Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.

The rapid rise in elite women's football has increased the demand for female specific research to enable more accurate and appropriate assessments of tactical performance. Thereby, this study aimed to describe goal scoring in relation to different attacking styles during a Women's Super Le...

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Main Authors: Lizzie Craven, Patrick Oxenham, Jayamini Ranaweera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318929
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author Lizzie Craven
Patrick Oxenham
Jayamini Ranaweera
author_facet Lizzie Craven
Patrick Oxenham
Jayamini Ranaweera
author_sort Lizzie Craven
collection DOAJ
description The rapid rise in elite women's football has increased the demand for female specific research to enable more accurate and appropriate assessments of tactical performance. Thereby, this study aimed to describe goal scoring in relation to different attacking styles during a Women's Super League (WSL) season. Specifically, 1179 attacking sequences leading to shots on target performed by all 12 teams in the 2021/22 WSL season were analysed. The style of attack for each attacking sequence was characterised by research guided key performance indicators and recorded with the outcome of the subsequent shot on target. Descriptive results indicated that most shots (27.23%) were originating from combinative organised attacks, while set plays accounted for the most goals (27.08%), with fast organised attacks demonstrating the best goal conversation rates (53.33%). Outcomes of a chi-square test highlighted a significant (but weak) association between attacking styles and shot outcomes ([Formula: see text] = 9.87, P = 0.043) in the considered WSL season, with shots originating from set plays resulting in significantly more goals than expected (AR = 2.45). Overall, the results can be useful for practitioners when formulating tactical game plans and training sessions, while also providing multiple opportunities for future research in tactical analysis of women's football.
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spelling doaj-art-dc17186cbafa458b9ae3c4f755149ec82025-02-12T05:30:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e031892910.1371/journal.pone.0318929Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.Lizzie CravenPatrick OxenhamJayamini RanaweeraThe rapid rise in elite women's football has increased the demand for female specific research to enable more accurate and appropriate assessments of tactical performance. Thereby, this study aimed to describe goal scoring in relation to different attacking styles during a Women's Super League (WSL) season. Specifically, 1179 attacking sequences leading to shots on target performed by all 12 teams in the 2021/22 WSL season were analysed. The style of attack for each attacking sequence was characterised by research guided key performance indicators and recorded with the outcome of the subsequent shot on target. Descriptive results indicated that most shots (27.23%) were originating from combinative organised attacks, while set plays accounted for the most goals (27.08%), with fast organised attacks demonstrating the best goal conversation rates (53.33%). Outcomes of a chi-square test highlighted a significant (but weak) association between attacking styles and shot outcomes ([Formula: see text] = 9.87, P = 0.043) in the considered WSL season, with shots originating from set plays resulting in significantly more goals than expected (AR = 2.45). Overall, the results can be useful for practitioners when formulating tactical game plans and training sessions, while also providing multiple opportunities for future research in tactical analysis of women's football.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318929
spellingShingle Lizzie Craven
Patrick Oxenham
Jayamini Ranaweera
Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
PLoS ONE
title Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
title_full Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
title_fullStr Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
title_short Analysis of attacking styles and goal-scoring in the 2021/22 Women's Super League.
title_sort analysis of attacking styles and goal scoring in the 2021 22 women s super league
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318929
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AT jayaminiranaweera analysisofattackingstylesandgoalscoringinthe202122womenssuperleague