Day 15 – Scoring

Topic Point: A criticism of soccer is that it is low scoring, and the conclusionis games are boring. However, a 0-0 game can have tremendous action, and ahigh-scoring 5-4 match can be a poor game. The two issues – entertainment valueand scoring – are loosely correlated at best. The beauty of soccer (and icehockey) is low scoring games are not necessarily boring. There are playsthroughout the game – passing, dribbling, footwork, movement, shots, and setpieces (corner kicks and free kicks) that are all opportunities.Appreciation of the movement and the excitement that come with opportunitiesare the entertainment value for the football (soccer) fan. We love goals, butthe near misses and ball movement are also thrilling. The number of shotstaken, and corner kicks awarded, are better barometers of match quality.

The action of soccer is generallycontinuous, like ice hockey. As with other team sports including Americanfootball and basketball, coordinated movement of players along with precisionball movement are necessary. Field position and time of possession are bothvaluable in soccer. Passes can be completed or intercepted; passing sequencesthat are near completions in the attacking third of the field, especially whenthe potential recipient is in scoring position are exciting moments; shots thatare near misses of the goal or saved, even though a score is not produced, areall exciting to watch and anticipate. Understanding those aspects of the gamewill help with appreciating the action as opposed to watching the game forgoals only. The anticipation of a score, whether for or against your team, iswhat ultimately creates the tension that makes a game exciting.  

Ted Lasso: Scoring,or the amount of it, is not a problem and the show does not highlight scoring.They highlight the strategic component of the game for viewers: Elaborate setpieces. Set pieces can be considered normal plays (using American footballterminology) to put the ball back into play; elaborate set pieces also servethe function to restart play but with deception to catch the defending team offguard.

Soccer-related note: Soccer has seen a significant rise in goals specifically fromtactical positions – set pieces for restarts. In the EPL, the averagepercentage of all goals from free kicks (excluding penalty kicks) from2015-2025 was 21.7%; as of October 2025 (with 25% of 2025-26 EPL season beingplayed), that number was up to 27.8%.[1]The percent of total goals from corner kicks for the 2025-26 season is a record18.7% (previous record being 14.2%). The percent of total goals from throw-insfor the 2024-25 seas was a record 1.8% of all goals, with the 4 previousseasons averaging 0.6%.[2]Referring back to Day 10 (Coaches), specialty coaches are now being hired tofocus on these opportunities exclusively.

American Sports comparison: In American football, a nice passing play that results in a firstdown, or a 20-yard run by the running back, are exciting for fans. Everyonecheers or groans depending on what side of the ball your team was on; yet noone scored. There was no significant impact on the outcome of the game fromthat one play. So why is everyone excited? The overall process of playing andwinning the game requires these moments, these incremental successes. Soccer isno different. In basketball, there is so much scoring, one could argue the last5 minutes of a game is all that needs to be watched to appreciate the intensityand outcome. There is often a lull in the crowd for a large portion of the game- with all the scoring, the baskets don’t have significant impact independently,and the crowd doesn’t get particularly excited. Ironically, when the game doesreach tension building conditions, there are an insufferable number oftime-outs taken by coaches plus programmed media time-outs. While technicallyopinion, a growing number of sports fans express a tremendous let down in theprocess when the game is repeatedly stopped amid tremendous excitement.

In American football and basketball, thenormal progress of the game allows for “set pieces”. Both sports incorporatecontrolled possession by the team on offense. In soccer (and ice hockey), thereare tactics and strategy implemented for the flow of the game, howeverpossession is less reliable moment to moment. The stops in play provide selectopportunities for teams to devise a ‘play’ akin to American football orbasketball.

The amount of scoring in American footballand basketball seems to have more correlation to the quality of the game. A 9-3football game likely involved numerous punts or turnovers. While watching yourteam’s defense can be exciting, an overly defensive football game in bothdirections tends to be frustrating. However, this is better than a 63-0football game. Even the fans of the superior team in a lopsided victory tend tocheck-out of the game and leave the stadium early.

In basketball, it is relatively easy toscore. In fact, field goal percentage is an important statistic demonstratinghow well a team played and, specifically, shot. There are so many shots inbasketball, and the field goal percentage is so high, there is no real suspenseor drama until the end of the game. Thus, a low-scoring basketball game doesnot bode well for quality of play. However, in ice hockey and soccer, thegeneral ratio of shots to goals is 10:1. Shots come with more difficulty, andgoals even more so, compared to basketball. That is why the near misses are soexcruciating yet exciting, and the overall flow of the game creates tension. Ina lot of ways, it is like American football. A football game that ends 24-14 isbasically a soccer or hockey score of 3.5-2 (if we can say a touchdown is agoal, and a field goal is ½ a goal). Consider a shot that misses or a scoringopportunity that is foiled in a soccer game similar to a goal line stand inAmerican football.

[1] Hobbs, Matthew bbc.com/sport/football/articles – 28 Oct 2026

[2] Clarke, Adrian Premierleague.com/news – 03 Jun 2025

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Interactive

The table below lists the average number of scores per team per game along with the number of attempts, type of attempt (for statistical purposes), and the percentage of attempts that result in a score. You may note that aside from basketball, other sports do not have significantly increased scoring. For example, a 24-14 American football game is essentially a score of 3.5-2 in soccer or ice hockey terms.

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Note that for ice hockey, shots are counted based on whether the goaltender had to make a save. Shots that miss wide, hit the post, or are blocked by the opponent do not count in the shots category. For soccer, shots that either go over the endline or are saved by the goalie are counted. For both ice hockey and soccer, shots that result in a goal are counted in the shots statistic.

The bar graph below provides a visual depiction of the comparability of scoring in each sport. The sports fan likely will notice the number of attempts per team for an NBA match is significantly greater than the other sports. If you think about if you ever had to step away from a football game for any reason, the first thing you say upon return is “What did I miss?” That really isn’t a question that needs to be asked when you step away from a basketball game. Similarly, stepping away from a baseball, ice hockey, or soccer game runs the risk of you missing an impactful moment in the match.

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