Alanna Waters, a lacrosse player and coach, is speaking out on new research into the concept of winning streaks.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 23, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Alanna Waters is a lifelong lacrosse player and now a coach who understands how much psychology impacts athletic performance. Now, Alanna is speaking out on new information that delves into the concept of winning streaks or "hot hands." Many fans believe that athletes can get "in the zone" which will lead them to greater success. However, a new article explains that decades of scientific evidence are not as convinced that the idea of winning streaks is valid.

The study of the concept of "hot hands" began in 1985, when scientists took a look at records from various professional basketball teams and determined that players were not statistically more likely to hit a second basket after draining the first one. However, it seemed as though other teammates believed that this player would, in fact, be more likely to do so, and often gave this person the ball.

Other research into the subject shows that fans who felt that teams were on a hot streak would then bet on these teams, even though many times the bets did not pan out. Scientists believe that the fascination with winning streaks has to do with the fact that humans want to impose order on meaning on random occurrences, and will translate this into fandom too.

Alanna Waters comment on this stating, "While it is probably comforting for dedicated fans of sports teams to believe that their favorite squad can experience a hot streak, in reality this phenomenon requires more research. Perhaps hot streaks are possible, but talent and focus are also important indicators of success. A player certainly must feel confident in order to succeed, and self-doubt can cause poor performance, but this does not necessarily mean that confidence will lead to endless winning."

In order to get a more accurate and updated picture about winning streaks, scientists at Yale University collected a massive amount of data regarding an NBA team's entire season's worth of free throw shooting. They also looked at 50,000 games bowled by those in the Professional Bowlers Association.

This amount of data was much larger than any evidence collected in other studies. After analyzing the data carefully, the scientists found that success slightly increased the chances of subsequent success, though it usually took longer to kick in than simply during the next shot. It was common for basketball players to have "hot hands" over the course of a game or two, but this did not necessarily mean that the player would sink two free throws back-to-back.

In a study that appeared in the journal Psychological Science, researcher Yigal Attali took a look at all available shooting statistics for the 2010-11 NBA season. He came to the conclusion that players who sunk one shot had an elevated chance of taking the team's next shot, but were more likely than chance to miss that shot. Attali's work proves that players can also develop "anti hot hands." This means that after a success, the next action was a failure. Dr. Attali explains that this is both a psychological and a practical phenomenon. He also notes that these studies do not stand to discredit past work on the subject, rather they should supplement the information.

Alanna Waters comments on this research. "While it is always compelling to take a look at how science impacts sports, athletes should remain focused on performing their best and not worrying about how winning streaks may or may not impact their game," Alanna Waters concludes.

ABOUT:

Alanna Waters is an accomplished lacrosse coach as well as a player. She is currently the head girls' varsity coach at Metro Lacrosse. The position is ideal for Alanna, as she gets to enjoy the sport she is passionate about, while simultaneously aiding urban young people in bolstering their athletic skills and passion for the game. She also values helping her players learn important life lessons.

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