Blocked Shots

Definition & basic principle

What is a “blocked shot”?

A blocked shot is an attacking attempt on goal that was going to hit the target, but was stopped by an outfield player from the other team. It can also be a shot that is unintentionally blocked by one of the shooter’s teammates.

Classification conditions & edge criteria

To be counted as a blocked shot, a number of conditions must be met:
– The shot must have been travelling on target. A shot that was going wide or over the bar but was intercepted is not usually counted as a blocked shot.
– The block must be made by an outfield player (or a teammate of the attacker).
– If a defender clears the ball off the line, so that it would have gone into the goal, this is often still counted as a shot on target rather than a blocked shot.
– A teammate unintentionally blocking a shot is still counted as a blocked shot as long as the original shot was going on goal.

Exclusions & non-examples

– A shot that is off target and is intercepted before it crosses the line is not a blocked shot.
– It can be difficult to classify a shot that is deflected, as this can change the trajectory from off target to on target, or vice versa.
– A last-ditch clearance from a defender on the goal line may, in some definitions, be considered a shot on target rather than a blocked shot.

Stats classification

Blocked shot vs. shot on target vs. shot off target

A blocked shot is an attempt that was going on target but was stopped by an outfield player. A shot that was going wide or over the bar and was intercepted does not count as a blocked shot. 

Whether a blocked shot counts as a “shot attempt”

In most event data systems, a blocked shot is still considered a shot attempt. It contributes to the total number of shots taken, even though it did not reach the goal area. However, it is not counted as a shot on target.

Tagging & event coding in data systems

Data providers use specific tags or codes to classify blocked shots. These codes are used to differentiate between a shot that was blocked by a defender, a shot that was unintentionally blocked by a teammate, and a last-line clearance. The exact tagging rules can vary slightly between providers, which can lead to small differences in the recorded numbers.

Treatment in aggregate metrics & accuracy ratios

– Shooting accuracy and shot conversion metrics usually exclude blocked shots from the number of goals but include them in the total number of shot attempts. This effectively shows how blocked shots can hurt a player’s shooting accuracy.
– Because blocked shots do not reach the goalkeeper, they are not counted in shots on target metrics.
– In models like expected goals (xG), blocked shots are often given a lower probability, as they never reach their intended path to goal. However, some analytic models may adjust for the likelihood of a block or weight blocked shots based on the shot’s difficulty or angle.

Tactical & defensive significance

Role of shot blocking in team defence

Blocking shots is a crucial part of defending. It reduces the number of shots that reach the goalkeeper, which decreases the opposition’s scoring chances. It acts as a first layer of defence between the shooter and the goal, especially when the defensive line is not in position. A high number of blocks in a game shows a team’s defensive aggression and discipline, as it means they are willing to close down shots and maintain a compact shape.

Situational use & context

– In the penalty area / central zones: Blocks are more critical here because shots from these areas are more likely to result in a goal.
– From distance / peripheral zones: Defenders may sometimes allow a long-range shot rather than risk a block, as a rebound from a long shot is less likely to be a threat.
– Under high pressure / in transition: Defensive blocks often happen when defenders have less time to get into position and must react quickly to stop a shot.

Risk vs. reward

– Risk: A defender who goes to ground to block a shot risks giving away a foul, getting injured, or being dribbled past.
– Reward: A successful block prevents a high-probability shot from reaching the goal. It also forces attackers to take lower-value shots or creates a turnover of possession in a dangerous area. Defenders must judge whether the risk of blocking is worth the reward, especially for shots that are unlikely to go in.

Blocks as defensive actions / part of clearance mix

Blocked shots are a key part of a defender’s toolkit, along with tackles, interceptions, and clearances. After blocking a shot, defenders must follow up and either clear the rebound or mark other attacking players. In a well-organised defence, co-ordinated blocking from multiple players is much more effective than a single player attempting a block on their own.

Technical & physical factors

Technique & body part usage

Defenders use various parts of their body to block a shot, such as their foot, shin, thigh, chest, or shoulder. They also use different techniques:

– Standing block: The defender stands upright and extends a leg to stop the ball.
– Sliding block / sliding tackle: They slide horizontally along the ground to intercept low or fast shots.
– Diving or lunging block: The defender commits their whole body to cover more space. This is often used as a last resort.
– Foot deflection technique: They use the inside or outside of their foot to deflect the ball off target.
– Keeping limbs tight: This is done to avoid giving away a handball or creating a dangerous rebound.

Timing, anticipation & reading the shooter

Timing is everything when it comes to blocking a shot. Players need to read the shooter’s body language and the angle of their run to predict when they will shoot. They must also react at the right time. Blocking too early might allow the shooter to go around them, while blocking too late will mean they miss the ball. They also need to be able to read feints or shot fakes.

Positioning & spatial alignment

– Positioning: A defender must place themselves between the shooter and the goal to reduce the available shooting angle.
– Angle of approach: It is not always about blocking from straight on; arriving at an angle can widen a defender’s coverage.
– Being “big”: They must try to make themselves seem as wide as possible with their arms and shoulders while controlling their balance to avoid giving away a foul.

Physical attributes & athletic qualities

– Agility and reactiveness: A defender needs to be able to shift their weight quickly and intercept deflected shots.
– Explosive power: They must have powerful legs to lunge or shift laterally.
– Flexibility: This allows them to stretch and contort their body to block shots that are low or high.
– Endurance / strength: Blocking shots repeatedly in a game requires a lot of stamina and muscle resilience.
– Courage / bravery: A player must have the willingness to put their body in the path of a fast-moving ball.
– Body control / coordination: They need to be able to control their limbs in tight spaces to avoid giving away a foul or getting injured.

Metrics & advanced analytics

Basic counting & frequency metrics

– Blocked shots (count): The total number of blocked shots for a team or player in a match or over a season.
– Blocked shot rate / share: The percentage of a player’s total shot attempts that were blocked.
– xG blocked %: The percentage of the opposition’s expected goals that were stopped by blocks. This is used to measure how effective a team’s defence is.
– Normalised rates: These adjust for a player’s playing time, which allows for fairer comparisons between players.

Incorporation into expected goals (xG) models

Many xG models include blocked shots by giving them a low probability of becoming a goal, rather than completely ignoring them. The presence of a block, such as the position of a defender or the angle of the block, can also reduce the xG of that shot. Some models may even treat blocked shots as having a zero or near-zero xG.

Derived metrics & adjusted measures

– Goals above / below expectation (G-xG): This is the difference between the number of goals a player has scored and their total xG. It is a way of measuring a player’s finishing ability.
– Post-shot models / xG on target (xGoT): Some models separate shots that reach the goal from those that are blocked. Blocked shots may have different probabilities in these models.
– Adjusted xG (player / position corrections): Some models use statistical methods to adjust the xG for a shot based on a player’s observed tendencies.
– Machine learning / hybrid models: Advanced models may use features such as a defender’s position and the shot’s velocity to give a more accurate xG estimate for a blocked shot.

Evaluating defensive value of blocking

A defender’s impact can be measured by the total xG they have blocked. Comparing this metric across different defenders helps to identify those who consistently prevent high-quality chances. When modelling a team’s defence, blocked shots can be included in the overall expected goals against (xGA) model to factor in shots that were prevented.

Limitations, biases & considerations

– Model bias / variance: Because a block changes the outcome of a shot, models may under- or over-estimate the shot’s true probability, especially if the block is from a short distance.
– Inconsistency between data sources: Different data providers may have different ways of classifying a blocked shot, which can lead to small discrepancies in the recorded numbers.
– Low sample sizes: For individual defenders, the number of blocked shots may be too low to give a reliable measure of their ability.
– Correlation vs. causation: A high number of blocked shots may just mean that the defence is under a lot of pressure, not that they are better at blocking shots.
– Interdependencies: Blocked shots often happen alongside other defensive actions. It may be hard to work out the exact effect of the block itself.
– Shot context dilution: Models that treat all shots the same may undervalue the distinct nature of blocked shots unless they are explicitly accounted for.

Sportmonks & football player data: context and usage

When building analytical tools or player profiles, Sportmonks is a practical data source. It has a well-structured API that includes a player’s personal details and their statistics, all in one place. You can get a player’s name, nationality, height, and position, as well as their season and match statistics, including goals, passes, tackles, and blocked shots.

Core components & how they relate to blocked shots

– Player metadata and position info: You can use the Players endpoints to get a player’s general information, such as their date of birth, physical stats, and position (e.g., centre-back, full-back). This context is crucial, as defenders will naturally have more blocked shots, so you can compare them against other defenders to get a fair idea of their performance.
– Statistics endpoints & filtered includes: Sportmonks organises performance data under statistics. You can filter this data by season or by detail type when you search for a player. One of the statistics is blocked-shots (ID 97), which is in the statistics definitions table. shots-blocked (ID 58) is also listed among other shot metrics like total shots and shots on target.

Track blocked shots and defensive impact with Sportmonks

Understand a defender’s contribution with detailed blocked shot data from the Sportmonks Football API. With structured endpoints for players, teams, and seasons, you can analyse how and where defenders prevent goal-bound attempts. Start your free trial today and build smarter tools that capture the real defensive value behind every block.