Goals Against Average (GAA) are the number of goals the goalie allows for each unit of regulation game time. It is adjusted for the minutes the goalie plays.
A lower GAA is a sign of a goalie that allows few goals during a game. A higher GAA is a sign of a goalie that allows too many goals during a game.
Ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, water polo, and other sports with a goalie also use GAA as a statistic..
Formula – How to calculate GAA
GAA = (Goals Against ÷ Minutes Played) x Game Length
- “Goals Against” are the number of goals recorded while the goalie is on the field. Include all goals against from penalty kicks and during regulation, injury time, and overtime. Do not include empty-net goals when the goalie is not on the field or goals from a shootout. Rules for goals are in the IFAB and FIFA laws of the game (other leagues may have different scoring regulations).
- “Minutes Played” are the total number of minutes played by the goalie. Include injury time and overtime play. Do not include the time the goalie is playing during a shootout.
- “Game Length” is the regulation game length in the league the goalie is playing. In FIFA games the regulation game length is 90 minutes. Recreational and minor leagues may be less.
Example
A goalie is in net for 977 minutes. She allows 18 goals in that time. Regulation time for the league she plays in is 90 minutes per game:
18 goals against ÷ 977 minutes = 0.01842
0.01842 times 90 minutes per game = 1.658.
This goalie’s Goals Against Average (GAA) is is1.658.
Sources and more Resources
- Wikipedia – Goals Against Average (GAA) & Goalkeeper (Association Football) – Wikipedia’s definitions of soccer terms on this page.
- Rules of Soccer from the IFAB,FIFA, the Premiere League, MLS Soccer, and the NCAA – Includes details on what counts as a goal in each league.
- Player stats for the Premiere League (UK), La Liga, Bundesliga, and MLS Soccer.
- Dummies.com – Soccer for dummies cheat sheet – A simple introduction to soccer.
- FIFA Grassroots (for kids) – An introduction and grassroots guide to soccer.