How to Analyze a Soccer Game
How do you analyze a soccer game? Knowing how to analyze a soccer game, whether that is your own game through video camera analysis, your team’s performance, or a professional game on TV, is crucial for any soccer coach or soccer player, beginner, youth, or professional, looking to improve performance.
In this article, I will explain all the basic information you need to know and give tips for how to analyze a soccer game.
Image by Nathan Rodgers
What to look for During a Soccer Game?
The first thing to ask yourself when analyzing a game is what is the team doing during possession and what are they doing out of possession?
In-Possession
Does the team try to build up from the back or push up the line for a long ball? When watching how a team builds up from the back, notice how much the goalkeeper is involved and if they are comfortable playing with the center backs. Are the center backs inverted or traditional?
Inverted means that a right field player is left footed, and same with the left side, while a traditional player means that a right field player is right footed, and same with the left side.
Also ask yourself where do the full backs, the left and right backs, go during buildup? Does one stay flat, deep, wide, is one inverted?
Where are the center defensive midfielders (CDMS)? Do they drop in and do they create shapes and diamonds with the defenders and other midfielders, the CM and CAMS?
Identify what patterns they are using to get the ball to the opposition’s goal. Are they moving the ball from side to side, are they rushing the ball, how do they rotate as a team, which players are in the half-spaces during the build up and attacking phase?
These are the type of details you want to be looking for when analyzing a team in-possession.
Transition phases
During the transition phases you want to figure out how the team reacts when they lose or win the ball. What is their reaction when they lose the ball? What is their reaction when they win the ball?
Do they look to counter attack right away or maintain possession? Are they pressing centrally or pushing the team out wide?
Out of Possession
Out of possession it is important to look for what a team does defensively. Are they pressing high or low? Do they have a high block or low block? Are they man marking or zonal marking as a whole team?
Do they push a team to the sidelines or press centrally? Does the team have a pressing trigger?
What is Post Match Video Analysis?
Post match video analysis is a tool that is used to identify what worked and what can be improved on after the game. Depending on the level of a league, some teams will spend a majority of their time looking at game footage, whether that is their own footage or from a team they will play against soon.
By using video analysis, coaches can assess their own team’s performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop strategies for improvement. This process involves reviewing post-match videos to analyze the team’s shape, player positioning, movement patterns, decision-making, overall teamwork, and how the team reacts to the different phases of the game.
Through the use of video clips, coaches can pinpoint specific moments within a match that require attention, such as mistakes from the defensive line, missed opportunities in the final third, or breakdowns during the in-possession phase. By focusing on these key moments, coaches can provide targeted feedback to players and develop training sessions that address areas needing improvement.
Match video analysis can also involve studying opponents’ games to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and tactical approaches. By understanding how opposing teams play, coaches can develop game plans and strategies to exploit weaknesses and neutralize threats.
Overall, match video analysis is a powerful tool that teams all around the world have already implemented into their weekly routines.
Image by Feo con Ganas
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis in Soccer
When analyzing a soccer game there are two main types of statistics to keep in mind, quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative Analysis
Quantitative analysis involves the use of numerical data to evaluate various aspects of the game such as the number of goals scored, passes completed, shots taken at goal, assists, and possession percentage.
Qualitative Analysis
In addition to numerical data, qualitative analysis focuses on the subjective aspects of the game, such as player movement, decision-making, and tactical strategies. This type of analysis often involves watching game footage and identifying patterns and trends in the team’s play.
For example, qualitative analysis may involve watching how players position themselves defensively, their ability to maintain possession under pressure, or their effectiveness in executing set pieces such as corner kicks, free kicks, and penalty kicks.
How to Analyze Your Soccer Games: Step by Step Guide
Step 1: Record a soccer game (A.K.A. football match)
The first step in analyzing a soccer game is to record the match. This can be done by filming the game yourself with a soccer camera or obtaining televised broadcasts.
Step 2: Collect Game Footage and Data
Once the game has been recorded, collect all relevant footage and download it to your computer.
Step 3: Tactical Analysis
Next, conduct a tactical analysis of the game. This involves examining how well your team executed its game plan, as well as identifying any strengths or weaknesses in your performance.
Pay more attention to key moments in the match, such as transitions between defense and offense, set pieces, and patterns of play in the final third. For this step it is important to know your position and your role in your team’s tactics and formations.
Step 4: Player Performance Evaluation
After analyzing the game, take notes and evaluate your performance. You can also give your footage to a coach and have them provide feedback.
Step 5: Take Action
The final and most important thing of analyzing your performance is to actually apply the new tips and techniques provided to you by either a coach, parent, or even yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best soccer training program?
The best online soccer training program and soccer app is Football Entangled. There is no other program like Football Entangled on the market and this community, much more than just an app, will help you get closer to making your dreams a reality.
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.
What are the benefits of analyzing your own team and performance?
The main benefits of analyzing soccer games is that it can help you become a better player, by helping you learn from your mistakes so that you can fix them during your next game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the art of soccer game analysis is important for any coach or team looking for a competitive edge. By employing a combination of tactical analysis, player evaluation, and constructive criticism, teams and individuals can identify strengths, address weaknesses, and strategize effectively for future matches.
If you are not using video camera analysis, chances are you are missing out on a huge part of your development.
