Statistics (generally - goals, assists, turnovers, blocks) are used for selection, as well as areas to improve on once teams have been selected - to a defender 'we want to see more blocks', a handler 'less throwaways'.
In Vancouver last year, the scorekeepers took stats, so by the time the tournament reached the finals stage, it was pretty obvious to any teams who had an internet connection who the main throwers or receivers were (as was the case with Japan or Terra) in the teams they were going to play against.
Stats by themselves aren't the be and end all. I'm sure everyone knows that one player who might not throw the goal, catch the goal or get the block, but still contributes incredibly to the team. Is this more to do with the limitations of the quantifiable, or rather insufficient data?
Who knows.
Here, though, are some stats I would like to see taken more in Ultimate. I've probably plagiarised some of them.
- Type of score: forehand? backhand? overhead - hammer or scoober?
- Number of breakmark throws/number of times mark is broken.
- Throws upfield vs reset (dump) throws.
- Average time disc held per possession (we could find out who all the disc hogs are).
- Total time played per game.
- Number of dump engagements (or lack of dump engagement before a preset time, the standard for most teams seems to be 4 or 5).
- Throws upwind/throws downwind.
- Average stall count achieved on defence.
- Distance gained (cuts).
1 comment:
The most important stat, both for offence and defence, would probably be some form of "how often does your team score when you're on the field." Probably how often your team scores when you're on the field, compared to number of points you're on the field, number of scores your team makes, whether you start on O or D, and a bunch of other factors I can't think of.
The problem with a stat like that is you need a really big sample size for it to actually mean anything.
For individuals I would like to see the number of throws and % completions broken down into different categories, e.g.
- number of dump throws, % completed
- number of short throws, % completed
- number of long throws, % completed.
This would give an idea of how much of a risk taker they are with the disc, and how effective their risk taking is. Hucking and always turning over < always dumping and 100% completions < high risk taker with a very high completion rate.
Some stats combined from a range of players and teams (the bigger sample space the better) that might be handy are:
- How often dump throws turn over compared to non dump throws, then divide it into how high the count gets before the dump engages.
- Number of throws before a point or a turn, then ratio points:turns for different numbers.
- Simllar to number throws, but take average time disc is held.
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