In the best leagues in the world, players constantly make split-second decisions. Whether it’s a pass, a dribble, or a shot. To make the best possible decision, you want as many options as possible. One factor that can influence it is “angle bias.” While it may often be overlooked, angle bias can play a significant role in any decisions made on a football pitch. If you’re wondering what angle bias is, we’ll break it down for you:
What is angle bias?
Angle bias refers to the natural tendency of players to favor certain angles when they perform actions on the field, such as passing, dribbling, or shooting. This bias is often a result of several factors:
- Body positioning: The direction of the body when receiving or playing a ball
- Foot dominance: Whether a player is right- or left-footed
- Vision and awareness: How they perceive the space around them and the positions of the opponent and their teammates
If a player receives the ball in any situation on the pitch, they’ll more often than not revert to the angle that they’re most comfortable in and make the decision that aligns with it the most. Even the best players overlook better options due to angle bias.
Passing angles: A passing angle bias determines the ability (or inability) to make the best-possible passing decisions despite certain preferences. There’s a reason why managers prefer to have a left-footed centre back on the left and a right-footed centre back on the right. The same goes for fullbacks.
If a right-footed player is running down the left, his options are limited. He has a clear preference of playing the next pass with his strong foot, but to play to his right, he has to open his body up completely. Such action gives the opponent time to react and makes his next pass very predictable. A pass to his left is a lot easier because he doesn’t have to reposition his body to complete the action. An example of heavy passing angle bias.
Dribbling angles: Similar to the passing angle bias, the dribbling angle bias determines the predictability of an attacker’s next action in a 1v1 situation. A left-footed player on the right often has a clear bias of cutting inside, towards the centre, because that’s where he can use his strong foot the best. On the left, he’ll probably prefer to go down the line and look for a cross.
This clear bias creates a predictable pattern for defenders, who can then block of the attacker’s preferred side. A good weak foot and the ability to go both ways past the defender are therefore very valuable traits for any winger. It creates uncertainty for the defender and makes his life more difficult.
Shooting angles: Also in front of goal, there are clear tendencies as to which angles certain strikers prefer. A right-footed striker might look for an opportunity to shift the ball onto his dominant side before taking a shot instead of taking a quicker shot with his left. All the best finishers in the world therefore have an excellent weak foot to minimize any angle bias in front of goal.
One of the most famous examples of angle bias is Arjen Robben. The Dutchman was known for cutting inside every time he received the ball on the right wing. Usually a very predictable pattern for any defender, but he performed his actions at such speed and accuracy that it was nonetheless almost impossible to defend.
How does angle bias impact the game?
Angle bias affects how attacks are built, how players move, and how defenders anticipate what will happen next. While it’s a natural part of the game, angle bias can also be a limitation. Skilled players often train to reduce their angle bias by improving their weaker foot or learning to open their body in different ways to add more variety to their game.
Managers can also study angle bias when planning tactics, especially defensively. If you know a player like Robben prefers to cut inside onto his left foot, you can position defenders to block that path and force him into less comfortable areas.
Any player with a good weak foot already mitigates his angle bias massively. If you add good vision, awareness, and body positioning, you are basically Santi Cazorla with zero angle bias.
