Associação entre as variáveis logísticas de viagem e o desempenho esportivo dos clubes da série A do Campeonato Brasileiro

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between travel-related logistical variables and the sports performance of clubs competing in the Brazilian Football Championship – Série A between 2003 and 2025, corresponding to the round-robin era. A quantitative research approach was adopted based on secondary data from all matches played during the competition, including information on travel distance, rest time between matches, teams' geographic location, and sports performance. The data were obtained from public databases, processed, and integrated into a single database for analysis. Initially, descriptive and spatial analyses were conducted to characterize the logistical patterns faced by the teams. Subsequently, an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model with fixed effects for team, opponent, and season was estimated to examine the association between logistical variables and the points earned in each match. The results indicated that travel distance was negatively and statistically significantly associated with sports performance, suggesting that longer trips tend to reduce the number of points obtained by teams. In contrast, rest time between matches and fixture congestion did not show a statistically significant association with performance. The findings contribute to the understanding of the association between travel logistics and sports performance in Brazilian professional football, providing empirical evidence that may support decision-making regarding travel planning, competition scheduling, and team performance management.