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Tactics

Game Model — overview

Game Model

A Ballity concept guide — learn what it is, then spot it live.

A game model is a comprehensive philosophy or framework that defines how a team wants to play in all phases of the game.
Think of it as a team's football identity or blueprint, telling everyone how they should play the game together.
Game Model — shape
A clear game model provides consistency, allowing players to understand their roles and react instinctively in various match situations. It ensures collective coherence and strategic alignment across the squad.

Two Ways to See It

Data Lens

From a data perspective, a game model is quantifiable through metrics like PPDA (Pases Per Defensive Action) to reflect pressing intensity, possession percentage, or shot locations, revealing underlying tactical preferences and effectiveness. Consistent trends in these metrics across matches indicate a well-defined and executed model.

Scout Lens

As a scout, you observe how players consistently execute specific actions without direct instruction, such as immediate counter-pressing after losing possession or specific movement patterns during build-up play. This reflects an ingrained collective understanding and adherence to the coach's overarching plan, revealing whether players are acting as individuals or as part of a unified system.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan
Watch for recurring patterns in how a team builds attacks, recovers possession, or defends their goal, indicating a consistent philosophy guiding their actions.

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