Table 3

Characteristics of player behaviour in DFHs

Criterion	Category	DFHs taken	%DFHs taken	Goals from DFHs	E%	GE%
Laterality	Right-handed	430	67.5	120	27.9	72.1
Laterality	Left-handed	207	32.5	69	33.3	66.7

Feints before hit	Yes	111	17.4	35	31.5	68.5
Feints before hit	No	526	82.6	154	29.3	70.7

Continuity of movement	Yes	487	76.5	144	29.6	70.4
Continuity of movement	No	150	23.5	45	30	70

Technical skill of the player	Hit	110	17.3	30	27.3	73.3
	Drag/stab	56	8.8	17	30.4	69.6
	Dribble	471	74	142	30.1	69.9

Final direction of the movement	Right-left	179	38	52	29	71
Final direction of the movement	Left-right	292	62	90	30.8	69.2

Action finalisation zone 1	1	48	7.5	15	31.3	68.7
	2	279	43.8	81	29	71
	3	187	29.4	62	33.2	66.8
	4	9	1.4	1	11.1	88.9
	5	114	17.9	30	26.3	73.7

Action finalisation zone 2	Right	343	53.84	102	29.7	70.3
	Left	259	40.66	73	29.6	70.4
	Centre	35	5.5	14	29.8	70.2
Note. DFHs taken: direct free hits taken; %DFHs taken: percentage of direct free hits taken; Goals from DFHs: goals scored from direct free hits; E%: player effectiveness percentage, GE%: goalkeeper effectiveness percentage.