PPDA in football statistics stands for Passes Per Defensive Action, but what does it actually mean?
It is a metric used to analyse a team’s defensive intensity and how effectively they press or disrupt their opponent’s play. PPDA provides insights into how many passes an opponent is allowed to make before a defensive action is taken by the pressing team. A lower PPDA indicates a more aggressive and effective pressing style, as it means the opposing team is allowed fewer passes before encountering defensive pressure.
Here’s how PPDA is typically calculated:
- Count the number of passes the opponent makes.
- Count the number of defensive actions taken by the pressing team (such as tackles, interceptions, blocks, or challenges).
- Divide the number of passes by the number of defensive actions.
The resulting value represents the average number of passes an opponent is allowed before a defensive action is made by the pressing team. A lower PPDA indicates a higher level of defensive intensity and pressing, while a higher PPDA suggests a more passive or less effective pressing strategy.
PPDA can provide valuable insights into a team’s defensive strategy and how well they disrupt their opponent’s possession and passing patterns. It is commonly used in analytics to assess a team’s defensive performance and tactics.
Are your team the most passive in the division? If so, they’ll feature on the highest PPDA chart. If they’re more aggressive and play with an intense press, they’ll feature in the lowest PPDA charts.
All stats correct as of 25th October, 2023
Highest PPDA Championship
Sheffield Wednesday – 16.35
Hull City – 16.12
Cardiff City – 14.68
Rotherham United – 13.53
Blackburn Rovers – 13.48
Lowest PPDA Championship
Stoke City – 9.48
Leeds United – 9.66
Huddersfield Town – 9.7
Watford – 9.83
Southampton – 9.96
Highest PPDA League One
Wigan Athletic – 14.47
Lincoln City – 14.4
Northampton Town – 13.53
Cambridge United – 13.51
Blackpool – 13.2
Lowest PPDA League One
Reading – 8.06
Bolton Wanderers – 8.31
Carlisle United – 8.84
Portsmouth – 8.89
Derby County – 9.44
Highest PPDA League Two
Colchester United – 14.7
Harrogate Town – 14.52
Wrexham – 14.3
Notts County – 13.25
Salford City – 12.88
