Glossary · 96 stats
Every stat, in plain English.
The 96 player stats in Scova Athlete, in 17 groups: what each one measures, its unit and which way is better. "/90" means per 90 minutes played, so part-time players compare fairly with regulars.
01 · 8 stats
Attacking
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | /90 | Goals scored, including penalties. | Higher is better |
| Non-penalty goals | /90 | Goals excluding penalties, a cleaner read of open-play finishing. | Higher is better |
| Expected goals (xG) | xG/90 | Quality of chances taken: sum of each shot's probability of scoring. | Higher is better |
| xG per shot | xG | Average chance quality per non-penalty shot. | Higher is better |
| Shots | /90 | All shot attempts, on or off target, including blocked. | Higher is better |
| Shots on target | % | Share of shots that hit the target. | Higher is better |
| Goal conversion | % | Share of non-penalty shots that become goals. | Higher is better |
| Touches in the box | /90 | How often the player gets on the ball in the opponent's penalty area. | Higher is better |
02 · 7 stats
Creation
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assists | /90 | Final pass or touch before a teammate scores. | Higher is better |
| Expected assists (xA) | xA/90 | Quality of chances created: xG of the shots that follow the player's passes. | Higher is better |
| Key passes | /90 | Passes that lead directly to a teammate's shot. | Higher is better |
| Big chances created | /90 | Passes that set up a chance the scorer would be expected to take. | Higher is better |
| Shot-creating actions | /90 | The two attacking actions (pass, dribble, foul won) directly before a shot. | Higher is better |
| Through balls | /90 | Passes played into space behind the defensive line. | Higher is better |
| Accurate crosses | /90 | Completed crosses from wide areas into the box. | Higher is better |
03 · 6 stats
Progression
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive passes | /90 | Completed passes that move the ball substantially towards goal. | Higher is better |
| Progressive carries | /90 | Runs with the ball that move it substantially towards goal. | Higher is better |
| Progressive passes received | /90 | How often the player receives a progressive pass. | Higher is better |
| Successful dribbles | /90 | Take-ons that beat an opponent. | Higher is better |
| Dribble success | % | Share of take-ons that succeed. | Higher is better |
| Carries into final third | /90 | Carries that cross into the attacking third. | Higher is better |
04 · 6 stats
Passing
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass completion | % | Share of passes that reach a teammate. | Higher is better |
| Passes attempted | /90 | Volume of passing involvement. | Higher is better |
| Long pass completion | % | Accuracy on long balls. | Higher is better |
| Passes into final third | /90 | Completed passes that enter the attacking third. | Higher is better |
| Passes into the box | /90 | Completed passes into the penalty area (not crosses). | Higher is better |
| Switches of play | /90 | Long passes across the pitch to the far side. | Higher is better |
05 · 8 stats
Defending
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tackles, possession-adjusted | /90 | Tackles, scaled so players in low-possession teams are not flattered. | Higher is better |
| Interceptions, possession-adjusted | /90 | Passes cut out, scaled for team possession. | Higher is better |
| Tackle success | % | Share of challenges on a dribbler that win the ball. | Higher is better |
| Blocks | /90 | Shots blocked. | Higher is better |
| Clearances | /90 | Ball cleared away from danger. | Higher is better |
| Pressures | /90 | Times the player closes down an opponent on the ball. | Higher is better |
| Pressure regains | % | Share of pressures after which the team wins the ball within 5 seconds. | Higher is better |
| Ball recoveries | /90 | Loose balls won back. | Higher is better |
06 · 4 stats
Duels
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial duels won | /90 | Headers won against an opponent. | Higher is better |
| Aerial win rate | % | Share of aerial duels won. | Higher is better |
| Ground duel win rate | % | Share of non-aerial duels won. | Higher is better |
| Fouls won | /90 | Times the player is fouled. | Higher is better |
07 · 3 stats
Discipline
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fouls committed | /90 | Fouls given away. | Lower is better |
| Yellow cards | /90 | Bookings. | Lower is better |
| Errors leading to a shot | /90 | Mistakes that hand the opponent a shot. | Lower is better |
08 · 5 stats
Availability
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | % | Share of team matches the player was fit and eligible for. | Higher is better |
| Starts | apps | League starts this season. | Higher is better |
| Share of team minutes | % | How much of the team's football the player plays. | Higher is better |
| Consistency | /100 | How steady match-to-match performance is. | Higher is better |
| Positional versatility | positions | Number of positions the player has genuinely played. | Higher is better |
09 · 12 stats
Goalkeeping
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save percentage | % | Share of shots on target faced that are saved. | Higher is better |
| Goals prevented (PSxG − GA) | /90 | Goals saved beyond what an average keeper would, given shot placement. | Higher is better |
| Clean sheets | % | Share of starts without conceding. | Higher is better |
| Crosses claimed | % | Share of opposition crosses into the box the keeper catches or punches. | Higher is better |
| Sweeper actions | /90 | Defensive actions outside the penalty area. | Higher is better |
| Launch completion | % | Accuracy of long kicks and throws (≥ 40 m). | Higher is better |
| Short distribution success | % | Accuracy of short passes and throws. | Higher is better |
| Long distribution success | % | Accuracy of long kicks. | Higher is better |
| Saves from outside the box | % | Save rate on long-range shots. | Higher is better |
| Saves from inside the box | % | Save rate on close-range shots. | Higher is better |
| Average defensive action distance | m | How far from goal the keeper makes defensive actions (sweeping style). | Higher is better |
| Goals conceded from outside the box | /90 | Long-range goals let in. | Lower is better |
10 · 3 stats
Build-up
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| xG chain | xG/90 | Total xG of every possession ending in a shot that the player touched. | Higher is better |
| xG build-up | xG/90 | xG chain without the shot and the key pass: credit for earlier build-up. | Higher is better |
| Shot-ending sequences involved | /90 | How many attacking moves ending in a shot include the player. | Higher is better |
11 · 6 stats
Set pieces
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corners taken | /90 | Corner deliveries taken. | Higher is better |
| Free kicks taken | /90 | Free kicks taken. | Higher is better |
| Set-piece xG | xG/90 | xG from shots after corners and free kicks. | Higher is better |
| Set-piece assists | apps | Assists from dead-ball deliveries this season. | Higher is better |
| Penalties taken | apps | Penalties taken this season. | Higher is better |
| Penalty conversion | % | Share of penalties scored. | Higher is better |
12 · 5 stats
Ball security
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession lost | /90 | Times the player gives the ball away. | Lower is better |
| Miscontrols | /90 | Failed first touches that lose the ball. | Lower is better |
| Dispossessed | /90 | Times tackled while in possession. | Lower is better |
| Passes received under pressure | /90 | Receptions with an opponent closing down. | Higher is better |
| Retention under pressure | % | Share of pressured receptions where the player keeps the ball. | Higher is better |
13 · 6 stats
Spatial
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actions in defensive third | % | Share of touches in the own third. | Neither: describes style |
| Actions in middle third | % | Share of touches in the middle third. | Neither: describes style |
| Actions in final third | % | Share of touches in the attacking third. | Neither: describes style |
| Left lane share | % | Share of touches in the left lane. | Neither: describes style |
| Centre lane share | % | Share of touches in the central lane. | Neither: describes style |
| Right lane share | % | Share of touches in the right lane. | Neither: describes style |
14 · 4 stats
Physical
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance covered | km/90 | Total distance run. | Higher is better |
| High-intensity distance | m/90 | Distance above 19.8 km/h. | Higher is better |
| Sprints | /90 | Efforts above 25.2 km/h lasting at least 1 s. | Higher is better |
| Top speed | km/h | Peak speed reached this season. | Higher is better |
15 · 4 stats
Game state
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal involvements when level | /90 | Goals + assists while the score is level. | Higher is better |
| Goal involvements when leading | /90 | Goals + assists while the team is ahead. | Higher is better |
| Goal involvements when trailing | /90 | Goals + assists while the team is behind. | Higher is better |
| Minutes played while trailing | % | How much of the player's football comes while losing (context for other stats). | Neither: describes style |
16 · 4 stats
Team impact
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-off goal difference | /90 | How much better the team's goal difference is with the player on the pitch. | Higher is better |
| On-off xG difference | xG/90 | Same as on-off goal difference, using xG. | Higher is better |
| Team points per game with player | pts | Team results in matches the player starts. | Higher is better |
| Plus-minus | goals | Team goals for minus against while the player is on the pitch (season). | Higher is better |
17 · 5 stats
Risk
| Stat | Unit | What it measures | Reading it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injuries, last 3 seasons | count | Number of separate injury spells. | Lower is better |
| Days missed last season | days | Days unavailable through injury last season. | Lower is better |
| Games missed last season | apps | Team matches missed through injury last season. | Lower is better |
| Muscle injuries, last 3 seasons | count | Soft-tissue injury spells (hamstring, calf, thigh, groin, muscle). | Lower is better |
| Availability trend | pts | Whether availability is improving or worsening. | Higher is better |