Glossary

Precise definitions for scientific football terminology.

Core terms only for now — quality over a long list.

A

Average Position
A single pitch point summarising where a player’s on-ball actions tended to occur.

H

Heatmap
A density plot of where actions (or a player’s actions) occurred on the pitch.

P

Pass Network
A graph of players (nodes) and completed-pass connections (edges), usually placed at average on-ball locations.
PPDA Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action
A rate proxy for how many opponent passes occur before a defensive action in a defined pitch zone.
Progressive Pass
A completed pass that advances the ball meaningfully toward the opponent’s goal under a stated distance rule.

S

Shot Map
A pitch plot of shot attempts, often sized or coloured by outcome or xG.

X

xG Expected Goals
A model estimate of how often a shot of a given type becomes a goal in historical data.

For longer essays, see Concepts