Calculator
Definition – What is Save Percentage?
Save percentage is the percentage of saves a goalie makes to the number of shots made on the goal.
A higher save percentage is a sign of a goalie that allows few shots into the net. A lower save percentage is a sign of a goalie that allows a lot of shots into the net.
It is a common goalie statistic used in hockey, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, water polo, and other sports with a goalie. It can be used in other sports with a goalie such as Bandy, Handball, Netball, and Floorball.
Formula – How to calculate save percentage
Save Percentage = Saves ÷ Shots on Goal
- A “save” is a shot on the goal that the goaltender stops.
- A “shot” is a shot that directs the ball or puck towards the net and is either stopped by the goaltender or goes in the net. The shot total does not include shots blocked by a non-goalie player (blocked shot) and shots that miss the net or hit the goalpost (missed shot). Do not include shots from a shootout.
- Do not include empty net shots to calculate a goalie’s statistics as they are not in play. Include empty net shots to calculate a team’s statistics.
Example
A goalie faces 419 shots and makes 388 saves.
388 saves ÷ 419 shots = 0.926.
This goalie’s save percentage is 0.926.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "SV%"?
Sv% stands for save percentage. It is the number of shots on goal that the goalkeeper stops.
How do you calculate save percentage?
Save percentage is the number of saves divided by the number of shots (not including blocked or missed shots).
What counts as a shot?
A “shot” is counted as an action that moves the ball or puck towards the net that either goes in the goal or is stopped by the goalie. A shot that is blocked by another player is not counted (it counts as a blocked shot). A shot that misses the net or hits a post is not counted (it counts as a missed shot).
Resources
- Wikipedia –Save Percentage, Goalkeeper, Goaltender, Goalkeeper (Association Football), and Goaltender (Field Lacrosse) – Wikipedia articles on goaltending in various sports.
- Official rules for the NHL and IIHF (Hockey), IFAB and FIFA (Soccer), FIH (Field Hockey) and FINA (Water Polo).