Table 1

Observation instrument.

Dimensions	Criteria	Categories	Definition
Dimension 1. Identification of possession	Opponent quality	Weak	Opponent’s quality in the range [-12, -4]
		Similar	Opponent’s quality in the range [–3, +3]
		Strong	Opponent’s quality in the range [+4, +12]
Dimension 2. Initial possession	Match result	Winner	The team observed won the match
		Loser	The team observed lost the match
		Draw	The match ended in a draw
	Temporality of the action	1Q	The action starts between the start of the game and minute 15
		2Q	The action starts between minute 16 and minute 30
		3Q	The action begins between minute 31 and the end of the first half
		4Q	The action starts between the start of the second half and minute 60
		5Q	The action starts between minute 61 and minute 75
		6Q	The action starts between minute 76 and the end of the match
Dimension 2. Initial possession	Match status	Winning	The team observed is winning when the action starts
		Drawing	The teams are level when the action starts
		Losing	The team observed is losing when the action starts
	Type of start	Static	The action starts after a break in play
	Type of start	Dynamic	The action begins with a ball being stolen or intercepted
	Depth start area	Defensive	The action begins in the defensive area of the pitch
		Pre-defensive	The action begins in the pre-defensive area of the pitch
		Midfield	The action begins in the midfield area of the pitch
		Pre-offensive	The action begins in the pre-offensive area of the pitch
		Attack	The action begins in the offensive area of the pitch
	Width start area	Left Defense	The action starts from the left wing
		Centre-Back	The action starts from the centre
		Right Defense	The action starts from the right wing
	Defensive organisation	Organised	The opposing team is defensively organised
	Defensive organisation	Circumstantial	The opposing team is defensively disorganised
	Defensive positioning	Back	Opponents positioning is forward at the start of the action
		Midfield	Opponents positioning is midfield at the start of the action
		Forward	Opponents positioning is at the back at the start of the action
	Spatial context of the interaction	FF	Forward area vs. forward area
		FM	Forward area vs. midfield area
		FB	Forward area vs. back area
		MF	Midfield area vs. forward area
		MM	Midfield area vs. midfield area
		MB	Midfield area vs. back area
		BF	Back area vs. forward area
		MB	Back area vs. midfield area
		BB	Back area vs. Back area
		GF	Goal area vs. forward area
Dimension 3. Development of possession	Offensive intention	Advance	The team observed advances towards the rival goal
	Offensive intention	Maintain	The team observed maintains possession of the ball
	Defensive Intention	Recover	The opposing team shows a pressing intention to recover the ball
	Defensive Intention	Defend	The opposing team shows an intention to defend their goal
	Own half P		Time of possession in own half
	Opponent half P		Possession time in opponent’s half
	TTotal		Total time of possession
	Passes		Number of passes
	Possession area	MD	Most possession in own half
	Possession area	MO	Most possession in opponent’s half
Dimension 4. Result of the action	Result of the action	Goal	The offensive action ends with a goal
		Shot	The offensive action ends with a shot
		Ball into penalty area	The offensive action ends with a ball into the penalty area
		No success	The offensive action ends with failure

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