It’s been a little while, hasn’t it?! Your last soccer lesson was on August 9, which, when I write it out, feels entirely too long ago. How have you managed without me? I’m so sorry; I’ve been busy since then. An entire fall season came and went; I have so many updates for you!
Year three with my U12 girls team started off with some very close scorelines, and while we didn’t always come out on the winning side, we learned so much. We played hard, rain or shine, I jumped in a giant puddle to reward them for a job well done, and I even dyed my mustache black and blue to show some team spirit during our final game of the season. Yeah, I’m THAT coach. They loved it, but they had to make sure I knew I used the wrong shade of blue. Their appreciation truly knows no bounds.
We played a 2-3-2-1 this season, which turned out to be just as high-risk, high-reward as I feared it would be. We were the only team in our league rocking wingbacks, a CDM, and two CAMs, and I must say, Pep Guardiola would have been proud of a few of our brightest moments. Other coaches feared it would be too complicated for the girls, but I’m fairly sure they understand it all better than I do now.
We ended the season with a tough tournament appearance, and while I prepared the girls for a potential penalty shootout, it wasn’t required this time around. So, to get the most out of the lesson, I decided that it’s relevant enough to share with you all, especially after the Loons’ two consecutive shootout victories against RSL. Get ready for your next lesson!
What is This, and Why Only Sometimes?
I know; you just got used to the idea that we can tie a game in soccer, and now I’m telling you that we end some of them with a penalty shootout to determine a winner. It’s definitely confusing, but there’s a method to this madness! In situations that require a winner, primarily knockout tournaments or playoff scenarios, most leagues typically play two 15-minute periods of extra time before a shootout, if still needed. I know we didn’t do that in Leagues Cup or the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, but that doesn’t matter; the main point here is that you understand that shootouts are used to determine the winner of a draw in a knockout format.
Now, let’s go over the rules and procedures of a shootout. Hockey fans are probably pretty familiar with shootouts, and while our league used to mirror the faceoff style from the ice, we’ve pivoted to the more commonly utilized shootout from the PK spot. Five players from each team alternate taking a free shot from 12 yards out while their teammates wait at midfield, and whichever team scores the most after five claims the match.
If the scores are tied after five, we move into sudden death territory, meaning that if one team scores their sixth and the other misses, it’s over. This sudden death format goes until a winner is decided, which can lead to some insanely long shootouts. Only the 11 players on the pitch at the end of the match are eligible to shoot, so if 12 kicks are required, the first kicker steps back up and we go around again. The longest shootout in history saw 56 kicks taken between Israeli sides SC Dimona and Shimshon Tel-Aviv. I’d consider the Israeli third division a pretty niche league to be tuned into, so you’re forgiven if you haven’t heard of that legendary matchup.
After a long game likely filled with close calls and frustration, penalties always feel like a terrible way to determine a result. But they’re a necessary evil that became a part of the game in 1970 to avoid having to replay all drawn matches on another date, saving time and energy for everybody involved. I suppose it feels a bit more fair than rock, paper, scissors, anyway, so I’ll get over my distaste for the practice. With the general structure and reasoning laid out, let’s take a closer look at each of the roles in this most gut-wrenching, nerve-racking of soccer occurrences.
From the Spot
In recent times, the details of how a penalty taker is allowed to approach the ball have been tested and bent tremendously. Let’s clear this up with some help from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to really understand what players are and aren’t allowed to do.
Officially, when the ball is placed on the penalty spot and the referee blows their whistle, the taker is allowed to take their shot. Once they begin their run-up, they’re not allowed to halt their forward momentum until they arrive at the ball, meaning no fake-outs to make the goalie flinch. At least, no fake-outs that involve fully stopping. This is where we see creativity come into play.
Everyone does it differently; some players pick a spot and just strike the ball without worrying about the keeper. Others devise complex run-ups with stutter steps, little hops, or some other “clever” way to try and either freeze the keeper in place or draw them in the wrong direction. Just watch Kelvin Yeboah or look up Jorginho’s penalties over the last few seasons if you want to see some of this trickery. Spoiler: it works.
Beyond the run-up, there are a few other elements within the taker’s control that they can use to get the better of the keeper. Maybe you look right and shoot left; maybe you never look at the goal; maybe you stare the keeper in the eyes the entire time. You can go for placement or power, or you can chip the ball down the middle to humiliate the keeper that you pray is diving to either side (this is called a Panenka, after the Czech soccer player of the same name who first had the audacity to try it out). It’s a mind game, at the end of the day, and as long as you’ve made a decision before you reach the ball, you’re expected to score.
So when you’re taking a penalty in a shootout, remember: once you start moving forward, you can’t stop until you take your shot. I’m not a fan of the fancy footwork myself; I always opt to smash it into the top left corner. Maybe that’s why I haven’t gotten to take many, but it looks pretty freaking cool when it works, if I may say so myself.
Stay on the Line
Speaking of testing the rules, let’s talk about goalkeepers. Saving penalties is among the hardest things to do in the sport, and everyone has their own strategy. Anyone that watched the World Cup in Qatar or the Copa America should be familiar with Emiliano Martinez, widely considered to be one of the world’s best goalkeepers—if not THE best. The Argentinian shot stopper has been the subject of debate over the “dark arts” tactics he employs during shootouts in recent times, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
The rules for a goalkeeper during a penalty are pretty simple: they must have at least one foot on or behind the goal line and can only move side-to-side until the ball is kicked, they must be facing the penalty-taker, and they must stay between the posts. That’s it. But they’ve got a lot of goal to cover, and with such restricted movement, they need to find some way to get an advantage.
Oftentimes, keepers and their coaches will study past penalty behaviors and make a cheat sheet of sorts before their match. This list is often attached to water bottles, which are not supposed to be thrown into the stands by the opposing goalkeeper. Short of that, keepers can try to guess or predict which way a taker will go, but that’s a risky game to play. Unless you rattle them a little bit first.
Disclaimer: Much like the fancy footwork, these mind games are not my style. I do not endorse this; I merely relay the information. Do with it what you will.
Back to Martinez. Through various methods, whether it’s taking a long time to get to his line, complaining to the ref long enough to throw off the taker, or celebrating over the top to unsettle whoever is next, he looks to put as much pressure on the players he comes up against as possible. His aim is to knock them off their game and get them out of the calm headspace that helps produce good penalties, and, honestly, it works. So well, in fact, that FIFA changed the rules because of him.
If you read Law 14, you’ll see a line that says, “The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net.” I won’t give any commentary on the rule change, but let’s just say Martinez is a generational talent that knows exactly what he’s doing, and he makes the game more special through his unique participation in it.
So, who's ready to take a penalty or two? How about stepping between the posts to try and go full DSC? Do you think you can save two out of five? Shootouts are an art and a dance, one that my girls have yet to experience in their young soccer careers. I imagine several of them would be intrigued by the clever run-ups and keeper mind games; they’re an ornery bunch on the best of days. We’ll work on it a bit once we start our regular practices in the dome. Better watch out for us in the spring!
