We are pleased to announce that along side our Android version of our app, we have also released a version that works on both Windows PCs and Apple MACs.  This edition of the App sits on a platform called Adobe Air and has the exact same functionality as the Android and iOS (iPad/iPhone) Apps.  Whilst PCs are not as mobile as a tablet, like an iPad, they do make our service very accessible and in the right environment work just as well, if not better. 

As well as a much improved ‘add a game’ function, we have brushed up our UI (User Interface) and generally improved the overall user experience.

You can download any of our Apps for free by going to our homepage and clicking on the icon.

Statzpack will be attending the yearly this coming January 11-15, 2012.  We will be joining up with the US Adult Soccer Association and you can come and meet us on Stand 1611, where you can test ride our product and pick up a Statzpack Stylus.  If anyone wants an individual meeting email us at Martin@statzpack.com.  Happy Holidays.

We have made a significant upgrade to our Statzpack App  android (beta) is now available to use on over 400 Android devices, and can be downloaded free of cost in the Android Market.  Download the Statzpack Android App.

Well today is the official first day of winter and using an iPhone or any touch screen smartphone outside in cooler temperatures can be a nuisance when you have to wear gloves.  Tracking your soccer stats on Statzpack in all conditions can be a struggle in the very cold – the screens on most devices don’t work with the touch of a regular glove. 

But of course like all problems, they get solved with some ingenuity and bright sparks ignite and create….  The Smartphone Glove.

If you fancy a pair of these fancy Smartphone Gloves, drop us an email at  smartgloves@statzpack.com answering the simple question.  How many past games are currently stored on the Statzpack App in Match History?

A shot in soccer can be a slow roller by an under-6 player that somehow finds the back of the pint-sized net used for the smallest players. Or, it can be a sizzling shot taken by a pro like Inter Milan’s Dejan Stankovic, who volleyed the ball over a rival keeper from midfield in a 2011 Champions League match in Italy. Immediately called “the goal of the season” by expert commentators, Stankovic’s rocket showed the value of being prepared to shoot just 25 seconds into a high-stakes game.

Definition

A shot in soccer is a ball that is kicked or headed towards the goal. The NCAA defines a shot in Section 3 of its Official Soccer Statistics Rules as an attempt taken with the intent of scoring that is directed toward the goal. This excludes crosses, or long kicks typically taken from the side of the field near the goal line that feed the ball into the penalty area in front of the goalkeeper.  A goalkeeper who grabs a cross does not receive credit for a save. An exception to this would be a cross that the goalie stops that would have otherwise entered the goal.

Shots on Goal

For purposes of keeping statistics, teams or leagues may also record “shots on goal,” which are essentially shots that are on target. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save by the keeper or another member of the defending team. If a shot hits the post or crossbar without being deflected by the goalkeeper or a member of his defense, it does not count as a shot on goal, it is an Attempt on Goal but Off Target.

Statistics

Major League Soccer teams in the United States take an average of 9.2 shots per game, according to New York Times soccer blogger and Cornell University government professor Chris Anderson, who analyzed 2010 data collected on ESPN’s website. The English Premier League records 12.4 shots per team, and Italy’s Serie A records 13.7 shots. That means that fans of top divisions in Europe see about 25 shots per game, while fans in the U.S. only see 18 per game.

Significance

If you run a team at the recreational, competitive or pro level, you may want to join the growing trend toward statistical collection in soccer. This can help you determine if you are generating enough offense. For example, Anderson found an association between the number of shots taken by English Premier League teams in 2009-10 and their success in the league. The usual league heavyweights — Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool — appear at the top of the shot list with 15 or more per game. Cellar-dwellers Stoke and Hull were at the bottom, with less than 10 shots per game.

Some reading .. ..

• NCAA: Official Soccer Statistics Rules (.pdf)
• The New York Times; Soccer Made in the U.S.: Where M.L.S. Stands, Soccermetrically Speaking? Chris Anderson; March 2011
• The New York Times; When It Comes to Stats, Soccer Seldom Counts; Thomas Kaplan; July 2010
• Soccer by the Numbers; Game On: Goal and Shot Ratios in the EPL; August 2010; Chris Anderson

German legend Franz Beckenbauer is aiming to change the offside rule to make it simpler for referees to interpret.  Yep, he got that right.  Likely to be the most confusing and often most frustrating rule for coaches and players to understand.  Countless hours trying to explain the rule to a child of 12+ and better still the soccer mom, frustrating. 

Take yourself back almost 150 years and you would witness the birth of the offside ruling.  Though seeing a number of changes over the formation of the rules of the game in the 19^th Century it still leaves many soccer coaches, players and parents confused and bewildered many years later.

Offside Explained

“A player is in an offside position if three conditions are met: first, the player must be on the opposing team’s half of the field. Second, the player must be in front of the ball. And third, there must be fewer than two opposing players between him and the opposing goal line, with the goalkeeper counting as an opposing player for these purposes. It is not necessary that the goalkeeper be one of the last two opponents”.   

Ah give me strength what does all that mean?  Never mind, watch this short video to find out exactly what Offside is. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

An excellent job, but still requires over 7 minutes of your life.

Let’s list it out

1. It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

2. A player is in an offside position if:

 - he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

A player is not in an offside position if:

- he is in his own half of the field of play
- he is level with the second last opponent
- he is level with the last two opponents

Commiting an Offside Offence

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

- interfering with play
- interfering with an opponent
- gaining an advantage by being in that position

No Offence

There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

- a goal kick
- a throw-in
- a corner kick

Give me more pictures please

If words arent your thing, and prefer pictures, check this animation that explains offside – it does a great job and you can forward the link to friends and players.

Here is Diego Milito showing us how to perfect an offside offense.

Today saw the passing of Steve Jobs. Is there a message for the soccer coach? As players? As someone who helps out with the team?  As a company we’ve developed iOS Apple Apps, and we of course keep an eye on Apple news.  No one could miss this news headline, and after all which household doesn’t own an iPod in some shape or form?  

The simple view of this visionary and successful leader, is one of an enigmatic genius who accumulated wealth of in excess of $8bn and led a team of employees and global fan base of all things Apple, and got a lot of things very right.  What most of us don’t see when we think of Steve Jobs, was his life wasn’t easy.  Far from it.  He faced a terrible sickness in his latter years, struggling to keep his life as normal as possible, but still managed to keep ths US company as on eof the most valuable on the globe.  A probable injustice for a man who lived by a very healthy code.  

Humble Beginnings

But this story is not one of just hi- tech, fame and fortune.  It’s a story of courage, thinking and pure grit and determination.   The little known facts are that Steve Jobs was born our of wedlock, was given up for adoption as a baby, and was raised by his adoptive parents in pretty normal surroundings.  He went to a regular high school and finished just one semester of college.  A drop out.  Yet still managed achievements and touched many people lives.

He succeeded to levels most of dare think of, but equally he faced endless professional and personal battles, competition, put downs and failures.  But he kept on going.  He never gave up.  He was sacked, pushed out of companies, he saw the stock market of his companies plummet – he was the person his counterparts loved to jibe, as he continuously stood for what he cared about, and more often or - not swam against the tide.   As a person he always kept the mantra of never falling out with people, and sticking to his beliefs and commitment to change the way people experienced life, not just build new products and sell them.  And for a very wealthy man, he kept his feet on the ground.   The one time I met him Mr Jobs (bumped into him… oh ok, . I saw him) was in a grocery store.  He was buying fruit.

Our company wouldn’t exist were it not for this man and the team he built around him, nor would 1000’s of soccer teams be tracking stats and sharing that data with players and supporters right across the globe without his vision.  The Apple iPhone and iPod (and significantly the iPad) allowed us to develop the world’s first soccer stats tracking system where the data could be stored and analysed at the game on a mobile device and sent to a server for further analysis and distribution.  He gave us some pretty cool technology, but he also gaves us inspiration.

 We want to hear what you think about us?

At Statzpack we value the views and opinions of the soccer coach.  If you have a spare 2-3 minutes and can answer 10 questions, we’d really appreciate it.  Many thanks.

Take me to the Survey  > 
 

Our App (beta) is now available to use on Android devices, and can be downloaded free of cost in the Android market.  It’s a work in progress , but it will soon have the equivalent functions as our iOS Apple  Apps, and the updates will keep coming up until November.  So you may find some glitches – and if you do, let us know.  Download the Statzpack Android App.

If you want to know which devices will run our App, you can check the lists here (there are 383 in total).  Check this list for compatible Android phones and compatible tablets here.  Or the alternative approach, is to open Android Market on your device, search for Statzpack, and if our App is found it will work no problem at all.

Once complete we will be releasing an iPad native App, plus a web App that can be used on any Windows PC.

In latter 2010 Statzpack commissioned the Sports Academy at the University of Ulster to carry out a joint research project with the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).  The research focussed on the use and value of collecting stats in soccer coaching to the membership of the largest coaching organisation in the world.  The research was led by Dr Michael Hanlon. 

Key Findings

Some of the key summary findings are as follows:

• The project surveyed the 30,000 soccer coach membership base of the NSCAA
• 1007 US soccer coaches from the Youth, High-school and College levels completed the questionnaire.
• 61% of those surveyed stated that the recording, analysing and using of team or player statistics was of significant-major importance on player development
• Almost 75% of those coaches recording stats rely on pen and paper
• In general older coaches have a more favourable view on collecting stats.
• The most commonly tracked game features were goals and assists, shots on/off target, corner kicks, cards and goalkeeper actions

Soccer Teamwork

Dr Hanlon commented “The collegiate atmosphere and approach of the NSCAA as an organisation, helped this project significantly.  The partnership approach offered in opening up their member base to the research allowed us to gather and collate a comprehensive data set.  On a general note the outcomes showed a strong positive interest in the use of stats in coaching and developing players.”

Mark Roberts founder of Statzpack, commented “We would like to extend our gratitude to both the NSCAA and the Sports Academy for the support and effort in carrying out this research programme.  The desire and interest in collecting stats is clear in the USA soccer coaching community, we have seen this in the uptake of our products and in the wider interest in coaches to use data as a base to work from”.

A full detailed analysis of the findings is planned to be published later this year in the Soccer Journal, the official publication of the NSCAA inWinter 2011/12.