At SciSports, we are dedicated to delivering clear and consistent insights into the game through our data. To support this, we proudly present the SciSports Event Types Glossary, a concise yet comprehensive reference designed to define and standardise all event types used across our platforms.
This glossary provides precise definitions and context for each event type (per category), helping users to interpret our data accurately and confidently. As football analytics evolve, this glossary will be regularly updated to reflect the latest developments and maintain transparency in our approach.
Below you’ll find shortcuts to all event types by category for easier navigation:
Finishing
Shots
Definition:
Shot from open play
Shots on target
Definition:
Shot on target from open play
Shots wide
Definition:
Shot wide from open play
Shots hitting the post/crossbar
Definition:
Shot hitting the post or crossbar from open play
Shots blocked
Definition:
Shot from open play blocked by an outfield player (from any team)
Close shots
Definition:
Shot from open play from inside the score box
Long distance shots
Definition:
Shot from open play from outside the score box
Offensive headers
Definition:
Shot with the head from open play
Offensive headers from set-piece
Definition:
Shot with the head directly following a set-piece
Close shots not from cross
Definition:
Shot from inside the score box, not following a cross
Shots from crosses
Definition:
Shot following a cross from open play
Shots from crossed set-pieces
Definition:
Shot following a crossed set-piece
Shots from crossed free-kicks
Definition:
Shot following a crossed freekick
Shots from crossed corners
Definition:
Shot following a crossed corner
Shots direct from corners
Definition:
Shot directly from a corner kick
Penalty shots
Definition:
Shot from a penalty kick
Direct free kick shots
Definition:
Shot from a direct freekick
Shots with the feet
Definition:
Shot with the foot
Goals
Definition:
Goal
Goals from penalties
Definition:
Goal scored from a penalty kick
Goals not from penalties
Definition:
Goal scored from anything but a penalty kick
Goals from direct free kicks
Definition:
Goals scored from a direct free kick
Goals from long distance shots
Definition:
Goals scored from outside the box
Goals from crossed corners
Definition:
Goal scored from a crossed corners
Defending
Blocking shots
Definition:
Shot blocked (defensive action)
Disruptions in own box
Definition:
Open play defensive action inside the own scorebox
Disruption of box penetrations
Definition:
Open play prevention of a score box penetration by the opponent
Disruption of long balls
Definition:
Open play prevention of long ball by the opponent
Open-play defense in air
Definition:
Open play defensive air challenge
Set-piece defense in own box
Definition:
Defensive action in the own score box following a set-piece by the opponent
Set-piece defense in air
Definition:
Defensive air challenge following a set-piece by the opponent
Transition forcing in air
Definition:
Open play interception following an air challenge
Regain possession
Definition:
Recovery of the ball in open play
Counter interceptions
Definition:
Recovery of the ball in open play, within 5 seconds after losing possession in open play
Counter interceptions own half
Definition:
Recovery of the ball in open play, within 5 seconds after losing possession in open play, on the own half
Counter interceptions opponent half
Definition:
Recovery of the ball in open play, within 5 seconds after losing possession in open play, on the opposing half
Fouls
Definition:
Foul committed
Fouls resulting in a penalty
Definition:
Foul committed, resulting in a penalty
Offsides
Definition:
Player being called offside
Yellow cards
Definition:
Yellow card received
Red cards
Definition:
Red card received
Clearances
Definition:
Ball being cleared from the own defensive area following an event by the opponent
Own goals
Definition:
Own goal being scored
Tackles
Definition:
A successful challenge for the ball on the ground
Recoveries
Definition:
Recovery of possession in open play
Interceptions
Definition:
Interception of the ball in open play
Challenges
Definition:
A non-successful challenge of the ball on the ground
Air duels
Definition:
A challenge for the ball while the ball is above shoulder height
Air duels won
Definition:
A challenge for the ball while the ball is above shoulder height, resulting in possession (of the team)
Air duels lost
Definition:
A challenge for the ball while the ball is above shoulder height, not resulting in possession (of the team)
Passing
Passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head
Passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, received by a teammate
Passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, not received by a teammate
Short pass
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, <10 m
Short pass succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, <10 m, received by a teammate
Short pass unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, <10 m, not received by a teammate
Middle long passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, 10-34m
Middle long passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, 10-34m, received by a teammate
Middle long passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, 10-34m, not received by a teammate
Long passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, ≥34m
Long passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, ≥34m, received by a teammate
Long passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, ≥34m, not received by a teammate
Direct passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, reducing the distance to the opposing goal
Direct passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, reducing the distance to the opposing goal, received by a teammate
Direct passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, reducing the distance to the opposing goal, not received by a teammate
Switch of play passes
Definition:
Open play pass played from one flank / halfspace to the other, in the first or middle third
Switch of play passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass played from one flank / halfspace to the other, in the first or middle third, received by a teammate
Switch of play passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass played from one flank / halfspace to the other, in the first or middle third, not received by a teammate
Build-up passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the first or middle third
Build-up passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the first or middle third, received by a teammate
Build-up passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the first or middle third, not received by a teammate
Chance creation passes
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the final third
Chance creation passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the final third, received by a teammate
Chance creation passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting in the final third, not received by a teammate
Passes into the final third
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the final third and ending inside the final third
Passes into the final third succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the final third and ending inside the final third, received by a teammate
Passes into the final third unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the final third and ending inside the final third, not received by a teammate
Deep completions
Definition:
Forward open play pass ≥15m, not with the head, starting outside the opposing score box and ending inside the opposing score box
Deep completions succ.
Definition:
Forward open play pass ≥15m, not with the head, starting outside the opposing score box and ending inside the opposing score box, received by a teammate
Deep completions unsucc.
Definition:
Forward open play pass ≥15m, not with the head, starting outside the opposing score box and ending inside the opposing score box, not received by a teammate
Passes in/around the box
Definition:
Forward or sideways open play pass, not with the head, starting <25m from the opposing goal
Passes in/around the box succ.
Definition:
Forward or sideways open play pass, not with the head, starting <25m from the opposing goal, received by a teammate
Passes in/around the box unsucc.
Definition:
Forward or sideways open play pass, not with the head, starting <25m from the opposing goal, not received by a teammate
First passes after recovery
Definition:
First pass after a successful change of possession in open play, not with the head
First passes after recovery succ.
Definition:
First pass after a successful change of possession in open play, not with the head, received by a teammate
First passes after recovery unsucc.
Definition:
First pass after a successful change of possession in open play, not with the head, not received by a teammate
Assists
Definition:
Pass followed by a shot resulting in a goal
Pre assists
Definition:
Pass followed by an assist
Key passes
Definition:
Pass followed by a shot
Pre-key passes
Definition:
Pass followed by a key pass
Passes into offside
Definition:
Pass resulting in the receiving players being trapped offside
Header passes
Definition:
Open play pass with the head
Header passes succ.
Definition:
Open play pass with the head, received by a teammate
Header passes unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass with the head, not received by a teammate
Passes into the hot zone
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the hot zone and ending inside the hot zone (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes into the hot zone succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the hot zone and ending inside the hot zone, received by a teammate (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes into the hot zone unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the hot zone and ending inside the hot zone, not received by a teammate (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes into the assists zone
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the assist zone and ending inside the assist zone (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Passes into the assists zone succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the assist zone and ending inside the assist zone, received by a teammate (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Passes into the hot assists zone unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting outside the assist zone and ending inside the assist zone, not received by a teammate (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Passes from the hot zone
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the hot zone and ending outside the hot zone (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes from the hot zone succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the hot zone and ending outside the hot zone, received by a teammate (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes from the hot zone unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the hot zone and ending outside the hot zone, not received by a teammate (Hot zone: Central zone from the top of the score box to the final third line)
Passes from the assist zone
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the assist zone and ending outside the assist zone (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Passes from the assist zone succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the assist zone and ending outside the assist zone, received by a teammate (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Passes from the assist zone unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, starting inside the assist zone and ending outside the assist zone, not received by a teammate (Assist zone: Flank zones in the final third, lateral to the score box)
Crosses
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, into the central zone of the score box
Crosses succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, into the central zone of the score box, received by a teammate
Crosses unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, into the central zone of the score box, not received by a teammate
Crosses blocked
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, intended for the central zone of the score box, blocked by an opponent
Early crosses
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, before the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box
Early crosses succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, before the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box, received by a teammate
Early crosses unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, before the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box, not received by a teammate
Late crosses
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, after the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box
Late crosses succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, after the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box, received by a teammate
Late crosses unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the head, crossed from outside the score box in the flank zones in the final third, after the start of the score box height, into the central zone of the score box, not received by a teammate
Cutback crosses
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the headed, crossed from the lateral backline zone inside the score box, backwards into the central zone of the score box
Cutback crosses succ.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the headed, crossed from the lateral backline zone inside the score box, backwards into the central zone of the score box, received by a teammate
Cutback crosses unsucc.
Definition:
Open play pass, not with the headed, crossed from the lateral backline zone inside the score box, backwards into the central zone of the score box, not received by a teammate
Dribbling
Dribbles
Definition:
Dribble with the ball
Carries
Definition:
Dribble with the ball resulting in >5m forward displacement
Take-ons
Definition:
Dribble resulting a duel
Take-ons succ.
Definition:
Dribble resulting a duel, after which player remains in possession
Take-ons unsucc.
Definition:
Dribble resulting a duel, after which player loses in possession
Dribbles past opponent
Definition:
Dribble resulting a duel, after which player remains in possession, resulting in >5m forwards displacement
Cuts inside
Definition:
Dribble from the flank zone inwards, on the attacking half
Dribbles into the box
Definition:
Dribble starting outside the opposing score box, and ending inside the opposing score box
Dribbles into opponent half
Definition:
Dribble starting outside the opposing half, and ending inside the opposing half
Dribbles into the final third
Definition:
Dribble starting outside the final third, and ending inside the final third
Receptions/Offensive Positioning
Receptions
Definition:
Ball reception
Overlapping runs
Definition:
Ball reception after making an overlapping run
Underlapping runs
Definition:
Ball reception after making an underlapping run
Final third receptions
Definition:
Ball reception in the final third
Halfspace receptions
Definition:
Ball reception in the half space of the final third
Box receptions
Definition:
Ball reception in the opposing score box
Hot zone receptions
Definition:
Ball reception in the hot zone (see hot zone definition earlier)
Assist zone receptions
Definition:
Ball reception in the assist zone (see assist zone definition earlier)
Retention
Ball losses
Definition:
Any pass, cross or dribble resulting a loss of possession
Ball losses own half
Definition:
Any pass, cross or dribble resulting a loss of possession on the own half
Ball losses opponent half
Definition:
Any pass, cross or dribble resulting a loss of possession on the opposing half
Goalkeeping
Goal kicks
Definition:
Goal kicks
Goal kicks succ.
Definition:
Goal kicks received by a team-member
Goal kicks unsucc.
Definition:
Goal kicks not received by a team-member
Short goal kicks
Definition:
Goal kicks <34m (short & middle distance passes)
Short goal kicks succ.
Definition:
Goal kicks <34m (short & middle distance passes) received by a teammate
Short goal kicks unsucc.
Definition:
Goal kicks <34m (short & middle distance passes) not received by a teammate
Long goal kicks
Definition:
Goal kicks ≥34m (long distance passes)
Long goal kicks succ.
Definition:
Goal kicks ≥34m (long distance passes) received by a teammate
Long goal kicks unsucc.
Definition:
Goal kicks ≥34m (long distance passes) not received by a teammate
Long goalkeeper throws
Definition:
Pass by the keeper with the hands
Long goalkeeper throws succ.
Definition:
Pass by the keeper with the hands received by a teammate
Long goalkeeper throws unsucc.
Definition:
Pass by the keeper with the hands not received by a teammate
Keeper saves
Definition:
Save on shot conceded, including unsuccessful saves (goal conceded)
Shots saved
Definition:
Successful save by the goalkeeper
Goals conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper
1v1 saves
Definition:
Save within 5 meters of the shot location
Penalties faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save of a penalty shot by the goalkeeper
Penalties saved
Definition:
Successful save of a penalty shot by the goalkeeper
Penalties conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt of a penalty shot (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper
Free kicks faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save of a free kick shot by the goalkeeper
Free kicks saved
Definition:
Successful save of a free kick shot by the goalkeeper
Free kicks conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt of a free kick shot (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper
Long shots faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save of a long shot (from outside the box) by the goalkeeper
Long shots saved
Definition:
Successful save of a long shot (from outside the box) by the goalkeeper
Long shots conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt (goal conceded) of a long shot (from outside the box) by the goalkeeper
Headers faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save by the goalkeeper on a header shot
Headers saved
Definition:
Successful save by the goalkeeper on a header shot
Headers conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper on a header shot
Crossed set-piece shots faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed free kick
Crossed set-piece shots saved
Definition:
Successful save by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed free kick
Crossed set-piece shots conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed free kick
Crossed corner shots faced
Definition:
Save or attempted save by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed corner
Crossed corner shots saved
Definition:
Successful save by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed corner
Crossed corner shots conceded
Definition:
Failed save attempt (goal conceded) by the goalkeeper on a shot from a crossed corner
Line saves
Definition:
Save by the keeper while positioned in the own goal box
Offensive goalkeeper actions outside the box
Definition:
Offensive action (pass or dribble) by the goalkeeper outside the own score box
Defensive goalkeeper actions after the penalty spot
Definition:
Defensive action (interception, tackle, foul, clearance etc.) by the goalkeeper made higher than the penalty mark (>11m from the goal-line)
Defensive goalkeeper actions outside the box
Definition:
Defensive action (interception, tackle, foul, clearance etc.) by the goalkeeper made outside of the own score box
Claims
Definition:
Goalkeeper claiming a ball coming in through the air
Cross claims
Definition:
Goalkeeper claiming a crossed ball
Keeper pick-ups
Definition:
Goalkeeper picking the ball up from the ground
Keeper punches
Definition:
Goalkeeper punching the ball away
Keeper cross punches
Definition:
Goalkeeper punching a crossed ball away
Set Pieces
Throw ins
Definition:
Throw in
Throw ins succ.
Definition:
Throw ins received by a teammate
Throws ins unsucc.
Definition:
Throw ins not received by a teammate
Throw ins crossed
Definition:
Throw ins crossed into the box
Throw ins crossed succ.
Definition:
Throw ins crossed into the box received by a teammate
Throw ins crossed unsucc.
Definition:
Throw in crossed into the box, not received by a teammate
Free kicks crossed
Definition:
Freekick crossed into the score box
Free kicks crossed succ.
Definition:
Freekick crossed into the score box, received by a teammate
Free kicks crossed unsucc.
Definition:
Freekick crossed into the score box, not received by a teammate
Free kicks short
Definition:
Freekick not crossed or short
Free kicks short succ.
Definition:
Freekick not crossed or short, received by a teammate
Free kicks short unsucc.
Definition:
Freekick not crossed or short, not received by a teammate
Corners crossed
Definition:
Crossed corner kick
Corners short
Definition:
Short corner kick
Penalties
Definition:
Penalty
Kick-offs
Definition:
Kick-off
Penalties awarded
Definition:
Penalty being awarded after suffering a foul
Free kicks awarded
Definition:
Freekick awarded after suffering a foul
Indirect free kicks awarded
Definition:
Indirect Freekick awarded after suffering a foul
Direct free kicks awarded
Definition:
Direct Freekick awarded after suffering a foul
Balls out for goal kick
Definition:
Ball goes out resulting a goal kick
Balls out for throw in
Definition:
Ball goes out resulting in a throw in
Balls out for corner
Definition:
Ball goes out resulting in a corner
Referee ball drops
Definition:
Referee restarts the game with a ball drop