In sports like football (soccer) and hockey, an attempt to score that directs the ball or puck towards the goal and would result in a goal if not for the intervention of a goalkeeper or a goalpost/crossbar is considered a successful attempt. For instance, a striker’s powerful kick that forces a diving save from the goalkeeper exemplifies such an attempt.
Statistics on these successful attempts offer valuable insights into a team’s or player’s attacking prowess. Analyzing this data helps evaluate offensive effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and compare performance across different teams and players. This metric has become a cornerstone of modern sports analytics, offering deeper understanding beyond simpler metrics like total shots or goals scored. Its historical development mirrors the evolution of data analysis in sports, reflecting an increasing emphasis on granular performance measurement.
