Shots and Goals: Quality, Expectations and Context


I have reviewed the literature on shots and goals in ice hockey and association football (to April 2017).
In doing so, I am mindful of Ted Knutson’s (2013) observation:

The soccer analytics community is currently growing by leaps and bounds, which means that there’s new information being processed almost every single day. It also means that there are tons of new people interested in the topic, and figuring out who to read or where to go can be a bit daunting at first.

I have compiled a bibliography that covers 2004 to 2017. Link.
My paper is incomplete but extends to twelve pages. It is a Google Doc so I will continue to update it. One of my problems in researching the literature was my inability to access some of the ice hockey articles.
I ended up on this landing page a number of times:

I have included the references in my list and apologise for the lack of access. I could not find the posts archived or curated anywhere else.
I have started to compile a synthesis of the literature. This is another ongoing Google Doc project. Link.
Many years ago, I pursued the coaching connections between association football and field hockey. I was inspired by Horst Wein.
In locating conversations about quality and expectations of shots and goals in association football, I have looked more closely than I have previously at the ice hockey literature. I found the quality of writing and insights shared profoundly interesting. I particularly liked the idea that many of the writers used pseudonyms, including the exotic Vic Ferrari.
In a desire to create an open educational resource from this review, I have created a Google Doc to offer a partial introduction to football analytics. Link.
At the heart of the resource is a discussion about Lex Immers.
I was only able to access Michiel De Hoog’s (2014) post because of Erica Moore’s (2016) translation of the original Dutch article.
Erica’s open sharing reaffirmed for me not only the delights of open sharing but also the vibrancy of the football analytics literature.
I am keen to develop these resources and would welcome any guidance a remarkable community of practice can offer.
Photo Credit

Peter Whittingham Scores From the Freekick (John Candy)

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