The xSP is the expected succes rate for each pass in a match. This predictive data model was developed by Forward Football, based on 6.900 passes of 11 youth matches that we have tracked as part of The Perfect Choice research program. We keep the model learning, by adding new match data from the same age categorie.
The model is based on the 6 parameters that you can see in the model above. The xSP is a number between 0 and 1 and rates how likely it is that a pass is going to be successful (received by a teammate or not).
When adding new match data, for all passes we compare its xSP value (model) to the true Successful Pass (tSP). The tSP is 0 or 1, meaning the pass is received by a teammate yes (1) or no (0).
This comparison between the true Successful Passes (tSP) and the xSP benchmark provides an objective assessment in the form of player’s Pass Performance Ratio (PPR). Are you above 1 in this ratio? That’s good, you have played better than the xSP benchmark! If it is under 1 there is still room for improvement!