Goal-Setting and Momentum Theories – From 0:2 to 1:2 in Soccer

The literature on goal-setting predicts that athletes respond to challenging but achievable goals with increased effort. Momentum implies that a significant precipitating event can induce a psychophysiological chain of reactions that facilitates subsequent performance. To test this premise, we examined if football teams increased their level of intensity once the possibility of getting at least a draw in the match became more attainable, namely, after scoring a goal that closes the score deficit from 0:2 to 1:2. We have scanned through four seasons of five leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Seria A, Bundesliga, and the Israeli Premier League), and examined the amount of actions that had the potential to account for intensity (e.g., tackles, fouls, challenges, ball recoveries) in a short period before and after the third goal was scored under this particular scenario (from 0:2 to 1:2), and compared the frequency of these actions to the same period after other third goals (e.g., from 1:1 to 1:2). We report on some increase in the amount of several specific actions after scoring the 0:2 to 1:2 goal, as compared to other instances of third goal. The current findings are discussed in the light of goal-setting and momentum theories.