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What are the definitions of the different Action Types?
What are the definitions of the different Action Types?

A definitive breakdown of over 50 action types

J
Written by Jurre van Laarhoven
Updated over a week ago

Jump to a specific Action Group:

Player Performance

In the Player Performance section of a player profile page, you can assess performance of a player on specific offensive and defensive actions. In general, offensive performance is divided in passing, crossing, dribbling, finishing, ball retention and offensive positioning. Defensive performance is divided into defensive positioning, open-play disruption, set-pieces disruption, transition forcing and counter control.

Good to know:

  • Performance insights are already shown after playing 1 minute.

  • Only matches/minutes played on the main position (or position group such as left- and right wingers) are considered.

  • The other players in the benchmark visual (benchmark players) are shown if they have played >450 minutes on that position in that season.

For all categories, subcategories are made to further analyse performance in detail. The following subcategories are used (with explanation):

OFFENSIVE

Passing

  • Short pass: pass shorter than 10 metres.

  • Middle long pass: pass between 10 and 34 metres.

  • Long pass: pass longer than 34 metres.

  • Direct pass: pass directed straight towards the opponent goal.

  • Switch of play: pass switching play from one side of the pitch to the other side.

  • Build-up pass: pass from the own or middle third.

  • Chance creation pass: pass from the final third.

  • Pass into final third: pass from the own or middle third into the final third.

  • Deep completion: forward pass longer than 15 meters that ends in the final 25 metres of the pitch.

  • Pass in or around the box: pass starting and ending in the box or 10 metres in front of the opponent penalty box.

  • First pass after recovery: first pass after regaining possession.

Crossing

  • Early cross: cross from before the height of the opponent penalty box.

  • Late cross: cross from beyond the height of the opponent penalty box.

  • Cutback cross: Low cross from the back line inside the opponent penalty box.

Dribbling

  • Carry: carry the ball through open space.

  • Dribble past opponent: Attempt to create a numerical advantage by taking on an opponent.

  • Cut inside: Dribble from the flank towards the centre in the final third.

  • Dribble into the box: Dribble from outside opponent penalty box into the opponent penalty box.

  • Create overload: Dribble from the own third into the middle third in the centre of the pitch to create a numerical superiority in this area.

Finishing

  • Close shot: shot from inside the opponent penalty box.

  • Long distance shot: shot from outside the opponent penalty box.

  • Offensive header: attempt to score with the head.

  • Offensive header from set piece: attempt to score with the head directly from a corner or freekick.

  • Close shot not from cross: shot from inside the opponent penalty box not preceded by a cross.

  • Finish cross: shot from inside the opponent penalty box directly from a cross.

Ball Retention

  • Dangerous ball loss in own half: action that results in a loss of possession in the player’s own half.

  • Risky ball loss in opponent half: action that results in a loss of possession in the opponent half.

Offensive positioning

  • Overlapping run: ball reception in a run over the flank.

  • Underlapping run: ball reception in a run through the centre.

  • Reception in the final third: all reception events within the final third.

  • Positioning in the final third: All passes and crosses received in the final third.

  • Positioning in the halfspace: All passes and crosses received in the halfspace.

  • Positioning in the box: All passes and crosses received in the opponent box.


DEFENSIVE

Defensive positioning

  • Suppress passing: prevent the direct opponent from being dangerous with passing by defending well.

  • Suppress dribbling: prevent the direct opponent from being dangerous with dribbling by defending well.

  • Suppress crossing: prevent the direct opponent from being dangerous with crossing by defending well.

  • Suppress finishing: prevent the direct opponent from finishing by defending well.

Open-play disruption

  • Blocking shots: the first defensive action executed after an opponent’s shot.

  • Disruption in own box: the first defensive action executed after possession of the opponent, occurring in the defender’s own box.

  • Disruption of box penetrations: the first defensive action executed after an opponent’s action towards the box (e.g., pass or dribble).

  • Disruption of long balls: the first defensive action executed after a long ball of the opponent, where the long ball travels at least 25 meters forward.

  • Open-play defense in air: the first defensive action executed in the air during open play.

Set-pieces disruption

  • Set-piece defense in own box: the first defensive action executed in the defender’s own box following a set piece of the opponent.

  • Set-piece defense in air: the first defensive action executed in the air following a set piece of the opponent.

Transition forcing

  • Transition forcing in air: any defensive action that is in the air and part of a defensive transition. A defensive transition is a phase when multiple defensive actions occur in quick succession.

  • Regain possession: the final defensive action of a defensive transition in which the team gains or regains possession. A defensive transition is a phase when multiple defensive actions occur in quick succession.

Counter control

  • Counter interceptions on own half: defensive actions within 5 seconds after ball loss, executed on the defender’s own half. These actions aim to immediately disrupt the opponent’s counter-attack.

  • Counter interceptions on opponent half: defensive actions within 5 seconds after ball loss, executed on the opponent’s half. These actions aim to immediately disrupt the opponent’s counter-attack.

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