How to Build Your Own Match Analysis Checklist
How to Build Your Own Match Analysis Checklist
You need a match analysis checklist that fits the way you actually watch games. Generic templates often miss the details that matter for your team or sport.
Build it in five steps
- Write down the three outcomes you care about most. A youth soccer coach might list “set-piece goals conceded,” “successful presses,” and “long passes that stick.”
- Watch one full match without any notes. Jot every moment that made you pause or shout. These become your first checklist items.
- Group the notes into four or five categories. Common ones are attacking patterns, defensive shape, transitions, set pieces, and individual player actions.
- Turn each group into simple yes/no or count questions. Instead of “how did we defend,” try “opponent completed more than two passes inside our box before a shot.”
- Test the list on your next game. Cross out anything you never used and add anything you missed.
After two or three matches the list usually settles into 12 to 18 items. That is enough to stay focused without drowning in data.
Here is a short example built for a club-level soccer side that cares about transition play:
| Category | Item | How to record |
|---|---|---|
| Defense to attack | Ball won in own half leads to shot in 10 seconds | Count yes/no per turnover |
| Attack to defense | Shot conceded on counter within 8 seconds | Count yes/no per loss of possession |
| Player action | Full-back overlaps and delivers cross | Tally per player |
Print the list or keep it in a notes app. During the match, tick boxes or add quick tallies in the margins. Review right after the final whistle while details are fresh. Adjust the wording until the questions match exactly what you need to see on the pitch.