Edinburgh Napier University

  This study examined individual player video viewing times prior to a game over the course of a competitive season. Analysis of whether viewing times were directly influenced by the stage in the season, previous results, and recurrence of opponent were investigated (n= 7 games, 4 opponents, 19 participants, 125 viewing opportunities).

Participants were male student-athletes, playing competitive American Football and were members of the same team. Participants had their viewing time monitored over the course of each game week, utilising performance analysis software (Hudl, 2018).

There was no reported effect of viewing time on a result, (p=.203). or previous result influencing the next games viewing time (p=.271).

Where participants faced a repeat opponent, mean viewing time dropped for the second game by 10.32 (±8.51) minutes but were individually not significant (p=.054; p=.590; p=.448).

Over the course of the season, all viewing time dropped significantly from a mean high of 42.56 minutes to a low of 16.54 minutes (p=.014).

There were 43 occasions of players who had accumulated no viewing time over the course of the season, (34% of all viewing opportunities) and the incidences of no viewing time increased when facing the opponent for the second time.