1. Eye on the Shooter
Defending penalty kicks in soccer is one of the most difficult things to do in all of sports. There are certain signs the goalie can look for to have a fighting chance at stopping the shot. Watch the shooter and his overall body language. A shooter will sometimes try to trick the goalie by staring in one direction, but at some time during the preparation, the shooter will furtively glance in their intended direction. Other cues are head position and approach to the soccer ball. If the head is down, it may indicate a cross-body shot. A wide approach can mean a goal corner shot is coming. So, look for those cues, as well as body position and the player's angle before the penalty kick.
2. Wait for it...
When trying to stop a penalty shot, you need to wait until the last possible moment for any movement in either direction. If you move before the shot leaves the shooters foot they can redirect a shot to the side away from your movement. Also, before you make any move, be sure you are up on the toes and position your body weight evenly between each leg thereby enabling you dive in either direction.
3. Scoring on the Penalty Shot
This is not as easy as it looks, although it is much easier than defending the shot. To score, you must try to hide your intentions as best you can. Don't look intently in one direction or the other when preparing to shoot the goal. Conversely, you can try faking the goalie by looking in the opposite direction of the intended shot. The goalie knows you may try this and can counter the move. Therefore, it is best to stay non-committal on the shot. One of the most common mistakes is over-kicking and missing the goal entirely. A good penalty shot does not need significant force unless, at the kick, you see the goalie has guessed right. Then you may need to add some extra power on the shot.
4. Playing the Percentages
Defending or scoring on a penalty shot does not have to be a blind guessing game, some players do have tendencies that you can use to turn the percentages in your favor. Try to notice if the goalie or shooter is right or left dominant because she will tend to shoot or dive in that direction more than 70 percent of the time, no matter what the situation. In addition, some kick placements are extremely difficult for a right-footed or left-footed kicker, like an opposite goal corner placement.
5. Rules of the Shot and Pressure
If you are the goalie, you must stay on the goal line and between the goal posts until the shooter kicks the ball. All other players beside the shooter must be at least 10 yards away from the penalty placement at the head of the penalty box. Finally, the goalie should look upon the penalty shot as a no-pressure situation because almost no one expects to them to stop the shot.
Defending penalty kicks in soccer is one of the most difficult things to do in all of sports. There are certain signs the goalie can look for to have a fighting chance at stopping the shot. Watch the shooter and his overall body language. A shooter will sometimes try to trick the goalie by staring in one direction, but at some time during the preparation, the shooter will furtively glance in their intended direction. Other cues are head position and approach to the soccer ball. If the head is down, it may indicate a cross-body shot. A wide approach can mean a goal corner shot is coming. So, look for those cues, as well as body position and the player's angle before the penalty kick.
2. Wait for it...
When trying to stop a penalty shot, you need to wait until the last possible moment for any movement in either direction. If you move before the shot leaves the shooters foot they can redirect a shot to the side away from your movement. Also, before you make any move, be sure you are up on the toes and position your body weight evenly between each leg thereby enabling you dive in either direction.
3. Scoring on the Penalty Shot
This is not as easy as it looks, although it is much easier than defending the shot. To score, you must try to hide your intentions as best you can. Don't look intently in one direction or the other when preparing to shoot the goal. Conversely, you can try faking the goalie by looking in the opposite direction of the intended shot. The goalie knows you may try this and can counter the move. Therefore, it is best to stay non-committal on the shot. One of the most common mistakes is over-kicking and missing the goal entirely. A good penalty shot does not need significant force unless, at the kick, you see the goalie has guessed right. Then you may need to add some extra power on the shot.
4. Playing the Percentages
Defending or scoring on a penalty shot does not have to be a blind guessing game, some players do have tendencies that you can use to turn the percentages in your favor. Try to notice if the goalie or shooter is right or left dominant because she will tend to shoot or dive in that direction more than 70 percent of the time, no matter what the situation. In addition, some kick placements are extremely difficult for a right-footed or left-footed kicker, like an opposite goal corner placement.
5. Rules of the Shot and Pressure
If you are the goalie, you must stay on the goal line and between the goal posts until the shooter kicks the ball. All other players beside the shooter must be at least 10 yards away from the penalty placement at the head of the penalty box. Finally, the goalie should look upon the penalty shot as a no-pressure situation because almost no one expects to them to stop the shot.
