Do blocked shots count as attempts in soccer?

Understanding soccer terminology will help fans appreciate soccer. So, does a blocked shout count as an attempt at soccer? We have the answers.

Blocked shots are counted as an attempt at soccer. This is qualified when a ball that is directed at the goal is blocked when there is a goalkeeper and other defenders who are behind the blocker. A blocked shot could include a shot which is not intentional.

We are dedicated to being a reliable reference for the day-to-day questions that you have. We are able to do this due to the efforts of our team of professionals who have accumulated a lot of skills and experience on matters related to staff. Therefore, when you visit our website, be assured that the information you get is highly authoritative.

Overview

Do blocked shots count as attempts in soccer? This is one of the many questions you’ll hear people asking about soccer. For soccer fans around the world, knowing what happens on the field of play is important.

Soccer is a high intensity sport and a lot happens in 90 minutes, and sometimes in at least 120 minutes in knockout matches if there’s no winner in regular time. So, if you’re not familiar with some of the concepts used in soccer, you may miss out a big deal. In this article, we’ll get to understand whether blocked shots count as attempts in soccer as well as answering any other related questions.   

Do Blocked Shots Count as Attempts in Soccer?

Well, blocked shots count as attempts in soccer but it depends on the circumstances of the shot. To begin with, let’s first understand what a blocked shot is. A blocked shot is any clear attempt of a player to score, that’s going on target but gets blocked by an outfield player.

For the shot to be counted as a blocked shot, there has to be other defenders and a goalkeeper behind the player who blocks it. Also, an unintentional block by the teammate of the shooter is considered a blocked shot. For instance, a DC United midfielder can have his long-range shot blocked by his teammate inside the penalty box of the opposing team.

This will still count as a blocked shot. However, a clearance off the line by a player from the opposing team doesn’t fit the definition of a blocked shot. In the soccer world, you can refer to this as a save.      

So, based on the definition of a blocked shot above, blocked shots, indeed, count as attempts in a game of soccer.

However, for the blocked shot to be considered an attempt on goal, the player who shoots the ball has to be aiming for a goal. This means that shooting from any other place on the field without directing the ball towards the goal cannot be counted as an attempt.

For example, if a defender shoots a ball from the defense line and it’s blocked by an opposition player at the midfield position, the blocked shot cannot be counted as an attempt. Clearly, the defender wasn’t attempting to score, but only to clear the ball.

Therefore, blocked shots are counted as attempts when the shooter is aiming at goal and the shot gets blocked by either an opposing player or a teammate.

Is There A Difference Between an Attempt and a Shot On Goal?

Yes, there’s a difference between attempted shots and shots on goal. An attempted shot is any shot made by a player with the intent of scoring and is aimed towards the goal. It’s important to point out that a crossing pass is not considered as a shot.

The aim of a crossing, though it may be placed inside the penalty area, is to set up an attacking player with a scoring opportunity. Though the crossing may be directed towards the goal area, the idea is not to score directly but to create a scoring chance.

Thus, this isn’t normally counted as an attempt. For example, if a LA Galaxy player crosses the ball inside the penalty area of FC Dallas to create a goal scoring opportunity, it cannot be an attempt.

On the other hand, a shot on goal is a shot made by a player directed toward the opponent’s goal. For a shot on target, two things can happen. The shot can either result in a goal by the attacking team or a save by a goalkeeper or the defending team.

Any shot that hits the crossbar or goes above the goal post without being deflected by a goalkeeper or a defender cannot be counted as a shot on goal. In this case, the shot is an attempt to score that goes off target.

Does a Team with Many Attempts Have Increased Chances of Winning?

Theoretically, a team that has many attempts on goal has a higher chance of winning a game, but that may not be the case at the end of the match. In most cases, the many attempts on goal means that the likelihood of scoring are higher compared to the team with fewer attempts.

However, it is possible for a team to have many chances on goal but fail to deliver expected results. If the chances created aren’t converted into goals, the team can’t emerge as the winner.                

For example, in a match between Philadelphia and DC United, Philadelphia can have the most attempts on goal but still fail to win. The important thing is translating the opportunities created into goals. DC United can have only one chance and turn it into a goal and win the match. 

Therefore, though a team with many attempts on goal has a higher likelihood of scoring, it doesn’t always translate to a win. The opposing team can have a solid defense that blocks these attempts and make it difficult for them.

This is usually the tactic used by most defensive-minded teams in different leagues such as MLS in the U.S and La Liga, Serie A, Premier League, and others in Europe. It requires a team to be very clinical to convert attempts into goals.

Key Takeaways

• In soccer, blocked shots count as attempts. However, not every blocked shot can count as an attempt.
• For a blocked shot to count as an attempt, the ball has to be directed towards goal and gets blocked by either an opposing player or teammate.
• There is a significant difference between an attempt and a shot on goal or target. Essentially, an attempt can be directed towards the goal but go off target.
• For a shot to be considered on target, it has to either be turned into a goal by the attacking team or be saved by a goalkeeper or the defense of the opposing team.
• Having many attempts does not always translate into winning a soccer match. It is possible to create many chances but still fail to win a soccer match.