Penalty Shootout: Rules, Tactics & Key Tips

Penalty shootouts decide tight matches and test nerves more than skill sometimes. Whether you're a player, coach or fan, knowing how shootouts work and what to watch for gives you an edge. This guide breaks down the rules, smart moves and real tips that actually matter on the pitch.

How a shootout works

After extra time ends tied, each team picks five takers. Teams alternate kicks in the usual ABAB order. If one team is uncatchable before all five are taken, the shootout ends early. If both teams are tied after five kicks each, it goes to sudden death: one kick each until one scores and the other misses. Some competitions have tested different orders, like ABBA, but most tournaments still use the standard alternating kicks.

Goal size, penalty spot distance and the referee’s signals are fixed. Kickers must wait for the whistle, and goalkeepers must stay on the line until the ball is struck. If either side breaks the rules, the referee can order a retake or caution the offender.

Tactics for takers, keepers and coaches

Kickers: pick a comfortable spot and stick to it. Aim for placement over power—well-placed shots beat wild power more often. Have a plan before you run up: low corners are hardest for keepers, but mixing heights and placement keeps goalkeepers guessing. Watch your own habits: if you always look at the keeper, opponents may study that and dive early.

Goalkeepers: study the opponent’s past penalties but don’t overcommit. Read body cues—plant foot, hips, and eye line give clues in the last split second. A late move can win the game, but guessing based on data and watching the kicker’s run-up gives better odds than pure reflexes. Use small delay tactics allowed by the rules—hold the ball, talk to your defenders—to break the kicker’s focus.

Coaches: decide the order by mixing calm, confident players with the technically best kickers. Save at least one reliable finisher for later kicks in case the shootout reaches sudden death. Practice routines under pressure so players are familiar with the step, breath control and run-up length they’ll use in the game.

Quick stats and mindset: conversion rates in shootouts hover around 70–80 percent, but pressure drops success. Mental rehearsal beats last-minute changes. Encourage simple rituals: one deep breath, clear spot on the goal, and confident run-up.

Famous shootouts teach practical lessons: prepare for the unexpected, stay calm, and back your chosen order. Fans should watch the keeper’s positioning and the kicker’s approach for clues—those small details often tell the full story.

If you want to practice, simulate crowd noise and add a timeout between kicks. The more realistic the practice, the better players manage nerves. Shootouts are as much mental as they are technical—get the head right and the feet will follow.