Sports Analytics Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to sports analytics terms, metrics, and abbreviations
Ace
A serve that directly results in a point without being touched by the receiving team, or is touched but cannot be kept in play.
Attack
An offensive play where a player attempts to hit the ball into the opponent's court with the intent to score a point.
Attack Efficiency
Hitting percentage calculated as (kills - errors) / total attacks, measuring overall attacking effectiveness.
Block
A defensive play where one or more front-row players jump at the net with arms extended to intercept or deflect an opponent's attack.
Block Assist
When two or more players combine on a block that results in a point, each blocker is credited with a block assist.
Cover
Defensive positioning where teammates surround an attacker to retrieve a blocked ball and keep it in play.
Dig
A defensive play where a player successfully receives an attacked ball and keeps it in play, preventing it from touching the floor.
Float Serve
A serve with minimal spin that causes the ball to move unpredictably through the air, making it difficult to receive.
Hitting Percentage
A statistical measure of attacking efficiency: (kills - hitting errors) / total attacks, with elite players exceeding .300.
Jump Serve
An aggressive serve where the player tosses the ball, takes an approach, and contacts the ball while airborne for power.
Kill
An attack that directly results in a point, where the ball lands in the opponent's court or is blocked out of bounds.
Kill Percentage
The percentage of attacks that result in kills, calculated as (kills / total attacks) × 100, measuring offensive efficiency.
Libero
A defensive specialist who wears a different colored jersey, cannot attack above net height, and provides exceptional passing and digging.
Outside Hit
An attack from the left front position (for right-handed hitters) or right front (for left-handed hitters), the most common attack.
Pancake
A defensive technique where a player slides their hand flat on the floor, allowing the ball to bounce off the back of their hand.
Pass
The first contact of the ball, typically using a platform pass (forearm pass) to control and direct the ball to the setter.
Quick Set
A low, fast set to a hitter who is already in the air or jumping immediately, designed to beat the block.
Rally
The sequence of play from the serve until the ball is dead, resulting in a point for one team.
Receive
The act of passing a served or attacked ball, typically referring to serve reception or defensive digs.
Reception Error
A failed attempt to receive a serve or attack that results in a point for the opponent, including shanks or missed balls.
Roll Shot
A controlled offensive shot with topspin that arcs over blockers and drops into the opponent's court.
Rotation
The clockwise movement of players after winning a rally while receiving serve, ensuring all players serve and play all positions.
Service Error
A serve that fails to legally enter the opponent's court, including net serves, out of bounds serves, or foot faults.
Service Reception
The quality of the first pass after a serve, rated on a scale (0-3 or 0-4) with higher numbers indicating better passes.
Service Run
The consecutive number of points scored by a team while one player maintains serve, indicating serving effectiveness.
Serving Percentage
The percentage of serves successfully put in play, calculated as (total serves - service errors) / total serves × 100.
Set
The second contact in a typical rally, where a player uses their fingertips to accurately position the ball for an attacker.
Side Out
When the receiving team wins a rally and earns the right to serve, gaining both the serve and a point.
Solo Block
A block performed by a single player that directly results in a point by stuffing the ball back into the opponent's court.
Spike
A forceful overhead attack where a player jumps and hits the ball downward into the opponent's court.
Stuff Block
A block that sends the ball directly down into the opponent's court for an immediate point, with no chance of recovery.
Tip
A soft, controlled attack using the fingertips to redirect the ball into the opponent's court, often catching defenders off-guard.
Topspin Serve
A serve hit with forward rotation that causes the ball to drop quickly, typically delivered with a jump approach.
Total Attempts
The cumulative number of attack attempts by a player or team, including kills, errors, and balls kept in play.
Transition
The phase of play when a team shifts from defense to offense, requiring quick adjustment and positioning.
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