How to Kick a Penalty Shot in Soccer

A penalty shot is a free kick by a player of one soccer team directly at the goal of the opposing team. This is awarded by the referee when someone commits a direct free kick foul inside the penalty box. There are 10 possible direct free kick foul situations. When one of these 10 occurs, the fouled team gets to kick the ball with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend. All other players must remain outside the penalty box. A penalty kick gives the kicking team an excellent shot at scoring, since the shot has to beat only one opposing player--the goalkeeper.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Make a firm decision on the type of penalty shot to take. Your level of comfort with a type of shot based on prior results from practice sessions will dictate your decision. You will chose from a push shot, cut shot, driven shot or a chip shot. The cut shot, which is a combination of the push and driven shots, is by far the most common one.

2. Make sure the soccer ball is placed on the penalty mark. It should be firmly placed and shouldn't be rolling.

3. Take three steps back, angling away from the ball. Approaching the ball from the side will provide you with the best control over the power with which you hit the ball and the direction it takes.

4. Execute the shot with fluid movements and camouflage your decision on the type of shot and the direction in which you plan on shooting until the last moment. Make your initial movements towards the ball create the impression that you are planning to shoot in a direction that you are really not going to shoot. The goalie will attempt to predict the direction of the shot and will start moving laterally across the goal line and will dive in that direction.

5. Keep your eyes on the soccer ball. Hit the ball either with the side of your foot or with the laces, depending on the type of shot you have chosen. A push shot is taken with the inside of the foot. While it's a very accurate shot, it lacks the power of a driven shot that's taken on the laces.

6. Aim the ball to the farthest corner possible. Doing this will make it harder for the goalie to reach the ball. However, you will need precise control over the ball so that it doesn't hit the bars or sail over it.

7. Hit the ball on the ground or high towards a corner. A high shot precisely directed towards the corner is almost impossible for the goalie to deflect.

Tips & Warnings

• A penalty shot provides you with the best opportunity at scoring. You must frequently practice this shot with experienced goalies.
• Know the common body movements goalies look for to predict the direction of the shot, and attempt to do the opposite.

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