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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

NOTE:  Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the idea that someone would publish them.  I subscribe to the Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that posts extremely well thought out replies.  These are some of Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.   I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to publish them here.  If you like what you see or have a question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at garyrue@bellsouth.net There are 50+ more pages of Gary's posts categorized at the Home Page of Exercises of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.

Soccer Game Statistics

      Below is my attempt at putting some "black and white" around that gray area known as soccer game statistics for the individual.

       First, my thanks to Jim Bjaloncik, who was a great off-line sounding board. His experiences with score keeping at some high levels made for some good
give and take.

      Secondly, Tom Hart (of US Youth Soccer) provided me with my first big clue (after much prior searching and e-mails) of finding some written standards - a Soccer America question to the editor which pointed me to an area at the MLS web site. Though most of this is my own wording at defining these terms, some wording is verbatim from the MLS web site. Like Jim, this site provided me with some substance on which to base my thoughts and opinions.

       At this time, I consider the following still in draft form. I would greatly appreciate anyone that wants to take a crack at some word-smithing or editing. Also, as the following may cause some disagreement in concept, please feel free to attack the areas that you feel strongly about or have concerns.

       Situations and scenarios are welcomed with your thoughts on how it should be documented statistically. If there are any statistics that I left out or need to include, please submit those as well. Perhaps we can get David to add these to the coaching manual at some future date?! 

Individual Soccer Statistic Definitions

• Shot or shot attempt
  A deliberate and creditable attempt to score by a member of the attacking team; or an accidental or non-intentional play by a member of the attacking team that causes a score or a defensive save.
  
• Shot on goal 
  Any shot (attempt) that goes into the goal, is saved by the goalkeeper, or is blocked by a defender other than the goalkeeper in the six-yard mouth of the goal. A shot which hits the crossbar or either post is not considered a shot on goal, unless it goes in the goal or is saved or blocked from going into the goal directly off the post.
  
• Assist
  A pass or shot that leads directly to a teammate scoring a goal without a break in possession. To break the passing sequence, an opponent must 'gain control' of the ball. No more than two assists on a goal are permitted. There is no distinction between passes that exhibit a high degree of skill, vision and/or accuracy and passes that do not. For instance, if an attacker's shot rebounds off the post to a teammate that heads in the rebound for a score, the original shooter should be credited with an assist. 
  
• Goalkeeper Save
  A defensive stop of a shot on goal by a goalkeeper. Slow rolling ground ball pickups, punches or catches of high flighted crosses or a ball played toward the goalmouth by a member of the goalkeeper's team are not saves as these balls were not shots on goal.
  
• Non-goalkeeper Save
  A block of a shot on goal by a defender other than the goalkeeper in the six-yard mouth of the goal of a shot on goal.
  
• Own goal
  A defender's intentional play on a ball that causes a score on that defender's team. Defensive shot deflections near the shooter should not be considered an own goal if the ball goes in the goal. Generally, any play on a ball by a defender that would not have scored had the defender not touched it should be considered as an own goal. Goalkeepers can only be assessed own goals when the ball is allowed to enter the goal while the ball in their possession. In other words, a missed save attempt that allows a score is not considered an own goal. Rather, the goalkeeper allows the ball to pass over the goal line by stepping back too far or on a backswing when trying to throw the ball out.
  
• Goal Against Average (GAA)
  The number of goals scored on a goalkeeper (including penalty kicks) divided by the result of the number of minutes the goalkeeper has played total divided by the number of minutes in a regulation game. Shootout or tiebreaker goals do not count in this goal total. For  example, a goalkeeper has allowed 10 goals after playing 450 minutes of ten 90 minute games (e.g., he plays half of each game). 10 goals / (450 minutes / 90 minutes per game) = 10/5 or a GAA of 2 goals per game average.