what is an assist?

It was my understanding that an assist is a direct pass that leads to a goal, like if you pass it to a guy who shoots and scores. A direct pass meaning no one else touches it, or dosn't bounce off the keeper or like in your case only if the defender did not touch the ball.

 

There you have it.

 

This is a good question.

I do question the last comment of "A direct pass meaning no one else touches it, or dosn't bounce off the keeper." I say that a deflection or block (where the defender/goalkeeper doesn't CONTROL the ball) can still result in assists. (This is paragraph [g] below.)

The only really defined rule on assists in the NCAA rulebook: http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2002/2002_soccer_rules.pdf

Quoting section 10-5:

Assists

SECTION 5. An assist is awarded for a pass leading directly to a goal. No more than two assists may be credited on any one scoring play. Players receiving assists are credited with one point for statistical purposes.

a. If a scoring play consists of two consecutive passes without a defender gaining control of the ball, two assists may be awarded, provided the second player does not have to elude a defender to make the final pass. Both passes must have a direct influence on the outcome of a goal scored. If the second player needs to elude a defender before passing to the goal-scorer, credit only that assist.

b. No assist is awarded when a player gains control from the defensive team and scores.

c. No assist is awarded on a penalty-kick goal.

d. A corner kick, throw-in or free kick leading to a goal each counts as a pass in awarding assists.

e. A player cannot receive credit for an assist on a goal that the player also scores.

f. If an attacking player’s shot hits a post or crossbar and bounces back into the field of play and, before a defender can touch the ball, another attacker shoots the ball into the goal, credit the player whose shot hit the post or crossbar with an assist.

g. If an attacking player shoots and the goalkeeper or defender blocks the shot but cannot control the ball, and a second attacking player immediately knocks the rebound in for a goal, credit the player who took the first shot with an assist.

Note: Rule 10-5 is an administrative rule and may be altered by prior written mutual consent.

 

cool. my long time riddle has finally been solved.

 

I wish assists were recorded as an official stat in the European leagues. I would really be interested in seeing which players get the most assists.

 

Same here. The only way perhaps is to join one of the Yahoo Fantasy leagues for the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A.

 

An assist is what is added to the boring American sports stats, to give the fans something else to do and think about during "Umpire's time outs"
It has nothing to do with Football.....!!!

Whoops I thought I was on the Rivalries Channel..

 

Assists are... well, interesting, and is actually a good measure of a player's effectiveness. What's ridiculous is the "secondary assist" that MLS keeps track of (they still do, don't they?). I understand that it's often the "pass that leads to the pass that leads to the goal", but for the most part, it's hardly reflective of a player's influence.

 

Bundesliga does record assists.

 

The Opta Index records all kinds of premiership stats including assists, look up their site and have a look at last seasons stats.