A standard location heatmap shows where a player tends to be on the pitch — their frequency distribution across pitch zones. A positional value map shows where a player is when they are in positions of off-ball advantage — high field value, available to receive in good conditions. The two maps are almost always different. A player may frequently occupy low-value zones (center of a congested midfield) while their valuable moments come from less frequent incursions into high-value spaces. The location heatmap describes habit; the positional value map describes contribution.
Build both maps for the same player and same match/season data. Location heatmap: kernel density estimate of all player positions while team has possession. Positional value map: kernel density estimate of player positions only during moments of positional advantage (field value above threshold). Compare the two — the gap between them reveals which zones the player inhabits frequently but creates little value from, and which zones they rarely reach but are highly productive when they do. The positional value map is the coaching-relevant one.
Where a player spends time (location heatmap) and where they create value (positional value map — position filtered by off-ball advantage moments) are almost always different. A midfielder may inhabit low-value central congestion 80% of the time but create all their value during brief forays into half-spaces. The location heatmap describes habit; the positional value map describes contribution. Coaching interventions should target the gap between the two.