The primary aim of this study is to determine the passing patterns that are more likely to create goal scoring opportunities. The objectives include: • Examine passing patterns in the attacking third and evaluate their effectiveness in retaining possession • Determine the passing trends of winning and losing teams • Explore the relationship between pass type and pass outcome

1. REFERENCES
1. Jones, P et al. Int. J. Perf. Anal. In Sport. 4: 98-102, 2004
2. Lago, C et al. Int. J. Perf. Anal. In Sport. 25:969-974, 2007
3. Scoulding, A et al. Int. J. Perf. Anal. In Sport. 4:36-41, 2004
CONCLUSION
The key finding of this study was that teams are more likely to
keep possession in the attacking third and create goal scoring
opportunities by playing regular balls to feet. In addition,
whilst crosses can be a successful mechanism for scoring
goals, crossing also presented a high risk of the attacking team
losing possession. Therefore coaches need to be aware of the
significant trade-off when designing set plays such as corners
and free kicks from wide areas.
Furthermore, winning teams opted to play more balls to feet
with less crosses than losing teams. Losing teams also
presented higher rates of poor quality passes which resulted in
the loss of possession than winning teams. This supports the
concept that the retention of possession is an imperative
mechanism for winning games.
Coaches should concentrate on small-sided games that
promote passes to feet in order to find space for a subsequent
shot. Additionally, coaches should encourage teams to
withdraw from overusing the crossing option in games as it is
has the potential to result in a loss of possession.
RESULTSINTRODUCTION
In football, the attacking teams ability to retain possession
has been linked to success (1,3). Previous research into the
determinants of possession and passing patterns have
suggested passing strategies for successful and unsuccessful
teams do not differ significantly (3). Further research has
suggested teams have more possession when they are losing
the match (1,2,3). Whilst there has been studies that have
examined the way possession affects match outcome, there
is little research regarding how teams retain possession and
create goal-scoring opportunities.
METHODS
Notational analysis was conducted on 6 games (n = 1121) of
rounds 4 and 5 of the 2010 English Premier League (EPL).
Chi-squared analysis was used to analyse the data.
The primary variables consisted:
1. Team Status (Won game, drew game, lost game)
2. Pass Outcome (Goal scored, shot on goal, shot off goal,
retained possession, lost possession)
3. Length of pass (less than 10m, between 10-25m, greater
than 25m)
4. Pass type (Regular to feet, cross, through ball)
5. Quality of pass (Good, moderate, poor)
Jocelyn MARA
POSSESSION AND GOAL SCORING
OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOTBALL
Chi Squared analysis revealed there was a significant association
association between pass type and attempt on goal. (X2 (3) =
20.759, p < .001) (Figure 1) .
• 36.3% (SR = 3.1) of crosses resulted in an attempt on goal
• 47.6% (SR = -2.5) of regular balls to feet resulted in an attempt
on goal.
Further analysis showed there was a significant association
between pass type and pass outcome (X2 (15) = 444.155, p < .
001) (Figure 1)
• 50% (SR = 2.4) of all goals scored in the study (n = 18) were
the result of a cross
• 87.4% (SR = 7.0) of passes made to feet resulted in the
retention of possession
• 58.8% (SR =12.7) of all losses of possession were the result of
a cross
email: u3017005@student.canberra.edu.au
Figure 1: The distribution of pass type resulting in all attempts on
goal and goals scored
Figure 2: The distribution of pass type among winning, drawing and
losing teams.
The primary aim of this study is to determine the passing
patterns that are more likely to create goal scoring
opportunities. The objectives include:
• Examine passing patterns in the attacking third and evaluate
their effectiveness in retaining possession
• Determine the passing trends of winning and losing teams
• Explore the relationship between pass type and pass
outcome
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Regular to feet Cross Through ball
Percentage(%)
Type of Pass
Attempts on goal and pass type
% all goals scored
% all shots
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Regular to feet Cross Through ball
Percentage(%)
Pass Type
Team Status and Pass Type
Winning Team
Drawing Team
Losing Team
There was also a significant association between team status
and pass outcome (X2(15) = 31.112, p = .008), team status and
pass type (X2 (9) = 29.401, p = .001) and team status and pass
quality (X2 (6) = 34.560, p < .001).
• 36.9% (SR = 3.5) of all passes made by losing teams resulted
in a loss of possession.
• 32.7% (SR = 3.3) (Figure 2) of all passes made by losing
teams were crosses
• 33.5% (SR = 3.2) of all passes made by losing teams were of
poor quality.