The Official Actim Index Blog

2008/2009 Blog Home

Actim Index Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Actim Index?

The Actim Index is the official player rating system of the English Premier League and Coca-Cola Championship. It was introduced for the 2004/05 season and was devised by statisticians at the University of Salford in partnership with Press Association Sport. In the 2006/07 season the Actim Index was enhanced by the addition of assists and clean sheets to the factors that are taken into account.

What is the purpose of the Actim Index?

• It identifies the players who make key contributions.
• It allows players to be ranked against each other at random or using such criteria as playing position, nationality, age, or geographical location of their team.
• It highlights the key players in a league or team.
• It shows the form of a player or team.
• Individual player/team performances can be scientifically analysed over a season or period of time within a season.
• It provides fans with the knowledge of who is the best.

How accurate is the Actim Index?

The calculations are based on the six key factors that contribute to a player’s effectiveness and his ability to help his team win matches.

The formulae were devised through analysis of hundreds of games since the start of the English Premier League in 1992 and have been statistically proven to measure a player’s effectiveness in winning matches.

How is the Actim Index calculated?

Complex mathematical formulae were devised to calculate the value of each player’s contribution, match by match. In simple terms, the Actim Index comprises four calculations:

• Calculation 1 – Assesses a player’s contribution to a winning team, based on points won by the team when he appeared.
• Calculation 2 – Assesses a player’s performance in each game, by allocating points for actions that positively contribute to a winning performance such as shots, tackles, clearances and saves. It also takes points away from players for negative actions such as yellow/red cards and shots off target.
• Calculation 3 – Allocates points based on time on the pitch.
• Calculation 4 – Allocates points for goal scorers.
• Calculation 5 – Allocates points for assists.
• Calculation 6 – Allocates points for clean sheets.

Did you test the Actim Index system before its introduction in 2004/2005? Who came top?

Yes we did, and the Actim Index clearly identified Thierry Henry as the most effective player in the Premier League in 2003/2004. The Arsenal striker scored 30 league goals that season – eight more than Alan Shearer and 10 more than Ruud van Nistelrooy. Henry also performed well in terms of all-round play and total appearances – factors that recognise the important contributions of players who rarely find the back of the net. Henry picked up Index points for the quality of his crosses and passing as well as his appearance in 37 out of 38 Arsenal league games. This, together with his remarkable scoring record explained his lead at the top of the Actim Index in 2003/2004.

Is there a subjective element to the Actim Index? Do you award points for entertainment value?

The Actim Index only includes actions that can be measured objectively. Skill, passion and flair are subjective factors so they are not included in the rating system.

Where will Actim Stats and the Actim Index appear?

National and regional newspapers, magazines, websites, mobile phones, SMS alerts, TV and Radio both in the UK and abroad.

Isn’t the Actim Index biased towards players who play for the top clubs? What about players who play well for less successful teams?

The Actim Index aims to identify successful players who contribute to winning performances. However, rewards for team success are only part of the final rating. Players on losing teams can still score points in other areas. The view is that players deserve recognition for contributing to team success, but should still be able to score points if their team draws or loses.

Roque Santa Cruz finished the 2007/08 season in a surprising 4th spot (652 points) after a tremendous campaign with Blackburn Rovers. The striker scored an impressive 19 goals in his debut season in the Premier League for a Blackburn team that only finished in 7^th place.

Is it only players that score goals that do well on the Actim Index?

Goals do improve a player’s score but the 2007/08 Premiership index proved that you don’t need to be a hot-shot to make an impact. Arsenal defender Gael Clichy finished 10th with an index score of 565 but surprisingly did not manage to net a single goal, and Ashley Young who finished 5th netting only 8 times during Aston Villa’s impressive campaign.

Again, Gael Clichy (10^th) managed to exceed Dimitar Berbatov’s position of 15^th having not scored a goal with his 3553 minutes on the pitch compared to Berbatov’s 15 goals in 3148 minutes.