The effect of playing tactics and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in a professional soccer team

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of playing tactics, opponent interaction and situational variables on achieving score-box possessions in professional soccer. The sample was constituted by 908 possessions obtained by a team from the Spanish soccer league in 12 matches played during the 2009-2010 season. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from 12 ordered categorical variables were used. Sampled matches were registered by the AMISCO PRO system. Data were analysed using chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Of 908 possessions, 303 (33.4%) produced score-box possessions, 477 (52.5%) achieved progression and 128 (14.1%) failed to reach any sort of progression. Multiple logistic regression showed that, for the main variable "team possession type", direct attacks and counterattacks were three times more effective than elaborate attacks for producing a score-box possession (P < 0.05). Team possession originating from the middle zones and playing against less than six defending players (P < 0.001) registered a higher success than those started in the defensive zone with a balanced defence. When the team was drawing or winning, the probability of reaching the score-box decreased by 43 and 53 percent, respectively, compared with the losing situation (P < 0.05). Accounting for opponent interactions and situational variables is critical to evaluate the effectiveness of offensive playing tactics on producing score-box possessions.

The effects of ball possession status on physical and technical indicators during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals

“…Although physical performances are not associated with success, they impact technical proficiency (Rampinini et al, 2008), thus they should not be disregarded as contributors to overall performance. However, BP, number of passes and pass completion rates are all associated with team success and thus are important technical variables (Castellano, Casamichana, & Lago, 2012;Collet, 2013;Lago-Ballesteros, Lago-Penas, & Rey, 2012). We expected HPBPT to be technically superior to LPBPT and our data supports this notion as players in HPBPT performed ~45% more passes than LPBPT, in addition to higher pass completion rates (79 vs 73%).…”

Evolution of match performance parameters for various playing positions in the English Premier League

“…Although the physical and tactical aspects are central to performance (Bradley et al, 2013;Lago-Ballesteros et al, 2012), a teams technical ability has been identified as the best indicator of success (Castellano et al, 2012;Collet, 2013;Rampinini, Impellizzeri, Castagna, Coutts, & Wisløff, 2009). The number of passes performed in World Cup final matches has been shown to have increased by ~40% over four decades (Wallace & Norton, 2014), a similar increase to that observed over a seven year period in the EPL (Barnes et al, 2014).…”

“…Although team success is complex and multifactorial, technical indicators have been found to predict team success more accurately than physical indicators (Carling, 2013;Castellano, Casamichana, & Lago, 2012). More specifically, ball possession, number of shots, shots on target, number of passes and pass completion rates are all associated with team success (Castellano et al, 2012;Collet, 2013;Hughes & Franks, 2005;Lago-Ballesteros et al, 2012;Lago-Peñas & Lago-Ballesteros, 2011). Although physical performances are not associated with success, they impact technical proficiency (Rampinini et al, 2008), thus should not be disregarded as contributors to overall performance.…”

“…Semi-automated computerised tracking systems have been used to identify the physical and technical requirements of elite soccer match-play and how these are influenced by positional, contextual and tactical factors (Bradley et al, 2011;Carling, Williams, & Reilly, 2005;Di Salvo et al, 2007;Lago, Casais, Dominguez, & Sampaio, 2010;Lago, 2009;Lago-Ballesteros, Lago-Peñas, & Rey, 2012). Relative to the overall distance covered by players, ~7-12% is covered at high-intensity and 1-4% whilst sprinting (Bradley et al, 2009;Di Salvo et al, 2010).…”

The effect of high and low percentage ball possession on physical and technical profiles in English FA Premier League soccer matches

“…higher passes to shots on goal ratio) and the type of offensive strategy (e.g. direct and counterattack) also important factors related to success (Collet, 2012;Lago-Ballesteros, Lago-Penas, & Rey, 2012). Studies on ball possession have primarily focused on its determinants and little attention has been paid to its interaction with physical indicators (Lago, 2009;Lago & Martin, 2007).…”