Football Knowledge

A glossary and reference library for football analytics concepts, metrics, visualizations, and data sources.

Core Metrics

xG - Expected Goals — shot probability metric (Sam Green, Michael Caley, StatsBomb)
xT - Expected Threat — ball progression valuation via Markov chains (Karun Singh, 2018)
VAEP - Valuing Actions — ML-based action valuation framework (KU Leuven, 2019)
EPV - Expected Possession Value — real-time continuous pitch value surface (Fernández & Bornn, 2019)

PSxG - Post-Shot Expected Goals — xG extended with shot placement data
npxG - Non-Penalty Expected Goals — xG with penalties excluded
xA - Expected Assists — xG credited to the passer
Progressive Passes & Carries — threshold-based ball progression identification
Packing Rate — defenders bypassed per action (Reinartz / Impect, 2016)
PPDA - Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action — pressing intensity metric (Colin Trainor)
Network Centrality Metrics — graph theory metrics applied to passing structure

Data Sources & Libraries — providers, free datasets, Python libraries, key people

Tags: #football #analytics #index

Core Metrics

xG - Expected Goals — shot probability metric (Sam Green, Michael Caley, StatsBomb)

xT - Expected Threat — ball progression valuation via Markov chains (Karun Singh, 2018)

VAEP - Valuing Actions — ML-based action valuation framework (KU Leuven, 2019)

EPV - Expected Possession Value — real-time continuous pitch value surface (Fernández & Bornn, 2019)

Derived & Related Metrics

PSxG - Post-Shot Expected Goals — xG extended with shot placement data

xA - Expected Assists — xG credited to the passer

Progressive Passes & Carries — threshold-based ball progression identification

Packing Rate — defenders bypassed per action (Reinartz / Impect, 2016)

PPDA - Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action — pressing intensity metric (Colin Trainor)

Network Centrality Metrics — graph theory metrics applied to passing structure

Visualizations

Heat Maps — spatial density of player activity (KDE-based)

Pass Maps — passing patterns, sonars, progressive passes, xT-colored

Shot Maps — shot locations with xG, freeze frames, PSxG

Pass Networks — graph-based team passing structure

Voronoi Diagrams — spatial partitioning by nearest player

Pitch Control Models — probabilistic space control (Spearman, 2018)

Carry Maps — ball carry and dribble visualization

Pressing Maps — pressing zones and intensity visualization

Convex Hulls - Team Shape — team compactness and shape measurement