coach had two
cycles in plus and two in minus phases, with all three secondary
cycles in plus phases. Table 7: Biorhythm profiles of team coaches
in the final match Germany vs Argentina (0:0, 1:0 after extra
time): CoachesPRIMARY CYCLESes
PcEcIcINTcMsBPsBWsB
Joachim Lw - GER-+-++++
Alejandro Sabella - ARG----++-
Looking at the above table, it is evident that the German coach,
who had pluses on the sinusoid of Emotional and Intellectual cycle,
had an advantage over his Argentine colleague, who to say the least
started this deciding match of the championship with much more calm
and good mood. According to this theory, a better INT-biorhythm,
along with plus-WsB in secondary groups, enabled him to show more
tactical creativity that, at the end of the day, led him and his
team to the throne.
******************************************IV. CONCLUSIONS AND
DISCUSSIONA. Testing of statistical significance of differences in
number of plus, minus and C days of four primary and three
secondary biorhythm cycles - conducted in pairs of soccer players
and coaches as selected by research plan - has confirmed all five
initial Null-hypothesis (Ho). The aggregate Xi-squares (X), as
earlier shown in aggregate tables (Tables from 1 to 5) do not - in
any case - exceed the standard marginal values (at a level of 5%
statistical error) to form a statistical basis for acceptance of
any of the affirmative hypotheses (H).
Rightly so, there are examples of X values for individual cycles
having higher than borderline values, but they are not numerous and
do not correspond with generally accepted biorhythm postulates.
Taking into account all of these facts, formulated
Null-hypotheses are accepted in their initial form, both for
primary and secondary group of biorhythms:
1. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days - at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles, between winning and defeated
teams;
2. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between better evaluated players and
those who received weaker marks for their performance;
3. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days - at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between goal scorers from one side
and the soccer players who did not score in this championship;
4. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days - at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between soccer players who received
red and yellow cards and players without this kind of referee`s
penalty and
5. There is no statistically significant difference in
representation of plus, minus phases and C-days - at the level of
each of four biorhythm cycles between coaches of winning teams and
coaches of the defeated teams.
At the level of individual biorhythm cycles, based on which the
Null-subhypotheses (pHo) were formulated, there are examples that
support acceptance of alternative subhypotheses (pH) but, in the
given form, they do not correspond with classic biorhythm
postulates.B. On the other hand, in the data fundus available for
this research, there are quite a lot of individual examples in
which the actual performance of soccer players (including both
value prefixes) can be directly correlated with particularities of
individual biorhythm cycles and their binomial combinations. Some
of these typical cases were described in previous pages. Although
examples given do meet the requirements of the so called Anecdotal
method, their sporadic nature and absence of statistical relevance
do not allow them to be accepted as convincing proof of support for
the biorhythm theory. Here it should be added that the majority of
illustrative examples in favour of biorhythm are founded on the
strength of individual cases (the days of athletes' great
achievements and misachievements, deaths of famous people, bizarre
events in the life of individuals and similar).
In any case, there are far fewer arguments founded on relevant
samples and significant statistical indicators. There is extremely
high shortage of biorhythm research at the collective level among
working or ad-hoc sports teams, for in those situations little
known and hardly measurable synergistic factors of psychosocial
nature also have an influence.
C. Soccer is a typical team sport where detecting factors of
competitive success or failure just by using team averages of any
kind of available parameters is extremely hard. The result is also
significantly affected by players` psycho-profile and achieved
psychodynamics within the team at a certain moment. By their
nature, both of these components greatly lessen the
mathematical-statistical evening-up of the contribution of an
individual to the team result.
There are at least 27 active individuals appearing on the soccer
field (two teams each with at least 11 players, two coaches, and
the main referee with 2 assistant referees) all with lesser or
greater opportunity to influence the final result. Often, a great
contribution to the final result, especially to the atmosphere,
comes from people outside the court, those in the audience.
Although the most important protagonists are, by all means, the
players on both sides.The final result of the match is often marked
with a specific performance of one or more individuals. The goal
scorer in the mood for goals (with 2-3 scored goals) and the
goalkeeper with a bad day (with a few scores in his net) are
typical examples of personalization of the team result. However,
these situations as research variables are not completely
legitimate from the methodology point of view. Both at scoring and
conceding goals, there is a significant share of joint ownership,
starting with the creative assistance from co-players to gross
mistakes of the opposing players. There is also a surprisingly high
share of mere coincidence!
For all these reasons, when evaluating performance of a sports
team, one should equally take into account factors deriving from an
individual's character, in parallel with those acting as a
consequence of playing in a team. In pursuit for the best talent
composition, training, motivation and efficiency in the team
sociogram, it is necessary to individualize the sequence of
significance of these components.
In this package, the motivation of an individual to make optimal
performance on the field is perhaps the biggest enigma, especially
when the part related to financial satisfaction (premiums,
transfers, additional bonuses) is put aside. One of procedures that
are more successful is the persuasive technique, originating from
counselling psychology. Its task is to inspire and encourage the
individual. In sports, it practically means persuading the athlete
he can do better, or even be the best at a given moment. Usually,
in doing so, one may use the arguments identified in the person`s
psychological profile such as his educational anamnesis or the
series of worthy achievements from the past.
Despite controversies about the biorhythm theory (which, as we
believe, became even more exposed with results of our research) we
conclude that biorhythm, in the context of persuasive effect, can
also increase motivational capacity of athletes.
The extent of this additional motivation does not need to be
enormous, although in some cases it can even be decisive. Existing
mobile and computer biorhythm applications use the precision of
their numerical values (most frequently up to two decimals) and
attractive graphic illustrations of cycle sinusoids to appear
suggestive, especially towards persons with insufficient
confidence. It is easy to interpret them motivationally, understand
them visually and then accept them. Of course, here we talk of the
cases with positive, stimulating values of biorhythm parameters.
Keeping in mind insufficiently proven validity of biorhythm
application in sport, team coaches should not use biorhythm
down-parameters (days in minus phases and C-days) as deciding
criteria for selecting players for particular matches, or in
instances of criticism or sanctioning of players. We emphasise
again the complexity of psychosocial surrounding in which an
athlete performs during a competitive event. Besides, we point out
our belief in great importance of positive motivation in sport.
Motivation is, by its energetic nature, cumulative. It means
that every new stimulus directed to strengthening self-confidence
and will, regardless of its individual dimension, even to its
possible placebo background, gives a stimulating synergistic
effect.
D. Betting and sports especially soccer have for long been
enjoying an inseparable, symbiotic relationship. Bookmakers are
aware that data on tradition, together with mathematical
observations of the current shape of the opponent on the betting
slip, are of little help in predicting surprises. Therefore, as a
rule, they look for additional pieces of information. Many betters
believe that such magic information can be found via
parapsychological and pseudo-scientific techniques. Considering
biorhythm belongs to this club, and is now easily accessible via PC
and mobile applications, a good deal of bookmakers are devotedly
using it. This research does not support a belief in predictive
power of biorhythm at team level, at least not in the case of
soccer. However, this research does leave space for use of
individual biorhythm profiles of important players as useful
additional information in evaluation of competitive impact of their
team. E. We also want to point out the methodological and
interpretative limitations of this research.This research refers
only to determining the possible influence of biorhythm on the
effectiveness of soccer players at team level. We have analysed
only one out of many possible options of testing this possibility,
that of establishing statistical relevance ( X-score) of number of
plus, minus and C- days in biorhythms of soccer players from 32
national teams-participants of the 20th World soccer championship
Brazil 2014.
Every transfer of these results, and especially their
interpretation to other fields of life and other sports, need to be
justified by relevant research documentation. Biorhythm parameters
are calculated based on data and program procedures, described in
footnotes 13 and 14. The data itself has been analysed using
standard statistical procedures, including appropriate computer
applications (Excel and other). We used all of these with full
confidence, but we do not exclude the possibility that in different
circumstances and with different procedures, results obtained could
be different.IV. ANNEXED DOCUMENTS: Tables with data (frequencies)
for calculation of X -score, according to defined research
hypothesis
VI. LITERATURE AND OTHER SOURCES
1. Bierman, C. (2011), Die Fuball Matrix/Soccer matrix ,
translation to Serbian language: Milutin Stanisavac), Laguna,
Belgrade, Serbia2. Gilbert, D. (2008), : Stumbling on
Happiness/Spoticanje o sreu, (translation to Serbian language:
Vesna Petrovi), Dereta, Belgrade, Serbia3. Gittelson, B. (II. ed.
1977), Biorhythm Sports Forecasting, Arco Publishing Company, New
York, USA4. Gittelson, B. (VI ed. 1990), Biorhythm A Personal
Science, Futura Book, London, Great Britain5. Matei, K. (1983),
Biological Rhythms and Human Behavor /Bioloki ritmovi i ponaanje
ovjeka , published only in Croatian/, Biblioteka popularne
psihologije, Zagreb, Croatia6. Russell, G.W. (2001), Sport Science
Secrets: from myth to facts, Trafford, Canada7. West, P. (1980),
BIORHYTHMS Your Daily Guide to Achieving Peak Potential, Thorsons
Publishers Limited, Wellinghborouh, Great Britain8. **** Short
Biorhythms Encyclopaedia (Part of package with the purchased
Biorhythm application), www.binarymark.comInternet sources:9. Duch
J, Waitzman JS, Amaral LAN (2010), Quantifying the Performance of
Individual Players in a Team Activity, PLoS ONE 5(6): e10937.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.001093710. Gale, M., A Brief History of
Biorhythms11. Maura S. (2009.), Bio-periodicity and its Influence
on the Football Results Obtained by the Student Teams During the
University Spring Sport Competition, University of Pitesti,
Romania
12. NASA Ames Research Center (1983) , Recap on Biorhythms
Theory with Bibliography13. Rummel, R.M, (1977), Individual and
Team Biorhythms and Perfomances in the 1975 AIAW National
Basketball Championships, Harrisonburg, Virgina, USA14. Sharma, R.,
Singh, R. (2011), Critical Analysis of Biorhythms and their Effect
in Industrial Accidents in Angra Casting Manufacturing Units,
Dayalbagh Angra, India15. Vazifedest, H., Alizadeh, A., Dehghan, A.
(2013), Study of Biorhythm Cycles that Influence on Decision
Qualities of Investment Managers in Mutual Fund of the Iranian
Capital Market Islamic Azad University, Teheran, Iran16. Wysotskyi,
O.L (.....), The Characteristics of Biorhythms Days, Independent
researcher, Kyiv, Ukraine17. ***The Sceptic's DictionaryABOUT
AUTHORS:Drago Maric is long-time biorhythm enthusiast analyzing
effects of biorhythm in sports, soccer particularly. His interest
in biorhythm started in late 1980s when he published predictions
based on biorhythm calculations for World Cup in Italy in 1990.
These predictions were published in Yugoslav sports daily "Sportski
zurnal" during the World Cup. He is also avid statistician of
English Premier League and other top European leagues, following
and analyzing statistics of teams, players, results and betting
odds.
Boris Maric is a fan of soccer, English Premier League in
particular. In his free time he analyzes soccer results and
performance of different teams. He also runs a couple of websites
not related to sports. In this research document he contributed
with Excel expertise and data analysis.
Vladimir Mari is aspecialist for media analysis. He contributed
this piece of work by translating, editing and proofreadingboth
English and Croatian language versions.
Contact us through our website:
http://biorhythminsoccer.blogspot.com/ Thanks to media and numerous
users, the notion Biorhythm theory has been generally accepted,
although it is certain that lack of affirmative research and
multitude of denying documents greatly contributed to this concept
being considered highly controversial and suspicious from the
scientific point of view. It should be noted that pioneers of this
concept would rather point out individual cycles and specifics
instead of new theories.
Crown Publishing, New York, 1964, reprint 1973.
The US Army Research Laboratory, as part of NASA, in 1981
published a voluminous overview of then available titles from all
parts of the world related to biological rhythms in human organism.
One special chapter in this overview was dedicated to biorhythm.
Bibliography comprises of a bit more than 2000 titles, out of which
212 are biorhythm related (mostly published in the period between
1965 and 1980).
Anecdotal method (Anecdotal evidence) consists of an all-round
specialist processing of individual cases with the intention to
confirm hypotheses about something new based on rich sample of
determined particularities/uniquenesses. It is often used in
medicine and psychology as Case report (atypical case), for example
in cases when there is a suspicion of an unknown disease occurrence
or psychic syndrome. However, taking into account it does not carry
statistically representative quality in relation to assumed
population, it is not considered relevant to be able to undermine
valid, or promote new theories.
Pseudoscience, an activity trying to present itself as science
by imitating scientific processes, yet failing to obtain standards
practiced in the legitimate fields which it attempts to imitate.
Pseudoscience does not appreciate debates and criticism and rarely
shows intellectual toughness and true progress. Pseudoscientific
theories do not usually get along with the well-founded accepted
knowledge, and its own findings seldom, if ever, can stand critical
review of competent critics (Wikipedia)
However, in the last about ten years, many interesting pieces of
research have been published regarding possible application of
biorhythm in different life spheres (see examples in LIT. titles
no. 14 and 15)
LIT 12, Abstract 896 - pp 265-66.
LIT 3, p.31 (Case of boxer Joe Louis's match with Joe Walcott on
June 25,1948)
Quoted from NASA Recap of biorhythms research from Lit 12, p.
440.
HYPERLINK "http://bleacherreport.com/"http://bleacherreport.com
From the research point of view, it seemed especially valuable that
this media house was evaluating the performance of each player
separately for each half time and also for performance in extra
time. For the purpose of this research work, for each soccer player
we took the average of such segmented marks for his performance in
one match.
Authors of this work followed live coverage of matches from
Brazil, as the Bosnian-Herzegovinian national public radio and
television broadcaster (Televizija BiH) bought exclusive rights to
broadcast all matches. In that way, researchers had the opportunity
to evaluate performances of soccer players independently and to
re-evaluate BR`s ranking marks and marks of other media
reporters.
The average individual mark in this championship, for entire
course of the match is 6.3, with average mark for group of better
evaluated players being 6.7, and for the group of lower evaluated
being 5.0. It is easily noticeable that these relatively low
average marks deviate from exceptionally high aggregate evaluation
mark for the quality of soccer played in the Championship (9.25 out
of 10.00), given by Sepp Blatter, the Chairman of FIFA, after
completion of the tournament. It is interesting to point out that
the Bleacher Report, throughout the entire competition, has given
only one 10.0 mark (for Lionel Messi performance during the
Nigeria-Argentina match). At the same time, BR evaluators gave
eight 1.0 marks and all of them to Brazilian players for the match
against Germany (1:7).
For example: The team set of all data used for statistical
analysis (calculation of all average marks) by rule included 11
soccer players, with substitute players being included only if they
spent 61 minutes or more in the field, the statistical calculation
comprised the soccer player who played 61 minutes or more. However,
if such a player played less than 60 minutes but significantly
contributed to the performance of his team (e.g. by scoring goal,
penalty kick due to his fault, or getting red card), his parameters
were included in the team average. In this case, the team average
was calculated for 12 players.
For this purpose, we used the official FIFA web site with the
existing data on June 12, 2014 (day 1 of the Championship).
Although, a priori, we accepted the official FIFA web site as the
most relevant source, we also checked and compared birth dates of
two soccer players from each national team with Wikipedia records
and records from national team and soccer club web pages. This was
done because the credibility of these data is of crucial
importance. Namely, the calculation of each biorhythm parameter
starts from the birth date, so an error, even by just one day, can
cause enormous distortion of the final parameter. In this random -
and certainly, small sample - we found no discrepancies.
HYPERLINK
"http://www.binarymark.com/products/biorhythmcalculator/default.aspxhttp://www.binarymark.com"http://www.binarymark.com/products/biorhythmcalculator/default.aspx
This program enables calculation of 15 biorhythm parameters in
total (4 primary cycles, plus another 9 of their binomial
combinations as well as two cumulative averages). In order to
ensure complete reliability of these parameters, we performed a
check on a random sample of 100 individual biorhythms using two
other programs, and received same values.
Considering the innovated version of the biorhythm theory
includes four separate cycles (physical, emotional, intellectual
and intuitive), each of these hypothesis practically has four
identically formulated Null-subhypotheses (pHo) defined by the
significance of each individual cycle. Hence, besides individual
chi-squares (which are, in fact, related to subhypotheses),
aggregate chi-square (X) has also been calculated for each data
group and was the base for interpretation of the relevance of main
hypotheses (Ho). Although they have been statistically equally
thoroughly analysed just like the proximate hypotheses, the
subhypotheses were not qualitatively analysed, except in cases when
their X values supported corresponding affirmative subhypotheses
(pHo). The same procedure has been applied with secondary biorhythm
groups (MsB, PsB, WsB).
Countries-participants of the Championship (32) could register
24 players. Therefore, in total, 768 soccer players were
registered. However, not all of them took part: besides first team
regulars with highest number of games played, there were players
who took part as substitutes, as well as those who did not get a
chance to play.
Although it sounds controversial in relation to the very concept
of biorhythm theory, its leading supporters, the already mentioned
American research duet M.R Walterstein and N. Lee-Roberts express
their opinion in an interview for newspaper Tonawanda News Frontier
(August 4, 1973), that in a sport team the players with weaker
biorhythm (meaning those with more minus and C-days) give better
performance than those with biorhythms in plus phases. The reason
is, they explain, an assumption that biorhythm pluses drive
individuals to show more individuality and selfishness (during the
game). In line with this, individual biorhythms with dominating
minus and C-days contribute to higher level of cohesion.
It is the case with I-cycle in the context of data for testing
of Null-hypothesis no.1 where X = 6.347 - with df=2, and =0.05% -
higher than borderline value (5.991). In this case, formulated
Null-subhypothesis is rejected and we accept the possibility that
the differences in number of plus, minus and C-days between players
of the winning and defeated teams are not coincidental. However,
any further interpretation of the noted differences, as already
said, is contrary to basic postulate of the biorhythm theory.
Methodologically, it is very hard to define precisely the
variable of players without goals scored. In modern football, not
only exposed top scorers, but all players (except goal keeper) are
obliged to score goals.
The author of the book Soccer Matrix C. Bierman presents one
research about conditions for scoring nearly 650 goals in six
European national leagues (2005) according to which as many as
38.9% instances were the result of pure coincidence. Researcher of
this research (Martin Lames) discovered that 41.8% of goals scored
in the World soccer championship in Germany in 2006 were also
scored - by accident (LIT 1., p 245).
One possible procedure for testing is determining the
significance of arithmetic mean differences of nominal daily values
for each biorhythm cycle, and for each pair of confronted variables
of Null-hypotheses. More complex procedures could include weighted
averages of particular cycles, or possibly, weighted averages of
biorhythms of key team players. Forty years ago, American research
duo M.R Walterstein and N. Lee-Roberts, authored their very complex
method for evaluation of team results with the help of biorhythm
(LIT 4, p. 105).
Note: Apart from the sources listed above, in preparation of
this work authors also took into account a greater number of
biorhythm related newspaper articles published in world media and
on the Internet.
9