Penalty Kick – Goalkeeper

PENALTY KICK – GOALKEEPER

© CoachingAmericanSoccer.com®

Saving a penalty kick in soccer is likely the most stressful and challenging task faced by a goalkeeper during the course of a match.  Specific training for goalkeepers to save penalty kicks is a critical component of coaching the game.

Soccer goalkeeper saving a penalty kick.

The chance of making the save is generally less than 15%, but when the goalkeeper is successful, it can have a huge impact on the game. Otherwise, some studies have shown that approximately 80% of penalty kicks tend to be scored and around 5% are missed.  Even though the odds are stacked against them, in a penalty-kick situation goalkeepers need to use every skill and technique available to them to try to make the save.

THE LAW

First and foremost, goalkeepers must know and understand the rules that they have to follow when a penalty kick is awarded.  These rules are contained in Law 14 of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game, “The Penalty Kick.”  In soccer, a “penalty kick” is most often awarded if a player (defender) commits a direct-free-kick offense inside their own penalty area.  This includes such offenses as handling the ball or tripping an opponent.  A penalty kick is a restart of play, after play has been stopped by the referee during regulation time because of the offense, that utilizes a very strict set of procedures which allow a player from the attacking team to take a shot on the goal while it is defended only by the opposing team’s goalkeeper.  The shot is taken from the penalty mark, which is centered 12-yards into the field from the goal. The ball is kicked from the penalty mark no matter where the foul occurred within the penalty area.

The overall procedures for taking a penalty kick are:

  • The ball must be stationary with part of the ball touching or overhanging the center of the penalty mark; and, the goalposts, crossbar and goal net must not be moving.
  • The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified to the referee.
  • The goalkeeper must be between the goalposts and must be facing the kicker, until the ball is kicked.  The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g., delays the taking of the kick or touches the goalpost, crossbar or goal net.
  • The rest of all of both teams’ players, other than the kicker and goalkeeper, must be:
    • at least 10-yards from the penalty mark (This is the purpose of the partial circle at the top of the penalty area known as the Penalty Arc, “bubble,” or “D.”  See Law 1, “The Field of Play,” for identification of the Penalty Arc.);
    • behind the penalty mark;
    • inside the field of play; and,
    • outside the penalty area.
  • After the players have taken positions in accordance with this Law, the referee signals for the penalty kick to be taken.
  • The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward (backheeling is permitted provided the ball moves forward).
  • The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
  • Before the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind, the goal-line.
  • The kicker must not play the ball again until after it has been touched by another player.

Specifically for the goalkeeper:

    • If the goalkeeper violates a procedure, and,
      • if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded; or,
      • if the ball misses the goal or rebounds from the crossbar or goalpost(s), the kick is only retaken if the goalkeeper’s violation clearly impacted on the kicker; or,
      • if the ball is prevented from entering the goal by the goalkeeper,
    • then the kick is retaken.

If the goalkeeper’s violation results in the kick being retaken, the goalkeeper is warned for the first offense in the game and cautioned for any subsequent offense(s) in the game.

Note that the Law for penalty kicks is designed to favor the attackers!

FOR COACHES AND GOALKEEPERS

Penalty kicks (PKs) are a critical part of the game and it is essential that coaches prepare their goalkeepers accordingly.  Even though the odds of scoring favor the kickers, a stop by the goalkeeper has the potential to change the entire outcome of a game.  As a result, coaches must apply the time and attention necessary to ensure that their goalkeepers are ready for the magnitude of responding to a penalty kick when it occurs.

Coaches must make it unequivocally clear to their goalkeepers that they are supported 100% in their efforts, that they are not expected to save well-placed penalty kicks, and that any repercussions from teammates due to failure to save a penalty kick will not be tolerated.  Coaches must state this to the entire team in an open environment with all players and assistants present and they must all be required to acknowledge their assent.

Goalkeepers are special players and taking on penalty kicks require that they have heightened skills.  Coaches need to ensure that they select the right person and that the selected goalkeeper is properly trained.  Training takes place during both regular practices and special, dedicated, one-on-one times.  The goalkeeper must be ready and available to perform against a penalty kick at a moment’s notice. The time of the award is no place for a coach to give his goalkeeper instructions.  If anything, all that is needed is a word of encouragement like, “You’ve got this,” or, “You’re prepared.”  Always be positive.  Never say anything like, “Don’t worry, it’s okay if you don’t save this.”

One recent study showed that up to 39-percent of penalty-kick goals were scored up the middle.  As such the days of “guess and go” are mostly over, having been replaced by “read and react.”  This is the new emphasis for goalkeepers, to increase the odds of saving penalty kicks by observation, practice, repetition and research, and to not give up easy scores by vacating the center of the goal.  The data says to stay put and to know the general or specific tendencies of the penalty takers.  With everything said and done, however, coaches must still make their own decision about how they want to instruct their goalkeepers.

Practice, practice, practice, but do not over-train.  Make sure goalies have the proper equipment, especially current and properly-fitted goalie gloves.  Landing pads are particularly helpful.  It is also helpful to be mindful of the use of the words “right” and “left” as they relate to the goalkeeper or to the penalty taker.  They are different for both.  The directional context of these words must always be verbalized and very clear – it may be useful to point at the same time.  Let the goalkeepers watch the team practice penalty kicks from behind the goal without having the pressure of trying to make saves.  This is an excellent way to develop reading the cues (a.k.a. “tips,” “tells” or “indicators”) given off by the kickers.  Encourage some experimentation.  This may include starting a dive just a split second earlier.  If the information is available, talk with your goalkeeper about what certain, specific, opposition players might be likely to do with their penalty kicks.

Like all players, goalkeepers develop their better skills over time as they grow older.  Prepare long-term plans that address penalty kicks as part of their progression from youth to advanced stages.  This article focuses on reacting to kicks as opposed to guessing which way a kick might go.  Reacting is recommended for all age groups however, at the highest levels, coaches may wish to work with their goalkeepers about “guessing.”  Reacting generally starts with the recognition that most right-foot-dominant players use an instep drive with that foot and kick to their left (the goalkeeper’s right).  The opposite is also true.  At the youth level, many penalty kicks are poorly taken and the goalkeeper should react anyway.  Over time, goalkeepers should learn how to look for cues to read the shooter and still react to kicks.   Ultimately at the highest levels, coaches and goalkeepers need to jointly determine, in their own best interest, if they should try to react to a penalty kick or to guess which way a kicker might direct the ball.

Former U.S. National Team goalkeeper Brad Friedel has stated, “Generally there are loads of subtle little hints as to where a player will shoot that they give to the goalkeeper. How he runs up to the soccer ball, how he stands, if his weight’s back, if his weight’s forward, if he’s looking at you the whole time, if he takes a long run as opposed to a short run. There are lots of little differences but you will never really get the gist of it unless you practice a lot of them and figure out what works best for you.”

FOR GOALKEEPERS AND COACHES

Training for goalkeepers facing penalty kicks includes psychological makeup, mental preparation, and physical preparation.

Psychological Makeup

The goalkeeper must demonstrate three distinct psychological properties:  1.) an absolute desire to do everything in their power to stop penalty kicks from scoring; 2.)  the ability to remain focused and to demonstrate no fear of the penalty kick situation; and, 3.) a willingness to immediately dismiss the results of a penalty kick and get about the business of continuing to play the game to the best of their ability.  Let there be no misunderstanding, all of this is hard and the pressure involved can be immense.  Addressing some of these properties can be innate to an individual and others can be learned.

Mental Preparation

Below are key mental techniques goalkeepers can use to improve focus, confidence, and decision-making during penalty-kick situations:

  1. Visualization

Goalkeepers can mentally rehearse saving penalty kicks by visualizing various scenarios. This technique helps build confidence and improve reaction time.

    • Close your eyes and imagine successfully saving penalty kicks.
    • Visualize the penalty taker’s movements, the ball’s trajectory, and your own dive.
    • Include all senses (sight, sound, feel) to make the imagery vivid.

Focus on both likely scenarios and unexpected ones (e.g., a chip or misdirection).

  1. Positive Self-Talk

Managing self-talk during penalties is crucial to maintain composure and confidence.

    • “I’ve got this.”
    • “Stay focused, react fast.”
    • “I am prepared for anything.”

Avoid negative thoughts like “I can’t miss this” or “I’m not good at penalties.”

  1. Pre-Shot Routine

A consistent routine can reduce anxiety and increase focus. This might include specific body movements, breathing exercises, or mental cues.

    • Take a deep breath to calm nerves.
    • Wipe your gloves, adjust your position, stretch or tap the ground.
    • Repeat a mental cue like “Wait, watch, react.”

A routine signals the brain that you’re ready to perform.  Trust your instincts and avoid overthinking.

  1. Controlled Breathing

Breathing exercises can reduce stress and improve focus.

    • Inhale for 4 seconds.
    • Hold for 4 seconds.
    • Exhale for 4 seconds.
    • Hold for 4 seconds.
    • Inhale slowly and maintain normal breathing.

Do this before the penalty kick to calm your nerves.

  1. Staying Present

Goalkeepers must remain in the moment and avoid distractions.

    • Focus on the present (the ball, the penalty taker, your position).
    • Let go of previous saves or misses.
    • Demonstrate a confident body posture.

Don’t dwell on what may happen after the kick—stay focused on the task at hand.

Remember, goalkeepers are not really expected to make saves on penalty kicks.  As such, the pressure should be perceived to all be on the penalty taker.

Physical Preparation

Goalkeepers must be remarkably fit and agile in general, but physical preparation for penalty-kick saving is unique.  It requires special work.  This requires study, practice, and training designed to optimize the ability to cover that portion of the goal that can be reached in the shortest reaction time available, and to increase the odds of making the save.

  • Make sure you have the proper equipment. This includes the best clothing and the best cleats for the conditions.  (See “Goalkeeper’s Kit.”)
  • Further, this includes your best goalie gloves.  (See “Goalie Gloves.”)

Do the Research I.  For youth through advanced goalkeepers, start looking at your own teammates in practice and move through games.  With no pressure, sit behind the goal, watch and learn.  Build a resume of what cues are given off by the kickers and how you would have reacted to make the save.

  • During warm-ups, or even during the normal course of play, make a mental note of the opposing strikers’ dominate kicks. A striker is most likely to take a penalty kick. In general, if they are right-foot dominant, they will most likely kick a penalty to their left.  Similarly, a left-foot-dominate kicker will tend to shoot to their right.
  • Learn to read the cues given off by penalty takers. There are a lot of visual suggestions that may help give the goalkeeper an edge in stopping penalty kicks.  Any or all of these cues must be tested by upcoming goalkeepers, over a significant period of time, to see what works for them personally.  Since there are lots of potential cues, too many to handle, it is extremely important that goalkeepers ultimately focus on a select few that seem appropriate for them.  This takes lots of determination, dedicated sessions, and countless kicks from numerous penalty takers.  (Note to coaches:  In practice, for the benefit of goalkeeper training, kickers may perform with or without specific instruction regarding the projection of cues and which cues to use.)

These cues include:

    • Ball placement. To the left of center on the penalty mark often means a kick to the shooter’s left (with the right foot).  Conversely, placement of the ball to the right of center on the penalty mark often means a kick to the shooter’s right (with the left foot).  Also, when the shooter places the ball, they may subconsciously point their non-kicking foot in the direction of the shot.  At the time of placement, kickers may also inadvertently look at the side to which they will kick.
    • After placing the ball, subtly watch the shooter’s vision.  Younger players may actually stare at their target.  Older players may give a quick glance that must not be missed.  Advanced players may try to fake where they are going by over-emphasizing the look.
    • Angle of approach. A very wide approach from one side may mean a shot to the opposite side (i.e., a wide approach from the kicker’s left will indicate a shot to the kicker’s right, and vice versa). A very narrow approach from one side will often mean a kick to the same side (i.e., a narrow approach from the kicker’s left will indicate a shot to the kicker’s left, and vice versa).
    • Run-up. A long run-up tends to indicate a power shot.  A short run-up tends to indicate a placement shot.  A curved run-up often indicates a shot to the same side.  A straight run up from an angle often means a shot to the opposite side.  This is because a straight run makes it harder for the shooter to open their hips to go to the near side (see Hips).
    • Plant foot. For an instep drive, kickers are taught to point their plant (non-kicking) foot in the direction they want the ball to travel. Just before the ball is struck, goalkeeper’s may get their best clue from this “toe point.”  In general, the shot will go in the direction of this point.
    • Orientation of the shooter’s hips.  Mentally draw a line from one hip to the other. Then mentally draw a perpendicular line, from this center-line of the hips, toward the goal. This perpendicular line can indicate the direction of the ball.
    • Hip drop. For a hard instep drive, shooters may drop one hip lower than the other in order to create the space necessary to lock the ankle of the kicking leg and keep the kicking foot from scraping the ground.  As such, the lower hip indicates the side of the plant foot and the shot will be taken with the other foot.
    • Chin direction.  Chin down often indicates a low, usually cross-body, shot. Chin up often indicates a high, push to the opposite side.
    • Body lean (weight distribution). Body lean tends to follow the direction of the dominant foot. A left lean tends to indicate a right-footed shot to the kicker’s left and a right lean tends to indicate a left-footed shot to the kicker’s right.  (This cue is often combined with the plant-foot toe point.)
    • Dominant leg. Even at the highest levels, a right-side-position player will often use their right leg to kick to the goalkeeper’s right and a left-side-position player will use their left leg to kick to the goalkeeper’s left.  Examples include traditional right- and left-wing strikers, right- and left-midfielders, and right- and left-backs.
    • Position of the kneecaps.  If the inside of the kneecap of either leg becomes visible, the kick is likely to be taken with that leg, often “push-pass” style.  For a right-footed kick, this is often made to the left side of the keeper. Conversely, for a left-footed kick, this is often made to the right of the keeper.

Goalkeepers must focus on the cues that work for them.

Do the Research II.  Watch as many penalty kicks being taken as possible.  View videos on-line.  Analyze what you see and decide how you would react.  Interpret what happens and why.  Change your judgement as necessary. Go to as many live games as possible – sit behind the goal.  Mentally put yourself in the position of the goalkeeper. Search the web.  Ask questions of AI.  Buy books.  Attend goalkeeper camps.

Do the Research III.  Watch the opposing kickers on other teams that you might face in person, preferably from behind the goal.  This can be done at games or even at their practices, if the practices are open and you can be subtle.  Take and keep good notes.

TAKING ON THE ACTUAL KICK

  • Establish and maintain a calm routine. Maybe go and stand near one of the posts of the goal or do anything to prepare mentally and physically.  Above all, don’t get emotional and keep your composure.  Demonstrate to everyone by your calm demeanor that you remain in charge.  Do not get upset with anyone, including teammates, the officials, spectators, or the opponents.  This is especially true for your teammates, particularly the player who was called for the penalty.  You need to keep the respect of your teammates after the kick, whether you save the penalty or not.
  • Take your position in goal. Goalkeepers must be able to identify the true middle of the goal-line between the two posts.  (In practice, this can actually be identified with a tape measure and then stepped off with a consistent pace.  On a game field, goalies have been known to make a scuff mark in the turf just behind the goal-line, if helpful.)
  • Kickers are likely to be nervous. Encourage this by doing something like staring at them or by standing dramatically on one side of the goal-line.  Try to make the goal look smaller.  No matter what you do, never lose focus on the ball itself.
  • Consider rattling the kicker. You may or may not wish to engage in trying to rattle the penalty taker by using tricks like swaying hips, jumping, star jumping (arms-and-legs out-and-in similar to traditional “jumping jacks”), loosening the legs (shaking at the hips, knees and ankles), pointing, talking, or walking back-and-forth along the line.  Do anything with which you are comfortable to intimidate the kicker.  The objective is to distract the kicker in a way that makes them loose focus.  Keep at least one foot on the line.  Be sure that any action taken like this is not at the expense of missing cues or violating the Law.  Recently, referees are being instructed to pay particular attention to the behavior of the goalkeeper pre-kick.
  • Assume a comfortable “ready” or “set” position. Straddle the center with feet about shoulder-width apart and at least one foot on the goal-line.  Bend the knees.  Stay on the balls of the feet, approximately shoulder-width apart, not too low the ground, and be coiled and ready to spring. (At this point, taking an extra step or shifting body weight to one side may take the kicker out of their rhythm or influence them to change direction.)   Do not get caught unprepared when the referee gives permission for the kick to take place or be startled when he does so.  Remember that, even though the referee indicates the he is ready for the kick to be taken, the penalty taker does not have to start immediately thereafter.
  • Make yourself look bigger. Put your arms up and out.  Stay on the balls of your feet.
  • Stay put. Don’t give in to “action bias.”  This is the desire to do something before it’s necessary.  Do not dive before the ball is struck or give in to a fake by the penalty taker.  Continue to show your dominance.  Resist the urge to dive early.
  • Beware the stutter run. Stutter runs, where the kicker performs stop-and-start motions during the run-up, have become more common since the debut of the Paradinha and the dropping of the interpretation of the Law that the run-up by the kicker must be in one fluid motion.   With a stutter run, goalkeepers must still stay put and wait for the strike.  Curiously, the use of a stutter run tends to reduce the amount of power that a penalty taker can apply to their kick and often benefits the keeper, if they don’t react prematurely.
  • Read and apply the cues. Just before the ball is struck, bring the arms down and take the instant necessary to read and apply your cues.  At this stage, keepers may wish to slightly alter their ready position and begin to lean to the one side, already stepping the near foot out in front of the goal-line to that side.
  • React to the ball. Reaction times vary among keepers, but at this stage addressing the kick may really be just like responding to any other shot.  Over time, it is important to find the “sweet spot” between cues and the actual shot.  Even if you have started to react and the penalty taker goes down the middle, you have a chance of saving the ball with your leg.  Keepers must react as quickly as possible and not run the risk of starting too late.  Just do what you can to block the ball.
  • Take one step out to the best side, in front of the goal-line, and dive with a full stretch, using proper technique. There are two special actions associated with diving for low penalty kicks that must be practiced: 1.) Remember that only gravity gets you down to the ground.  Accordingly, a low dive most go outward, parallel and immediately as close to the ground as possible.  2.) Cutting down the angle is still valid.  Don’t dive toward the post. Attempt to dive slightly out from the goal in the direction of the field, as much as is comfortable and that time allows. Thrust the arms and hands out to the correct side and push off the near foot with all the force possible.  (Overall goalkeeper diving technique is not addressed in this article.)
  • Try to catch the ball using both hands. Pulling off a successful one-handed deflection may be necessary, but it’s riskier than catching and establishing full possession.  If you can’t catch the ball, try to push it out of bounds or as far away from the penalty area as possible.  Again, remember that a within-game PK is a re-start and members of the opposing team will be lurking for a rebound.  Ideally, if you have to push the ball away outside the post, get it over the bi-line instead of into the field, resulting in a corner kick versus a rebound shot.

AFTER THE KICK

After the kick has been taken, any of a number of outcomes need to be addressed, all of which involve a proper response by the goalkeeper.  Some of these outcomes require almost instantaneous action on the part of the keeper.

    • Unfortunately, if a goal is scored, it often falls upon the goalkeeper to dig the ball out of the net. Remember that this is simply a formality that has no bearing on anything.  It needs to be done as a matter of fact and without any kind of emotion.  The ball needs to simply make its way to the center mark.
    • If the penalty taker misses the goal, all defending players must promptly re-position themselves properly for the ensuing goal kick. The goalkeeper must be calm, take their proper positions, and take the kick according to the tactical situation as it normally presents itself.
    • If the penalty-kick shot is deflected over the bi-line, all defending players must promptly re-position themselves properly for the ensuing corner kick. The goalkeeper must be calm and direct the defense according to the tactical situation as it normally presents itself.
    • If the goalkeeper blocks the initial penalty-kick shot, and the ball goes back into the field of play, the keeper – if they had to dive – must instantly return to their feet, re-position, and prepare for a possibly-immediate second shot by any opponent, including the kicker.
    • If the goalkeeper blocks the shot but it is still headed for the goal, scramble and gain possession before it goes in!
    • If the goalkeeper saves the shot, don’t start celebrating, start a fast break. If a fast break is not readily available, retain possession until things calm down and players have provided an outlet or prepared for a throw or punt.  Remember that, once the goalkeeper has demonstrated clear possession of the ball, the “six-second” count to release the ball has started.
    • Goalkeepers may be called upon to react calmly to unexpected events. Unfortunately, some of these may include insults or objects being thrown from the stands behind them.  Others might be more unexpected.

Consider the following submitted by a CoachingAmericanSoccer.com reader:

“Back in the day, when I had a U-15 girls’ team, I had an occasion where we had a legitimate penalty kick called against us during the normal run of play.  Our goalkeeper made a fabulous save and held onto the ball.  Two of her teammates rushed in and gave her a big hug.  I could understand the enthusiasm, but this was a LIVE BALL.  Penalty kicks, other than those used to decide a game, are RE-STARTS.  Unfortunately, one of the girls hugged the keeper from behind, hit the ball with her hand, and DISLODGED THE BALL.  The referee then awarded another penalty kick for a handling infraction, which the opponent converted!” 

[Editor’s Note: It is not coincidence that this submission arrived just after undisciplined members of the U. S. Women’s National Team did the same thing in the World Cup.  The only difference is that they didn’t suffer any consequence.  On replay, it appears that the U. S. goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, is yelling “Get off me, get off me!” as she securely covers as much of the ball as possible with her arms and body.]

All goalkeepers must be prepared for what happens after a penalty kick.

Do the Research IV.  At the highest levels, goalkeepers must know their specific opponents and how they perform their penalty kicks.  Goalkeepers need to observe and “keep book” on their prospective penalty-kick takers.  Write down information or actually retain video footage.  Material should include players’ histories and tendencies, their position and dominant foot, their preferred targets and their techniques, specifically if they give off reliable cues.

This information should be kept as current as possible.  It has been recommended that goalkeepers be aware of kickers’ last-five, most-recent kicks, how they were taken and if they followed a pattern, especially if they identify a favorite location.  Unfortunately, at the highest levels, serious penalty takers are aware that this type of research is being conducted and will try to modify their kicks accordingly.  With all of this, unless a pattern emerges that is fairly substantial, goalkeepers should ultimately trust their instincts and commit fully to their decision-making.

Soccer Coaching Tips:

  • Read and thoroughly understand the detail of Law 14, “The Penalty Kick.”
  • There is much more to penalty kicks than just training the goalkeeper. Coaches should see and apply, “Penalty Kick – Attacking Team”, “Penalty Kick – Defending Team”, and “Penalty Kick Taker” for the training to be provided to all players.
  • So much time is spent on teaching goalkeepers how to save penalty kicks that coaches forget to address what happens if the kick is saved or rebounds. Since a penalty kick is a re-start of play, the ball is “live” as soon as the ball is touched.  If a keeper blocks the shot, they must be ready to block a potential shot off the rebound. Teammates must do their jobs.  Teammates must not mob the keeper after a save.  Kicks must be followed-up.  Defenders must move in to cover.  An outlet player must be available to the keeper.  A fast-break option must be pre-arranged.
  • According to Law 3, “The Players,” any player can be substituted or change places with the goalkeeper if: the referee is informed before the substitution or change is made; and, it is made during a stoppage in play. Further, this also applies to goalkeepers who can be replaced:  by a substitute or player who is already on the field of play; after the penalty kick has been awarded and before it is taken/retaken; even if the goalkeeper is not injured.  (This does not apply when the goalkeeper has been shown a second yellow card or direct red card and sent off.)
  • Get all of the materials you can on penalty kicks, such as books and videos. Read, watch, study, learn, apply.
  • Ensure that goalkeepers receive special training for reaction time, jumping, diving, and footwork as part of preparation for penalty kicks.
  • Constantly provide positive re-enforcement to goalkeepers for their efforts.
  • Coaches and goalkeepers need to be aware of the concept of “rattling the kicker” or “unsettling the opponent.” These are tricks by the goalkeeper designed to psychologically alter a penalty-taker’s mindset and “take them off their game.”  In this regard. there is a fine line between what may be allowed by referees and conduct that may be penalized for unsporting behavior.  These may include subtly tapping the ball a bit away (while it is on the ground and no one is holding or going after it), so the kicker has to go get it, or picking up the ball and handing it to the kicker personally; talking to the kicker; creating delays by standing too long near a post, re-tying shoe laces; claiming an injury that needs attention, telling the referee that the ball has not been properly placed on the penalty mark; standing well to one side of the goal (especially if this is the predicted side); or, standing for an extended period well in front of the goal-line.  All of these may be suggested to the goalkeepers, but they must not violate the Law.   Coaches should be supportive of goalkeepers that use any acceptable techniques that survive being tested.
  • Referees are being instructed to pay particular attention to goalkeepers leaving the goal-line early on a penalty kick. (If the ball is saved, the kick is re-taken.)  At youth levels, this should simply not be done.  Encroachment of this type gives a goalkeeper a significant advantage in cutting down the angle and it is done at the highest levels.  In fact, stepping off the line a split-second early is an art form.  This can be a real grey area in top-level play, however.   With the fraction of a second involved, many referees will not call this unless it is egregious.  Coaches at the higher levels need to discuss its application with their keepers.
  • Some recent studies have shown that, at the highest levels, goalkeepers should not stand dead center on the goal-line when they take their final set position. Standing approximately 4-inches off-center in either direction, has been shown to make penalty takers perceive that one side of the goal is significantly larger than the other side.  Further studies have indicated that as many as 10% of penalty takers will alter their kick toward the larger side in order to take advantage of this perceived difference.  Since other studies have shown that when penalty kicks (on-goal) are taken to either side, they are essentially equally hit to the left and to the right, the change made by standing slightly off-center increases the chance of the penalty taker shooting to the larger side by approximately 4 percent.  Coaches at the higher levels need to discuss this application with their keepers.

© Copyright, John C. Harves