How to Shoot a Penalty Kick

If you've ever seen a soccer shoot-out on television, you know there is a real art to the penalty kick. It is a battle between the shooter and the goalie. The advantage is on the shooter's side, but only if she knows what she's doing.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Game strategy
• Soccer field
• Soccer ball

Set Up a Penalty Kick

1. Place the soccer ball 12 yards from the goal line in the center of the penalty box.

2. Have the goalie stand on the goal line. The goalie can move side to side, but cannot move forward until the shooter touches the ball.

3. Keep all other players outside of the penalty box. No other players can enter the penalty box until the shooter has touched the ball.

4. Blow the whistle when all players are ready for the penalty kick. The shooter can then shoot the ball.

Shoot a Penalty Kick

1. Hide your true intentions from the goalie. The goalie will try to guess which direction you plan to hit the ball by looking at your eyes and body language.

2. Take three big steps back and to the side of the soccer ball. You'll want a head start to give you more power behind your kick, but the head start should be short or you might give away too many clues.

3. Guess which way the goalie is going to dive. Pretend that you plan to shoot the ball that way.

4. Shoot the ball in the direction you think the goalie will not dive. Try to aim the kick so the ball makes it into the far side of the goal.

5. Kick the ball either low to the ground or high up in the corner. These heights are the hardest for the goalie to block.

Tips & Warnings

• It is considered unsportsmanlike for the goalie to make sounds or wave his or her arms during the kick. In the same manner, it is considered unsportsmanlike for the shooter to fake a charge or kick while making the shot.

• A classic penalty kick shot is when the shooter kicks the ball with the inside of the shoe, as if the ball is meant to travel across the shooter's body but instead sends it in the opposite direction.

• The shooter cannot touch the soccer ball a second time until the ball has been touched by another player. A violation of this rule will result in a free kick by the other team.