Summer of Stats: Through Balls

I’m glad you tuned in to read another installment of the Summer of Stats to distract yourself from St. Louis City SC’s devastating 2-1 loss last night. To help take your mind off that, today ill tell a story about Through Balls.

Per Coachingamericansoccer.com, “The through pass in soccer, also known as the soccer through ball, is a pass sent between two back defenders, or “through” a gap in the defense, into open space behind the defenders and out of the reach of the goalkeeper.   The pass is directed to a teammate who, after first being careful to be in an onside position at the moment the ball is passed, sprints to receive the ball in the open space.  Successful execution of the through pass requires recognition that the opportunity for the pass is available, that the passer and the receiver time the pass and the run properly, and that the pass has just the right pace (“weight” or “speed”) to be effectively intersected by the receiver.”

The greatest Soccer player in history, Lionel Messi, and Anders Dreyer are both tied for the lead among all Major League Soccer players with 17 Through Balls, and in third is Pep Biel of Charlotte FC.

No St. Louis players rank in the top ten.

Designated Player Marcel Hartel leads City SC in Through Balls with only 7. Second is Veteran Alfredo Morales with 3, and in third is St. Louis’s all-time leading scorer, Joao Klauss. 

Thank you for reading, stay tuned!