A Coach’s Perception: Major Factors influencing Late Goal-Scoring-Patterns in Maltese Football

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Beyond its basic simplicity, football, is a very complex game. There is no one particular way of playing or method of training that can bring about results. The aim of football is to score more or concede fewer goals than the opponent. With goals being the crucial element, statistics prove that a high percentage are scored late in the game. This study set out to identify and demonstrate that the number of goals scored in the last fifteen minutes of a ninety-minute football game in top football competitions are higher than in any other fifteen-minute segment in the game. The study also investigates the correlation between the highest percentage of late goals and success which is measured as the final placement in the league table. It also attests that the same goal-scoring patterns are relevant to the Maltese Premier Division, which is considered to be at a lower level of play compared to other top leagues. Consequently, the study identifies the main factors which typically influence such goal-scoring patterns as perceived by local coaches. These factors are physiology, technical-tactical elements, and the team’s psychological attitude towards the game, players’ experience, club finances, and unfavourable circumstances which lead to an uneven level of play. Lastly, the paper identifies the different perceptions of these factors based on coaches’ qualifications and coaching experience at senior level. This paper could assist coaches in planning and preparing training sessions, with the hope of maximizing their training efficiency and effectiveness. It can also assist coaching course-developers and coordinators to enhance the level of the courses by altering content, assessment criteria, and topics.