球隊做錯了嗎 公開禁止性行爲的球隊均被淘汰

As a sex researcher, I've been thinking about how much the World Cup players have been thinking about having sex – even if they aren't supposed to be participating in sexual activity.

據英國《衛報》報道，即使世界盃期間球員不該進行任何性行爲，作爲一個性學研究者，我還是一直在想球員們在這期間有多少性幻想。

The Team-by-team rules governing players' sexual behavior during competition this year are varied, and the "evidence" that those rules matter is weak. But the round of 16 is nearly complete, and while no managers have sanctioned sex on the field, it would seem those countries that allow scoring off the field ... are still advancing in the tournament:

今年世界盃期間，球隊對於束縛球員性行爲的規定各有特色，基本沒有證據顯示那些規定起到了作用，如今16進8基本已經結束，禁止性行爲的球隊全部出局，而那些允許在場下“射門”的球隊反而昂首挺進8強。

Costa Rica won again – after its players were allowed to have sex upon reaching the second round.

哥斯達黎加再奪勝利，在球隊接近進入第二輪後球員獲准可以有性生活。

France (whose players can have sex, just not all night) just beat Nigeria (wife OK; girlfriend, not OK).

法國（允許球員有性行爲，只要不是整夜）剛擊敗了尼日利亞 （對象只能是妻子不能是女友）

Brazil (no acrobatics, please) pulled out that miracle win over Chile (no sex allowed).

巴西（不允許用高難度雜耍動作）奇蹟般擊敗智利（不允許性行爲）

Germany (unlimited sex except the night before) had a big comeback victory over Algeria (sex rules unknown).

德國（性愛自由，只要不是比賽前夜）捲土重來擊敗阿爾及利亞（規定未知）

So, Team USA and England were allowed to go for unrestricted sexual goals, and we know those teams are going in opposite directions. But all the teams with public anti-sex policies at the World Cup have been knocked out. Much of whatever coaches think they know about the relationship between sexual release and athletic performance, however, is myth. What little actual scientific research has been done suggests that sexual activity the night before a game may be helpful if it results in relaxation and a good night's sleep, but there has been far too little research. Indeed, there is no evidence whatsoever that being in a sexually deprived state will help athletic performance.

美國和英格蘭在牀上“進球”方面全無限制，但兩隊的結局卻和勝利截然相反。目前所有公開禁止性行爲的球隊都已被淘汰，不管那些教練以爲他們對於性放鬆和競技狀態的關係瞭解多深入，這些看法都沒經過證實。真正對於比賽前夜進行性行爲是否有助於放鬆和獲得好的睡眠的科學研究做的很少，實在是太少了。當然，也沒有證據證明完全被剝奪性生活是有助於球員的競技表現的。

Ultimately, it matters little whether players can engage in sex during the World Cup – or hook up all over the Olympic village – but the motley mixture of rules provides a microcosm of what can happen in the absence of solid data. When myths and stereotypes are more influential than research findings, misconceptions get perpetuated. A man who believes he is supposed to be thinking about sex constantly might feel there is something wrong with him if he doesn't. An athlete who believes his team will lose if he engages in sexual activity could become a victim of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

總之，無論是球員在世界盃期間做愛做的事，還是運動員約遍整個奧運村，其實都無關緊要。但是各種各樣，魚龍混雜的規定給我們提供了一個縮影，讓我們看到缺乏堅實的數據支持會發生什麼。謠言和固定的成見比研究發現更有影響力，到處都是錯誤的觀念。一個男人如果沒有頻繁的性幻想，又認爲男人應該如此的話，他可能會覺得自己有問題。一個運動員如果相信自己比賽前的性行爲會導致隊伍失利的話，他可能會變成自我實現失敗的受害者。

Why not attempt to address these everyday (and night) issues by funding and supporting more and better empirical research on sexuality? It would be a big score – not just for athletes and sex research but an important goal for anyone who believes that sex is a healthy part of life. And there would certainly be no shortage of volunteers to participate in the research.

爲何不通過資助更多的性學實驗研究來解決這一日常問題呢？這將是一個完美的進球得分，不僅對運動員和性學研究，對相信性是健康生活一部分的人也是如此。而且這方面的研究，絕對是不缺少志願者參與的。