Offside Control: A pitch control parameter to evaluate the offside performance of soccer teams

Abstract

We propose a new methodology for quantifying the effectiveness of the offside strategy of teams and players using a specific pitch control model. These models determine the probability of players controlling the ball based on their position, speed, and time to reach a desired location. Our study focuses on defining a new performance parameter, the Offside Control (OC), which quantifies the amount of threat posed by the attacking team or player beyond the offside line. OC computes the contribution to pitch control after the offside line by employing tracking datasets as input. Our analysis encompasses 100 matches of the Spanish National league in 2019 and scrutinizes the performance of 442 players. Importantly, we analyze the amount of OC that is effectively created, i.e., with the attacking player in a legal position and investigate how forward players move around the offside line. Our methodology offers a valuable instrument for the analysis of a team’s offside strategy and players’ distinct playing styles and can aid coaches in making informed decisions based on tracking data.