¹Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

Correspondence: MB Wright, Department of Management Science, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YX, UK. E-mail: m.wright@lancaster.ac.uk

Received June 2008; Accepted August 2008; Published online 4 February 2009.

Abstract

This paper reviews about 50 years of activity in OR as applied to sports. After some history and an overview, including discussions of what we mean by sport and what we mean by OR, four themes are presented: tactics and strategy, scheduling, forecasting and 'other'. Within each theme many papers are discussed, showing the wide range of methods used and sports analysed. The issue is then raised of who our clients are and who they ought to be—it is suggested that not nearly enough is done for amateur sport. The paper ends with a conclusion and speculations about the next 50 years.