The writer asserts that an ensuring study incorporating a number of factors, external to team members deliberate contributions, may proffer additional insight to further enhance knowledge about rugby applications for coaches to consider with their practices. Study II

In the case study, "Effects of consecutive basketball games on the game-related statistics that discriminate winner and losing teams," Sergio-Jose Ibanez, Javier Garcia, and Sebastian Feu, all with the University of Extremadura, and Alberto Lorenzo, Technical University of Madrid, with Jaime Sampaio (2009), University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro at Vila Real, analyzed data they obtained from the Spanish Basketball Federation; including games played during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons in the Under20 league. Ibanez, Garcia Feu, Lorenzo and Sampaio used the observational method to conduct their study which analyzed a total of 223 games with the following variables, "selected according to the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) normative for game analysis" (Ibid., Sample Section; ¶1):

Two and three-point field goal (made and missed), free-throws (missed and made), offensive and defensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocks (made and received), fouls committed, ball possessions and offensive rating. The ball possessions and the offensive rating were calculated…by the following equations:

Ball Possessions = (field-goals attempted) - (offensive rebounds) + (turnovers) - 0.4 x (free-throws attempted)

Offensive Rating = (Points Scored / Ball Possessions) x 100. (Ibid., Sample Section; ¶1¶ 1-3)

… a 2 x 3 factorial Anova (game outcome: winners, losers; game number: first, second, third) was performed in order to identify univariate within main effects and interactions. Afterwards, a descriptive discriminant analysis was employed to identify a subset of game-related statistics that discriminated between winning...

Also, this analysis allowed to identify the best mathematical equation so that the group means on the function were as different as possible and the accuracy of this equation… in each of the three subsamples (consecutive games) one discriminant function was obtained and interpreted based on examination of the structure coefficients (SC) greater than |0.30|…. Validation of discriminant models was conducted using leave-one-out classification…, i.e. each case is classified by applying the classification function computed from all the data except the case being classified. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software 15.0, and significance was set at p [less than or equal to] = 0.05. (Ibanez, Garcia Feu, Lorenzo, & Sampaio, 2009, Data Analysis Section; ¶)
Ibanez, Garcia Feu, Lorenzo and Sampaio (2009) reported that their research did not confirm the "supposed influence" of accumulated fatigue effect along the three consecutive games. To the contrary, overall team performances proved to be similar. Royal et al. assert that the player's decision-making may actually improve when he experiences high effort conditions. High level performances reportedly link with:

Game rhythm, because more defensive rebounds implies more fast-break ball possessions;

players somatic characteristics, taller and stronger players secure more rebounds;

technical and tactical preparation, pivoting, blocking, anticipation, securing and pulling the ball away, and, muscular fitness, particularly in stretch-shortening-cycle jumping performances.

The writer perceives the quality of the research invested into the second study to reflect the researcher's dedication to some details, which contributed their development of a somewhat detailed study that continues to leave unanswered questions regarding "the game-related statistics that discriminate winner and losing teams" (Ibanez, Garcia Feu, Lorenzo, & Sampaio, 2009, Title excerpt). The study left the writer wanting to