# Pressing Intensity: An Intuitive Measure for Pressing in Soccer

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.04712 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.04712/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 11 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 30 Dec 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [A Graph Neural Network deep-dive into successful counterattacks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.17450/) (2024)
- [floodlight -- A high-level, data-driven sports analytics framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.02562/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Wide Open Gazes: Quantifying Visual Exploratory Behavior in Soccer with Pose Enhanced Positional Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.18519/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Pressing is a fundamental defensive strategy in football, characterized by applying pressure on the ball owning team to regain possession. Despite its significance, existing metrics for measuring pressing often lack precision or comprehensive consideration of positional data, player movement and speed. This research introduces an innovative framework for quantifying pressing intensity, leveraging advancements in positional tracking data and components from Spearman's Pitch Control model. Our method integrates player velocities, movement directions, and reaction times to compute the time required for a defender to intercept an attacker or the ball. This time-to-intercept measure is then transformed into probabilistic values using a logistic function, enabling dynamic and intuitive analysis of pressing situations at the individual frame level. the model captures how every player's movement influences pressure on the field, offering actionable insights for coaches, analysts, and decision-makers. By providing a robust and intepretable metric, our approach facilitates the identification of pressing strategies, advanced situational analyses, and the derivation of metrics, advancing the analytical capabilities for modern football.