MatchTracker Definitions – Catapult Pro Video

A breakdown of how MatchTracker defines what needs to happen for a play to be included in the following tables:

Glossary

A few terms used throughout this article that come from the underlying match data:

Qualifier - a tag attached to a raw match event by our data provider (e.g. marking a pass as a "Launch" or "Switch of Play") which MatchTracker uses to help classify plays.
Eventing data provider - the third-party service that supplies the raw match event and tracking data MatchTracker is built on.
Formation area - the space occupied by a team's shape at any given moment, based on the average positions of outfield players.

Team Stats

Tempo - passes / min in possession.
Pace - ball distance / time in possession.
Arrival Efficiency - number of shots / Final third entries as a %.
Final third recoveries - attack phases filtered with the "recovery" start type.
Passes - All passes minus Crosses, Keeper Throws, and Throw Ins.
Pass Direction illustrated below.

Phases

Build up - possession in the defensive third.
Possession - possession in the midfield third.
Attack - possession in the final third.
These areas are all set by default in Settings > Analysis > Sequences & Phases > Possession and attacking line as a % of the pitch. For example, if you set the possession phase line to 50, Build up would run up to the halfway line.
Positive outcome - This could be a progression to the next phase, winning a corner/throw in an attacking position, or having a shot.

Alerts

Runs in behind - forwards sprints without the ball that end behind the opposition defensive line.
Low block - average defense line is in a team’s own third, but outside the box. It has stayed in that region for a couple seconds and not moved in to that position faster than 3m/s.
Mid press - similar to Low block but also checks the ball X40m, and has limits on numbers of defending players in their own third, opposition third, and in front of the ball.
One vs. One in wide areas - all one vs one opportunities in wide areas. The alert highlights that the defender is isolated, so that if a 1v1 was attempted and successful then the attacker would have space behind. There are parameters in Settings > Alerts that can be configured.
High Press Alert - goalkeeper has one or no passing options available.
Receiving in space - every time the team receives the ball in space. The space is configurable in Settings and is circular.
Defense Disruption Alert - the back line as defined by the eventing data provider has become misaligned. The best method to see this is to use the formation lines overlay on the pitch view. If a defender leaves the average defensive line by a certain amount of distance when the ball is nearby this would trigger the alert.
Breaking the line - an outside line break is when a player receives the ball outside of/around the line after a line break. An inside line break is when the player receives the ball directly behind the line which has been broken. The alert applies to both defensive and midfield line.
Quick break - a team moves the ball from their own half to the final third quickly via the middle third. This can include long passes or multiple shorter passes.
Offensive Zone Entry - Preferences are configurable in Settings > Alerts. We block multiple of the same alerts being triggered within 10 seconds of each other. Corners, free kicks, and throw-ins are ignored.
Switch of play - Event contains ‘Switch of Play’ Qualifier or the ball moves from one side to the other within a sequence of events in a specified time. Excludes dead ball restarts and passes in a teams own third.
Direct play - Pass contains ‘Launch’ or ‘Long Ball’ Qualifier; or a forward pass 30m. Excludes ground passes (requires ball z-coordinate).
Receiving between the lines - Forward pass successfully received in the opposition half by a teammate located within the opponents formation area.
Option between the lines - Option to play a forward pass into the opposition half to a teammate located within the opponents formation area.
Foul on yellow - Player commits a foul whilst on a yellow card.
Lost possession in own half - Team concedes possession in their own half.
Space behind - A player has space (relative to the opposition) to receive a pass behind the opposition defensive line. The team must be in possession of the ball and have enough space to make the pass.
Pressing the ball - Player moves towards the opposition player that is in possession of the ball. Distance closed, player proximity, and time limit to trigger the alert can be set in Settings > Alerts.
Team depth - Team’s overall shape exceeds the depth, width, and height thresholds for a specific period of time. All properties can be set in Settings > Alerts.