Table 1

Criteria and categories of the coding tool for analysing goals in football -CODITAG-

CriterionCategoriesDefinition for observation
Match day1 to total number of daysNo. of match days in which the match that gives rise to the analysed goal is played
Home team1 to total number of teamsNo. of the home team that gives rise to the analysed goal
Away team1 to total number of teamsNo. of the away team that gives rise to the analysed goal
Team that scoresHomeThe home team scores the goal
AwayThe away team scores the goal
Minute1 to the minute signifying the end of the matchMinute that the goal was scored
Scoreboard status before the goal was scoredDrawNeither of the teams were winning before the goal
Home victoryThe home team were beating the away team by one goal
2+ home victoryThe home team were beating the away team by two or more goals
Home defeatThe home team were losing against the away team by one goal
2+ home defeatThe home team were losing against the away team by two or more goals
Type of attackPositional combination playThe goal is preceded by a combination of passes by the team’s players that allows them to progressively advance towards the opponent’s goal, getting past an organised defence and completing most of the following indices: the opposing team is forced into their own half, great width of play, many players in front of the ball during the development of play, alternating pause and rhythm in the execution, very elaborate and positional attack.
Quick combination playThe goal is preceded by a combination of passes by the team’s players that allows them to advance quickly to the opponent’s goal, getting past an organised defence and completing most of the following indices: distance and space is taken advantage of between the opponent’s lines, verticality in the play, few players involved in the creation of play, great rhythm and speed in the execution and simplicity in a completion.
Direct attackThe goal is preceded by a long throw-in to the team’s attacking line over the opponent’s midfielding area.
Completion after recovery
on exit of opposition’s ball
The goal is preceded by a steal or interception of the ball in the opposition’s starting end (see Figure 1).
Counter-attack after recovery
at the opposition’s end
The goal is preceded by a quick move by the team’s players that allows them to advance towards the opposition’s goal, getting past an unorganised defence. The ball is recovered in the opposition’s half, excluding the opposition’s starting end (see Figure 1).
Type of attackCounter-attack at team’s own endThe goal is preceded by a quick move by the team’s players that allows them to advance towards the opposition’s goal, getting past an unorganised defence. The ball is recovered in own half, excluding the opposition’s end (see image 1).
Set piece: foul in the penalty boxThe goal is preceded by a set-piece action from a direct or indirect free kick that is kicked into the opponent’s penalty box.
Set-piece: foul to restart playThe goal is preceded by a set-piece action from a direct or indirect free kick that is not kicked into the opponent’s penalty box. 
Set-piece: corner to the penalty box is touched in by an attackerThe goal is preceded by a set-piece from a corner. The corner is played into the box and the first contact is made by an attacker.
Set-piece: corner to the penalty box is touched in by a defenderThe goal is preceded by a set-piece from a corner. The corner is played into the box and the first contact is made by a defender.
Set-piece: corner outside the boxThe goal is preceded by a set-piece from a corner. The corner is not hit into the penalty box, is taken short or sought by an attacker outside the penalty box.
Set-piece: throw-inThe goal is preceded by a set-piece from a throw-in.
PenaltyThe goal came from a penalty either directly or from a second action.
OtherIt is not properly indicated what precedes the goal or it is not possible to include it in any of the other categories.
Contextualisation penultimate actionPass into space (outside-outside and outside-inside)The player who scores receives a pass at the back of the last line of defence. The passer is outside the box.
Pass outside the box (outside-outside and inside-outside)The player who scores receives a pass outside the box. The passer can be inside or outside the box (not including passes into space and long balls).
Pass inside the box (inside-in)The player who scores receives a pass inside the penalty box. The passer is also inside the box.
Pass or cross from the wing (outside-inside)The player who scores receives a pass or cross inside the box from a runner on the wing.
Long ball (outside-outside and outside-inside)The player who scores receives a long ball (not including balls at the back of the defence which are considered passes into space).
Through-pass (outside-inside)The player who scores receives a pass inside the penalty box.
HeaderThe player who scores receives a pass inside the box from the inside runner (excludes passes into space and long balls).
ReboundThe player who scores takes advantage of a rebound or a failure to clear the ball.
Steal-interceptionThe player who scores steals the ball or intercepts a pass.
Contextualisation penultimate actionThrow-inThe player who scores receives the ball from a throw-in.
NoneUsually penalties and direct free kicks.
OtherIt is not properly indicated how the scoring player receives the ball or it is not possible to include it in any of the other categories.
Contextualisation last action1v0 (empty goal)The player who scores the goal shoots with no challenge from the opposition between the ball and the goal (not including scenarios where the goalkeeper or the last defender is dribbled past).
1vPThe player who scores the goal shoots or dribbles to finish with only the goalkeeper or a defender marking them (not including completions).
CompletionThe player who scores the goal contacts the ball in the air (not including goals from outside the box or empty goals).
Inside shot (no 1vP)The player who scores the goal shoots inside the penalty box with at least one defender and the goalkeeper marking them. Contact with the ball is at ground level.
Outside shotThe player who scores the goal shoots from outside the box (not including direct free kicks).
Own goalThe player who scores the goal does so in their own goal.
Direct foulThe player who scores the goal shoots a direct free kick.
PenaltyThe player who scores the goal kicks a penalty.
OtherIt is not properly indicated how the player scores the goal or it is not possible to include it in any of the other categories.
No. of contacts last action1 touchThe player who scores the goal does so with their first touch of the ball.
2 touchesThe player who scores the goal does so after a previous control of the ball.
3 touchesThe player who scores the goal touches the ball three times.
4+ touchesThe player who scores the goal makes four or more touches with the ball.
Last contact surfaceRight sideThe player who scores the goal does so with their right foot.
Left sideThe player who scores the goal does so with their left foot.
HeaderThe player who scores the goal does so with their head.
OtherThe player who scores the goal scores with any part of the body except their right foot, left foot or head.