<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Using penalty kicks in collegiate soccer matches, we test whether kickers choose where to place shots, and whether goalies choose where to dive in a way that is consistent with optimal mixed strategy play. The previous literature, studying professional soccer players, provides evidence of mixed strategy play in penalty kick scenarios. These results contrast with the evidence obtained in a lab, studying subjects who only play a game a few times and have insignificant monetary payoffs. These lab results find no evidence of mixed strategy play. The contrast between the results obtained from these very different environments makes it unclear which result generalizes to other settings. By studying college athletes, we analyze the middle ground, which is where most strategic decisions will be made. We find that college players employ optimal strategic play in some respects, but not in other respects.</p></abstract>

Using penalty kicks in collegiate soccer matches, we test whether kickers choose where to place shots, and whether goalies choose where to dive in a way that is consistent with optimal mixed strategy play. The previous literature, studying professional soccer players, provides evidence of mixed strategy play in penalty kick scenarios. These results contrast with the evidence obtained in a lab, studying subjects who only play a game a few times and have insignificant monetary payoffs. These lab results find no evidence of mixed strategy play. The contrast between the results obtained from these very different environments makes it unclear which result generalizes to other settings. By studying college athletes, we analyze the middle ground, which is where most strategic decisions will be made. We find that college players employ optimal strategic play in some respects, but not in other respects.

Optimal Mixed Strategy Play: Professionals Can, Students Cannot, But What About the in Between Case?

Studies in Business and Economics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Using penalty kicks in collegiate soccer matches, we test whether kickers choose where to place shots, and whether goalies choose where to dive in a way that...

Optimal Mixed Strategy Play: Professionals Can, Students Cannot, But What About the in Between Case?

Published Online: Nov 19, 2016

Page range: 104 - 114

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sbe-2016-0025

Keywords
Mixed Strategy, Soccer, Amateurs

© 2016 Pfaff Jordan et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Optimal Mixed Strategy Play: Professionals Can, Students Cannot, But What About the in Between Case?

Published Online: Nov 19, 2016

Page range: 104 - 114

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sbe-2016-0025

KeywordsMixed Strategy, Soccer, Amateurs

© 2016 Pfaff Jordan et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Mixed Strategy, Soccer, Amateurs