This study used performance analysis to determine the passing accuracy of the Socceroos and how various factors affect the accuracy. The objectives of this study included: •To determine the accuracy of each of the passes performed by Australia. •Define what effect defenders, field position and time in possession had on pass effectiveness. •Determine how the passing accuracy affected the game result.

1. REFERENCES
1. Hughes, M et al. Jrnl Sport Sci, 23(5): 509-514, 2005
2. Impellizzeri, F et al. App. Phys. Nut.Metabolic. 33: 1192-
1198 , 2008
3. Lago-Penas, C et al. Jrnl Sports Sci & Med, 9: 288-293,
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4. Reep, C et al. Jrnl Royal Stat Soc, 131(4): 581-585, 1968
CONCLUSION
The results of this study show that game result was not
affected by passing accuracy. Factors, such as tactics, skill or
fitness may have a greater effect on the final outcome than
accuracy. Performing an accurate pass is an essential skill in
soccer. Australia’s passing was quite accurate, with no
defenders present. However, when one defender was present
they were more likely to lose possession. Therefore, Australia
should aim to pass the ball to players with no defenders near or
work to beat defenders so they are free when they pass.
Passing drills should incorporate more defenders to increase
accuracy under pressure and work for player to create space in
a game.
Possession was maintained more in the defending half of the
field possibly because players are under less pressure. This
suggests passing in the defending half when the need of the
game is to maintain possession. When in the attacking box
Australia was more likely to lose possession. Players had the
longest time in possession when there were two defenders,
indicating when players had the ball for longer more defenders
had time to approach the attacker and compete for the ball.
There was then a trend to lose possession with two defenders.
Therefore, quick passes are recommended so to not allow time
for defenders to approach the ball. This study suggested that
field position and pressure had an effect on the accuracy of
passes which can have a benefit in a game.
RESULTSINTRODUCTION
Passing is one of the fundamental skills of soccer and is
important in maintaining possession and getting the ball to a
goal scoring position (4). Research has highlighted the
importance of accurate passes in creating goal scoring
opportunities (2). Longer passing sequences has been shown to
result in more goals being scored (1) and teams that have
possession of the ball for longer are more likely to win games
(3). Despite this, research is limited on the factors that are
likely to impact on passing accuracy and how these effect the
game result.
This study used performance analysis to determine the passing
accuracy of the Socceroos and how various factors affect the
accuracy. The objectives of this study included:
• To determine the accuracy of each of the passes performed by
Australia.
• Define what effect defenders, field position and time in
possession had on pass effectiveness.
• Determine how the passing accuracy affected the game result.
METHODS
Performance analysis was conducted on the Australian
Socceroo’s passes in the three group matches at the 2010 FIFA
World Cup. Games were coded using lapsed time analysis.
The variables that were analysed in conjunction with each pass
were:
• Result of the pass (out, lost possession, not directly to player
but maintains possession or accurate)
• Pressure (number of defenders within 2 body lengths when
the ball is passed)
• Field position where ball is passed from (split into quarters-
attacking goal box, attacking quarter, defending quarter and
defending goal box)
• Time the player had the ball before passing it (in seconds)
• The result of the game (win, lose, draw)
ANOVA examined the relationship between categorical and
scaled variables. Chi Squared (X2) analysis then examined the
relationship between the categorical variables; pass result,
number of defenders present and field position.
Carolyn SMITH
The association between the field position and the result of
the pass was significant (χ2(9, N=922)= 30.183, p=.000).
• 35.7% of passes in the attacking box resulted in losing
possession (SR=3.4)
• 45% of passes where possession is lost occurred in the
attacking quarter (SR=1.5)
• 45.2% of passes where possession was maintained after
either moving or challenging for the ball occurred in the
defending box (SR=2.4)
There was a significant relationship between maintaining
possession in the defending half of the field and losing it
in the attacking half of the field (χ2(1, N=922)= 10.251,
p=.001) Possession was maintained more in the defending
half (459 vs 299) and lost more in the attacking half (87 vs
77) (Figure 3).
• 53% of the passes where possession was lost occurred in
the attacking half (SR=2.2), 47% of them occurred in the
defending half (SR=-1.9).
email: u3025464@uni.canberra.edu.au
Figure 1. Number of each pass result for the three outcomes of the games
There was a significant association between the result of the pass and the
game result (χ2(6, N=922)= 13.114, p= .041) (figure 1). However, after
further analysis, the standard residuals revealed no significant relationships
between the passes and the game outcome were observed.
• A trend was indicated with 1.1% of passes in the winning game giving an
out result (SR=-1.6)
Figure 3. Summary of pass result in attacking and defending half of the field
There was no significant difference between the time players had the ball and the pass result (F(3,922)= 1.214, p=.908). There was
also a significant relationship between time in possession and number of defenders (F(2,922)= 20.957, p=.008). The longest time
was seen with two defenders (x= 2.0±2.4s) and the shortest time was with one defender (x=1.5± 1.5s).
PASSING ACCURACY OF THE SOCCEROOS IN
THE 2010 FIFA WOLRD CUP
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Out Lose possession Work to maintain
possession
Accurate pass
Numberofeachpass
Pass Result
Game Lost
Game Drawn
Game Won
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Attacking half Defending half
Numberofpasses
Field position
Maintain possession
Lost possession
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
No Defenders One Defender Two Defenders
Percentageofpasses
Number of defenders
Lost possession
Accurate pass
Figure 2. Percentage of lost possession and accurate passes for number of defenders
There was a significant association between the result of the pass and the number of defenders present (χ2(6, N=922)= 29.918,
p<.001) (figure 2).
• 70.7% of passes with one defender resulted in losing possession (SR=2.4)
• 8.4% of passes with no defender resulted in losing possession (SR=-3.4) indicating it was less likely to occur
• 66% of passes with no defenders resulted in an accurate pass (SR=2.0) indicating higher accuracy with no defenders
• 25% of passes with two defenders resulted in lost possession (SR=1.6)