With more football markets than ever available, we thought it was a good time to provide a list of definitions to help you understand how your bets on 'shots' and 'shots on target' will be settled.

The lowdown

We use Opta to settle our Shot and Shot on Target markets. Although Opta make every effort to ensure their data collection is as accurate as possible, they can sometimes review the statistics and make amendments. So, while it may appear as a shot on target on our site, this could change once the final review is complete.

See below for a list of Opta definitions accompanied by short explanations. This will help you understand how your bet will be settled.

Shot on Target

Opta define a shot on target as any goal attempt that:

• Goes into the net regardless of intent.
• Is a clear attempt to score that would have gone into the net but for being saved by the goalkeeper or is stopped by a player who is the last-man with the goalkeeper having no chance of preventing the goal (last line block).
• Shots that are blocked by another player, who is not the last-man, are not deemed to be shots on target.
• Shots that hit any part of the frame around the goal are not counted as shots on target, unless the ball subsequently goes into the back of the net and is officially awarded as a goal.

There are other examples where it isn't easy to confirm whether a shot is deemed a shot on target or not. We have listed numerous different scenarios of shot types below and specified (Yes/No) whether they are regarded as a shot on target.

Please note this list is just a guide. The final decision is confirmed by Opta, and we settle all our markets based off their data:

Shot Types

• Crosses that would be going into the goal but the goalkeeper catches/tips around the post - No
• Deflected Shot that would be going in, but for a save from the goalkeeper - Yes
• Blocked shots that a goalkeeper doesn't save, instead collects due to a lack of power - No
• Blocked/deflected shots that hit the woodwork - No
• Goals that hit the woodwork on the way in - Yes
• Shots the goalkeeper saves that were going off target - No
• A corner that would be going in but the goalkeeper stops the ball from going in - No
• A goal scored directly from a corner - Yes
• A shot cleared off the line by a defender, who is classified as the last line of defence - Yes
• A shot that was going on target that is blocked by someone on the shooter's same team - Yes if stopping a certain goal ('goal line clearance')
• A defender's clearance that hits an attacking player which goes towards goal and the keeper must save - No
• A shot that hits the post, then the keeper and bounces out - No
• A shot that hits the post and trickles on the line before a defender clears the ball - No
• A headed/non-headed flick on which runs through to the goalkeeper from a corner/free-kick - No

Shot Off Target

A shot off target is defined as any clear attempt to score that:

• Goes over or wide of the goal without making contact with another player.
• Would have gone over or wide of the goal but for being stopped by a goalkeeper's save or by an outfield player.
• Directly hits the frame of the goal and a goal is not scored. Blocked shots are not counted as shots off target.

Blocked Shot

A blocked shot is defined as any clear attempt to score that:

• Is going on target and is blocked by an outfield player, where there are other defenders or a goalkeeper behind the blocker. Includes shots blocked unintentionally by the shooter's own team mate.

Clearances off the line by an opposition player (last line blocks) are counted as shots on target and do not get counted as a blocked shot.

Goal Assist

For settlement purposes, a player will be deemed to have assisted a goal if Opta adjudicates that they have done so.

A goal assist means the final touch leading to the recipient of the ball scoring a goal. If the final touch is deflected by an opposition player, the initiator is only given a goal assist if the receiving player was likely to receive the ball without the deflection having taken place.

If a player wins a penalty or a free kick that leads to a goal, it does not count as an assist.

Body Part for Goals/Shots

The following four body parts are collected: Right foot, left foot, head and other. Foot includes any connection with the leg.

Location for Goals/Shots

The position of the ball, when the shot is taken (shot origin).

• Inside or outside the six-yard box
• Inside or outside the 18-yard box

Any event happening on a line, will be considered inside that area. For example, a shot on the 18-yard line will count as being inside the box.