vastustat

Vastustat is a term used in sports analytics to describe a structured collection of statistics and qualitative attributes about opponents. It is used to analyze rival teams or players to anticipate tactics, exploit weaknesses, and prepare game plans. The concept is often described as an opponent-oriented counterpart to team or player statistics, aggregating data on performance, tendencies, and situational behavior during competition. In some contexts, the term is treated as a blend of "opponent" and "statistics."

Data sources include official game logs, play-by-play records, video analysis, scouting reports, and sometimes sensor data from wearables. The dataset typically encompasses metrics such as scoring efficiency against specific defenses, pace, preferred plays, player matchups, and situational performance (home vs away, close games, or late-game clutch).

Applications include guiding tactical decisions, setting scouting priorities, informing lineups, and powering predictive models for game outcomes or player development. It is also used in esports and simulations to model opponent behavior and test strategies under varied conditions.

Limitations include data quality and availability, potential biases, rapid changes in opponent strategies, and privacy or competitive integrity concerns. Analysts must consider context, sample size, and recency to avoid overfitting.

It is related to fields such as opponent modeling, sports analytics, and data-driven coaching.