Sports Analytics Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to sports analytics terms, metrics, and abbreviations
Aerial Duels Won
Percentage of aerial challenges won when competing for the ball in the air. Important for defenders, particularly from set pieces and long balls. Formula: (Aerial Duels Won / Total Aerial Duels) × 100
Appearances
The number of matches a player has participated in, regardless of minutes played. Includes substitute appearances.
Assist
The final pass or touch leading directly to a goal being scored by a teammate. One of the primary creative statistics in soccer.
Big Chance
A situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually with an xG value of 0.35 or higher. These are high-quality goal-scoring opportunities.
Blocks
Defensive actions where a player uses their body to stop a shot, pass, or cross from reaching its intended destination.
Build-up Play
The process of advancing the ball from defensive positions through midfield to create attacking opportunities. Involves patient passing and positional rotation.
Clean Sheet
A match in which a team or goalkeeper does not concede any goals. An important statistic for evaluating defensive performance.
Clearances
Defensive actions that remove the ball from the defensive zone, usually with power and urgency, often resulting in a loss of possession.
Conversion Rate
The percentage of shots that result in goals. Measures finishing efficiency and clinical nature in front of goal. Formula: (Goals / Total Shots) × 100
Crosses Completed
Successful crosses into the penalty area that reach a teammate. Measures delivery quality from wide positions.
Defensive Actions
The sum of all defensive contributions including tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, and aerial duels won. Provides an overall measure of defensive activity. Formula: Tackles + Interceptions + Clearances + Blocks + Aerial Duels Won
Dribbles Completed
Successful attempts to beat a defender with the ball. The player must maintain possession after going past the opponent.
Expected Assists (xA)
The probability that a pass will result in a goal based on the quality of the chance created.
Expected Goals (xG)
Statistical measure of shot quality and scoring probability
Expected Goals (xG)
A metric that quantifies the quality of a scoring chance based on historical data.
Field Tilt
The percentage of total actions (passes, shots, etc.) that occur in the opposition half. Indicates territorial dominance and attacking intent. Formula: (Actions in Opposition Half / Total Actions) × 100
Fouls Committed
The total number of fouls a player commits. While sometimes tactical, excessive fouls can indicate poor positioning or lack of discipline.
Goal Involvement
The combined total of goals and assists a player contributes. Measures overall attacking output and impact on team scoring. Formula: Goals + Assists
Goal-Creating Actions
The two offensive actions directly leading to a goal. Can include passes, dribbles, winning fouls, or defensive actions leading to goals.
Goals Per 90
The average number of goals a player scores per 90 minutes of play. Normalizes scoring output for fair comparison between players. Formula: (Total Goals / Minutes Played) × 90
Interceptions
Actions where a defender reads the opposition's play and intercepts a pass or through ball, breaking up an attacking move.
Key Pass
A pass that immediately leads to a shot by a teammate. The shot does not need to result in a goal, but it must be a clear attempt on goal.
Last Man Tackles
Tackles made when the defender is the last line of defense before the goalkeeper. High-risk situations requiring excellent timing and positioning.
Long Ball Completion
The accuracy of passes over 30 yards. Measures a player's ability to switch play or play direct passes over distance. Formula: (Successful Long Balls / Total Long Balls) × 100
Minutes Played
The total number of minutes a player has been on the pitch. Essential for normalizing statistics and comparing players with different amounts of playing time.
Non-Penalty xG
Expected goals excluding penalties. Provides a more accurate measure of open-play attacking performance since penalties have very high xG values. Formula: Total xG - Penalty xG
Pass Completion
The percentage of passes that successfully reach a teammate. A fundamental measure of technical quality and ball retention. Formula: (Successful Passes / Total Passes) × 100
Passes into Final Third
Successful passes that enter the attacking third of the pitch. Indicates progressive play and ability to break defensive lines.
Passes into Penalty Area
Successful passes that reach a teammate inside the opposition penalty area. High-value passes that often create scoring opportunities.
Passing Networks
Visual representations showing the connections between players through passing. Reveals team shape, key playmakers, and ball circulation patterns.
Penalty Area Touches
The number of times a player receives the ball inside the opposition's penalty area. Indicates involvement in dangerous attacking positions.
Possession Percentage
The percentage of time a team controls the ball during a match. While not directly correlated with winning, it indicates playing style and territorial control. Formula: (Team Possession Time / Total Match Time) × 100
Possession Won in Final Third
The number of times a team wins the ball in the attacking third. Indicates effective high pressing and can lead to dangerous scoring chances.
Post-Shot xG
A refined xG metric that accounts for the exact placement and speed of the shot after it has been taken. More accurate than pre-shot xG for evaluating finishing quality.
PPDA (PPDA)
Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action - measures pressing intensity
PPDA (PPDA)
Passes Per Defensive Action - Measures pressing intensity by counting opponent passes before a defensive action.
PPDA
Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action - Measures how intensely a team presses. Lower values indicate more aggressive pressing, higher values suggest a deeper defensive block. Formula: Opposition Passes / (Tackles + Interceptions + Fouls in Opposition Half)
Pressure Success Rate
The percentage of pressures that result in a turnover within 5 seconds. Measures the effectiveness of defensive pressing. Formula: (Successful Pressures / Total Pressures) × 100
Pressures
Actions where a defender applies pressure to an opponent on the ball, forcing them to act quickly or make a mistake.
Progressive Carries
Ball carries that move the ball towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point, or any carry into the penalty area.
Progressive Pass (PrgP)
Pass that moves ball significantly closer to opponent goal
Progressive Passes
Forward passes that move the ball significantly closer to the opponent's goal. Must advance the ball at least 10 yards towards goal or into the penalty area.
Recoveries
Actions where a player regains possession of a loose ball. Can occur after tackles, interceptions, or opponent errors.
Shot Accuracy
The percentage of total shots that are on target. Indicates a player or team's ability to test the goalkeeper. Formula: (Shots on Target / Total Shots) × 100
Shot on Target
A shot that would have gone into the goal if not blocked by the goalkeeper or defender. Shots hitting the frame of the goal are also counted as on target.
Shot-Creating Actions
The two offensive actions directly leading to a shot, such as passes, dribbles, or drawing fouls. Measures a player's involvement in chance creation.
Tackle Success Rate
The percentage of attempted tackles that successfully win the ball. Indicates defensive efficiency and timing. Formula: (Successful Tackles / Total Tackles) × 100
Tackles
An action where a player successfully challenges an opponent for the ball, dispossessing them or preventing them from advancing with the ball.
Through Balls
A penetrating pass played into space behind the defensive line for a teammate to run onto. Typically splits the defense and creates goal-scoring opportunities.
Touches in Opposition Box
The total number of times a player touches the ball inside the opponent's penalty area. Indicates a player's presence in dangerous scoring positions.
Turnovers
The number of times a player or team loses possession through poor control, misplaced passes, or being dispossessed. Lower values indicate better ball security.
xA
Expected Assists - Measures the likelihood that a pass will become a goal assist. It considers the quality of the chance created rather than just the final outcome.
xG
Expected Goals - A metric that measures the quality of a shot based on several variables such as distance from goal, angle, body part used, and type of assist. Each shot is assigned a probability (between 0 and 1) of resulting in a goal.
xG +/-
The difference between a team's xG for and xG against. Positive values indicate dominant performances, negative values suggest being outplayed. Formula: xG For - xG Against
xG Against
The expected goals value of shots a team concedes. Measures the quality of chances allowed and defensive performance.
xG Buildup
Similar to xG Chain but excludes the player taking the shot and the player making the final assist. Highlights players who contribute to attacks without direct involvement in the final action.
xG Chain
Credits every player involved in a possession that ends with a shot with the xG value. Measures overall involvement in attacking sequences.
xG Difference
The difference between actual goals scored and expected goals. Positive values suggest clinical finishing or luck, negative values indicate poor finishing or bad luck. Formula: Actual Goals - Expected Goals (xG)
xG Per 90
Expected goals normalized to a full 90-minute match. Allows fair comparison between players with different amounts of playing time. Formula: (Total xG / Minutes Played) × 90
xG Per Shot
The average expected goals value per shot attempt. Higher values indicate a player or team generates higher quality chances. Formula: Total xG / Total Shots
xGOT
Expected Goals on Target - Measures the quality of shots on target by analyzing where the shot was placed. Helps evaluate goalkeeper performance by comparing xGOT against goals conceded.
Quick Reference
Common sports analytics metrics you should know
Baseball Metrics
- WAR - Wins Above Replacement
- wOBA - Weighted On-Base Average
- FIP - Fielding Independent Pitching
- wRC+ - Weighted Runs Created Plus
Soccer Metrics
- xG - Expected Goals
- xA - Expected Assists
- PPDA - Passes Per Defensive Action
- PSxG - Post-Shot Expected Goals
Basketball Metrics
- PER - Player Efficiency Rating
- TS% - True Shooting Percentage
- BPM - Box Plus/Minus
- VORP - Value Over Replacement Player
Football Metrics
- EPA - Expected Points Added
- CPOE - Completion Percentage Over Expected
- DVOA - Defense-adjusted Value Over Average
- PFF Grade - Pro Football Focus Grade