Goals against average

{{Short description|Goalkeeping statistic used by several sports}}

{{refimprove|date=January 2024}}

File:Clintbenedict.jpg, a goaltender of the 1920s in the NHL holds several GAA records]]

Goals against average (GAA), also known as average goals against (AGA), is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending on sport). GAA is analogous to a baseball pitcher's earned run average (ERA). In Japanese, the same translation (防御率) is used for both GAA and ERA, because of this.

For ice hockey, the goals against average statistic is the number of goals a goaltender allows per 60 minutes of playing time. It is calculated by taking the number of goals against, multiplying that by 60 (minutes) and then dividing by the number of minutes played. The modification has been used by the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1965 and by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 1990.{{cite web |url=http://proicehockey.about.com/od/learnthegame/f/goalie_stats.htm |title=How are Goaltending Statistics Calculated? |first=Jamie |last=Fitzpatrick |access-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022085103/http://proicehockey.about.com/od/learnthegame/f/goalie_stats.htm |url-status=dead}} When calculating GAA, overtime goals and time on ice are included, whereas empty net and shootout goals are not.

{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26498 |title=NHL 2009-10 Rule Book |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=July 20, 2010}}

It is typically given to two decimal places.

The top goaltenders in the NHL have a GAA of about 1.85–2.10, although the measure of a good GAA changes as different playing styles come and go. The top goaltenders in the National Lacrosse League, however, have a GAA of about 10.00, and the top 2005 Western Lacrosse Association goaltenders had a GAA of about 9.00. At their best, elite NCAA water polo goalies have a GAA between 3.00 and 5.00.

Since the statistic is highly dependent on the team playing in front of a goalie, save percentage is usually considered a more accurate measure of a goaltender's skill, especially in ice hockey and lacrosse, as it takes into account the number of shots the goaltender has faced. In soccer, since it is considered a part of the goalkeeper's job to coach defenders on proper positioning to prevent opponents' shots, GAA is more commonly used to evaluate goalkeepers than save percentage.