4 Traditional Metrics
In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive overview of the traditional performance metrics pulled directly from the UFA API. These statistics are recorded by the league’s internal tracking systems and serve as the foundation for most player and team evaluations.
These values are extracted as-is—without modification or interpretation. Because they originate from the league’s official data infrastructure, they benefit from a high degree of consistency and accuracy across seasons.
While some of these metrics lack the nuance of more contextual analyses, they remain crucial for understanding baseline player contributions. In many cases, they offer the clearest signals of role, reliability, and play style. Below, we outline each metric, along with its function and interpretation within the broader framework of ultimate analytics.
4.1 Assists (A)
An assist is credited to the player who throws the final pass leading directly to a goal.
4.2 Hockey Assists (HA)
Also known as “secondary assists,” this counts the pass before the assist. It captures supporting roles in offensive flow and helps identify players who consistently advance the disc in scoring sequences.
4.3 Goals (G)
Awarded to the player who catches the disc in the end zone. A direct measure of scoring output.
4.7 Stalls (S)
Occurs when a player fails to release the disc before the stall count expires, resulting in a turnover.
4.8 Callahans (Cal)
A defensive score achieved by intercepting a pass in the opposing end zone. Rare, but highly impactful.
4.9 Yards Received (RY)
The total distance gained by a player towards the attacking goal via completed receptions.
4.10 Yards Thrown (TY)
Cumulative distance gained through completed passes towards the attacking goal.
4.11 Total Yards (Tot Y)
Cumulative distance gained through completed passes and completed receptions towards the attacking goal.
4.21 Offensive Possessions (oOpportunities)
The number of offensive possessions a player participated in during a game or season. We enhance this metric by counting only possessions where a throw is attempted. For example, if a team starts on defense, gets a block, but then a timeout is called before a throw occurs and player substitutions take place, the UFA would count this as an offensive possession. However, we exclude this from our count, ensuring that only true offensive possessions are considered.
4.22 Defensive Possessions (dOpportunities)
The number of defensive possessions a player participated in during a game or season. We refine this measure by only counting possessions where the player is actively defending during a throw attempt. For example, if a team gets a block but the offensive team calls a timeout before any throw is made, the UFA counts this as a defensive possession. However, we exclude these situations from our count, ensuring that only defensive possessions involving an actual throw attempt are considered.