Definition and meaning in sport

An assist is a pass or action that directly leads to a goal being scored by a teammate in team sports such as football, ice hockey and handball. The assist is given to the player who contributes to the goal by creating the scoring opportunity, often through a precise pass or a decisive moment of play. The term is used to measure a player's ability to co-operate and create opportunities for the team to score, and is an important statistical parameter in many sports.

Role in the match dynamics

Assists are central to a team's offensive play and show a player's creativity and understanding of the game. An assist can come from a variety of situations, such as a quick deep pass, a through ball, or a clever forward pass in tight situations. Recording assists encourages players to think in a team-oriented way rather than focusing solely on scoring goals themselves, which contributes to a more varied and effective attacking game.

Statistics and recognition

In professional sports, assists are a standard statistic often used to assess a player's performance and value. In some leagues and tournaments, there are awards for players with the most assists in a season. Having high assist numbers is often considered as meritorious as scoring many goals, as it shows the ability to create chances and influence the game in a decisive way.