Speed Isn’t Everything: The Hidden Science of Pitch Control

Every coach has shouted it: “Close him down!” But what if raw speed isn’t the secret weapon we think it is?
A new study from the University of Zaragoza and La Liga analysts flips a classic assumption on its head. By tracking players across 100 top-flight Spanish matches, researchers found that speed and control don’t always move in lockstep. Instead, the relationship depends on role, stamina, and game context—showing why defenders can quietly dominate the pitch without ever hitting top gears.

This matters because pitch control—the probability that a team can gain possession at any spot on the field—is one of the best modern measures of spatial dominance. The more of the field your team “controls,” the greater your ability to dictate play. Coaches, analysts, and scouts increasingly use this metric to understand not just what happened, but why.

What the Researchers Did

Traditional pitch control models assume every player can reach the same top speed—usually around 5 m/s. The new model breaks that myth by assigning each player their own speed profile, based on match-tracking data. They then introduced something new: the stamina factor, a multiplier that adjusts top speed up or down to simulate fatigue, effort, or fitness gains.

The question:

How much does faster running really improve a player’s or team’s control of the pitch?

Key Findings (and What They Mean for Soccer)

1. Speed Helps—but Only to a Point

Yes, faster players tend to control more of the pitch. But the benefit isn’t linear—it follows a logarithmic curve. That means the first few gains in speed matter most; beyond that, returns diminish.
Takeaway for training: Instead of chasing endless sprint gains, focus on efficient bursts and recovery capacity. Players who manage pace wisely can outperform “faster” rivals.

2. Defenders Rule the Control Game

Surprisingly, defenders accumulate the most pitch control overall, despite being slower than forwards. Why? Their positioning, reading of play, and spatial awareness give them an edge.
Coaching tip: For defenders, tactical anticipation beats raw acceleration. Work on starting position and reaction drills rather than just speed ladders.

3. Team Styles Shape Speed Payoff

Some teams—such as Sevilla and Barcelona—retain high pitch control regardless of the model. Others, such as Valencia or Alavés, gain significantly when player speed improves.
Club insight: This suggests that tactical systems interact with player fitness. High-press teams benefit most from speed boosts; possession-heavy systems rely more on coordination and spacing.

4. Fatigue Changes Everything

By comparing the first and second halves, the study found that teams’ control fluctuates over time. Some, like Atlético Madrid, drop sharply after halftime, likely reflecting a decline in stamina.
Practical step: Use wearable data to monitor mid-match stamina drops and plan substitutions or tactical shifts before spatial control erodes.

5. Defense Gains More from Extra Speed than Attack

When stamina was boosted, defensive pitch control improved more than offensive control. In plain terms, sprinting harder helps your back line recover shape more effectively than it helps attackers stretch opponents.
Training idea: Prioritize defensive transition drills that simulate “chasing back” at near-max speeds. This builds the kind of fitness that translates directly to measurable control gains.

Why This Matters for Modern Coaching

This research reframes how we define “speed.” It’s not just about who wins a sprint—it’s about how efficiently players use their physical resources to influence space over 90 minutes.
For performance staff, this opens the door to “player avatars”: digital profiles combining data on top speed, acceleration, and fatigue resistance. These can forecast how physical changes—like improved conditioning or reduced fitness—alter a team’s ability to dominate zones.

At the academy or semi-pro level, coaches can take the same principle and ask:

• Which players maintain intensity across halves?
• Who consistently arrives first to loose balls—not just early in the match, but late?
• How does our system’s style (pressing, possession, counter) amplify or mask these differences?

Integrating this thinking can turn fitness reports into tactical intelligence—not just physiology.

Connecting to Broader Trends

This study aligns with a broader movement in soccer analytics, which involves blending biomechanics, tracking data, and complexity science to understand collective play. Just as xG revolutionized shot quality, pitch control is redefining spatial quality—and the stamina factor adds a human dimension to that math.

For clubs experimenting with AI-based analysis or smart wearables, this type of model reveals where the next frontier lies: predicting tactical breakdowns before they occur.

Your Turn to Kick It Off

• How do your players’ energy patterns change across halves?
• Could you redesign conditioning sessions to target sustainable speed rather than maximum speed?
• How might “pitch control thinking” reshape your scouting or player development priorities?