Event Data
Timestamped on-ball actions used to build many public football metrics.
Definition
Event data records actions such as passes, shots, carries, and defensive actions. Each action has a time, location, and often an outcome. It supports shot maps, pass networks, progressive-pass counts, and many pressing proxies. Coverage and tagging rules differ by provider.
Event streams are strong for on-ball events. They are weak for off-ball shape, pressing triggers, and continuous positioning unless paired with tracking data or video. StatsBomb Open Data is free to study. It covers a limited set of competitions and seasons, not live scouting of every league.
Caution
Do not treat an event table as a complete tactical film. Missing off-ball context is part of the data type.