In modern football analysis, traditional metrics like goals, assists, and key passes only scratch the surface of a player’s contribution. Football is a complex, fluid sport where many important actions happen long before the final shot or pass. One of the most valuable modern statistics for capturing this complexity is Shot-Creating Actions (SCA).
In this article, we will explain what SCA is, how it is measured, why it matters, and how it can be used to better evaluate players and team performances.
What Is Shot-Creating Actions (SCA)?
Shot-Creating Actions (SCA) measures the two offensive actions directly leading to a shot attempt, no matter who takes the shot or where it happens on the pitch. These two actions can include:
- A pass (through ball, cross, set piece delivery, simple pass)
- A successful dribble past a defender
- Drawing a foul that results in a free-kick or penalty
- Recovering or winning the ball in a way that immediately starts an attack
In short, SCA credits players not just for the final pass (the assist) but also for key earlier actions that helped build the attack. It recognizes the collaborative and layered nature of chance creation in football.
Examples of Shot-Creating Actions:
- A deep-lying midfielder playing a progressive pass to a winger, who then crosses for a shot.
- A forward dribbling past a defender and setting up a teammate, who shoots immediately.
- A player recovering possession high up the pitch, leading to a quick shot.
In each of these cases, both the initial and the final actions before the shot are counted towards SCA.
How Is SCA Measured?
SCA is typically broken down by action type, providing a clearer picture of how a player contributes to shot creation. The most common categories are:
- SCA via PassLive: Open-play passes leading to a shot
- SCA via PassDead: Set piece passes leading to a shot
- SCA via Dribble: Successful dribbles past an opponent that lead to a shot
- SCA via Foul Drawn: Drawing a foul that leads to a shot (e.g., a free-kick opportunity)
- SCA via Defensive Action: Winning the ball (through a tackle or interception) and immediately setting up a shot
This breakdown allows analysts to see not just how often players are involved in shot creation, but in what ways they contribute.
Important:
SCA only tracks the two final actions before a shot. If a player was involved earlier in the build-up (say, three or four passes before the shot), those actions would not be counted in the SCA metric.
Why Is SCA Important?
Football is rarely about isolated moments. Shots and goals are often the result of a chain of intelligent, technical actions from multiple players. Traditional stats like assists can miss this context, but SCA fills that gap.
Key reasons why SCA is valuable:
- Recognizes build-up play: Players who consistently spark attacking moves are highlighted, even if they don’t get the final assist.
- Values creative diversity: It rewards not just passing but dribbling, pressing, fouls won, and intelligent recoveries.
- Supports scouting and recruitment: Helps identify underrated creative players who might not have flashy goal/assist numbers.
- Enhances tactical understanding: Shows which players and types of actions are most critical in a team’s attacking structure.
In short, SCA helps us better appreciate the “pre-assist” and “assist-to-the-assist” contributions that often go unnoticed.
SCA vs GCA (Goal-Creating Actions)
Another important related stat is Goal-Creating Actions (GCA). While SCA tracks the two actions leading to any shot, GCA tracks the two actions directly leading to a goal.
Both statistics work the same way, but:
- SCA is more frequent (shots are more common than goals)
- GCA is more selective and highlights the most decisive contributions
In analysis, it is often useful to look at both SCA and GCA together to understand not just who helps create shots, but also who tends to be involved in moves that actually result in goals.
What Does a High SCA Number Tell Us?
A high SCA count typically points to players who are heavily involved in the creative process for their team. However, context matters:
- Position: Attacking midfielders, wingers, and fullbacks often have higher SCAs due to their roles in attacking phases.
- Team playing style: Players in possession-dominant teams generally accumulate more SCAs because they create more overall chances.
- Game model: Some systems emphasize structured chance creation, while others rely on individual brilliance—this can influence who racks up SCAs.
Therefore, while a high SCA number is a positive sign, it should be analyzed alongside a player’s role, responsibilities, and the team’s overall tactical setup.
Examples:
- Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi frequently rank among the highest in SCA charts because of their central creative roles.
- Fullbacks like Trent Alexander-Arnold achieve high SCA figures largely through crosses and set-piece deliveries.
- Pressing forwards can create SCAs through ball recoveries high up the pitch, even if they are not the primary playmakers.
How Analysts and Coaches Use SCA
- Player Evaluation: Going beyond basic stats to understand a player’s creative consistency.
- Recruitment: Finding players who can contribute to the build-up even if they aren’t prolific scorers or assist-makers.
- Tactical Adjustments: Identifying which players or zones are key to creating opportunities—and which areas might need improvement.
- Performance Monitoring: Tracking trends over time, such as whether a player’s shot-creating involvement is increasing or decreasing.
SCA is particularly useful when evaluating players in less glamorous teams who may not produce eye-catching final numbers but are integral to their team’s ability to generate shots.
Final Thoughts
Shot-Creating Actions (SCA) offer a richer, more complete view of attacking contribution in football. By recognizing the importance of the actions leading up to a shot, SCA values creativity, vision, and smart play — not just the final pass or goal.
In a game where details matter more than ever, SCA allows analysts, scouts, coaches, and fans to better understand the true creators on the pitch. As data-driven analysis continues to shape modern football, statistics like SCA will play an increasingly important role in how we evaluate performance and potential.