If you’ve ever tuned into a knockout soccer match, the chances are that you’ve seen a penalty shoot-out. This exciting event is a big part of knockout soccer, and it comes with specific rules and requirements.
So, in this article, we explain what a penalty shoot-out in soccer is and introduce you to the rules associated with shoot-outs. We also answer some frequently asked questions to provide you with all you need to know about soccer penalty shoot-outs.
So, what is a penalty shoot-out in soccer?
A penalty shoot-out in soccer is an event that takes place after extra time to settle a match when a tie is not a conceivable result. Each team is awarded five penalties each, and the winning team at the end of the shoot-out is the one that scored the most goals.
Penalty shoot-outs don’t occur during league matches and are reserved for knockout competitions, as we explain in the following section.
When do penalty shoot-outs in soccer happen?
Penalty shoot-outs are required in knockout competitions and take place after extra time when the game remains a tie.
So, for instance, in the World Cup semi-finals, if USA and Brazil are drawing 2-2 after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be required between the two teams to see who progresses to the final.
Penalty shoot-outs are not used in league competitions, as ties are a legitimate result, and it’s not necessary for one of the teams to win the game.
Therefore, penalty shoot-outs are only required when a tie is not a plausible outcome, which is why they are used in knockout competitions around the world.
Penalty shoot-outs explained: The main rules
As a player, you don’t need to worry a great deal about the organization of – and the rules associated with – penalty shoot-outs. Your only concern is that your penalty kick needs to find the back of the net!
However, if you’re interested in how penalty shoot-outs actually work, here are the main rules that you need to know:
- The penalty shoot-out begins with a coin toss between the captains. The winner of the coin toss decides whether to take first or second.
- Each team coach or captain nominates five players to take a penalty each and notifies the referee accordingly.
- Once the takers are confirmed, each team takes turns to step up and take a penalty kick. The winning team is decided by the team that scores the most PKs after five apiece have been taken or if one team takes an unassailable lead (3-0, for instance).
- In terms of the penalty kicks themselves, the player must place the ball on the penalty spot and await the referee’s whistle before taking the kick.
- The goalkeeper must remain on the line. Overstepping the line and encroaching into the area results in a retake.
What happens if a penalty shoot-out ends in a tie?
If the penalty shoot-out ends in a tie – 5-5 or 3-3, for instance – after all of the initial ten players have taken their kicks, the shoot-out moves into what is known as sudden death.
In a sudden death penalty shoot-out, each team resumes with one new taker per round. The first player will step up, and if the penalty is scored, the opposing team’s player needs to score as well, or the team that has taken first will win.
However, if the first taker steps up and misses, if the opponent subsequently scores, they will win on sudden death. If both players miss their penalties in sudden death, another two players – one from each team – are nominated to resume the shoot-out.
This continues until one team wins, and it can go on for as long as necessary!
What happens if all players have taken a penalty?
Although it rarely happens, if all 22 players on the field have taken a penalty and the shoot-out is yet to be settled, the players who took the first players are required to step up and take a second kick.
Again, this continues throughout the team until the sudden death shoot-out is won by one of the teams.
According to the Guinness World Records, the longest-ever penalty shoot-out occurred in 2005 in a soccer cup tie in Namibia. In total, 48 penalty kicks were taken, with KK Palace beating the Civics 17-16.
Some of the players on each team had to take three penalty kicks, and the shoot-out lasted almost as long as the game itself!
Can you score a rebound in a penalty shoot-out?
No! During a penalty shoot-out, if you take a kick and the goalkeeper makes a save (or if the ball rebounds back off the woodwork), you cannot take another shot to try and score a goal.
Of course, if this happens during a normal soccer game, you can make the most of the rebound and score a goal at the second time of asking.
In this respect, the goalkeeper has a slight advantage, as they don’t need to worry about where the ball ends up after making a save. Their only concern is to keep it out of the net, even if the ball lands back at the feet of the taker.
Can the goalkeeper take a kick in a penalty shoot-out?
Yes! Any player on either team can take a kick in a penalty shoot-out, be it the goalkeeper or the center forward. Don’t forget that some goalkeepers take penalty kicks in regular matches – just look at legendary Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, for instance.
It’s up to you as a team whether you nominate your goalkeeper to take one of the first five penalties or whether you leave them as a backup taker, ready to step in should the shoot-out go to sudden death.
How do you choose which players to take penalties?
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong way to choose the players to take the kicks in a penalty shoot-out, with every team opting for a slightly different approach.
Some teams prepare for penalty shoot-outs in advance, with the coach identifying the five best takers and requiring them to step up during the shoot-out.
Other coaches take a different approach and wait until game day to choose their penalty takers. This can work well, as penalties are as much about nerves and feelings as they are about quality.
As such, it’s a good idea to get your most confident players on the penalty kicks during a shoot-out, even if they’re not the most talented finishers!
Recap: Penalty shoot-outs in soccer
A soccer penalty shoot-out is an enjoyable spectacle to watch but an extremely nerve-wracking event to be involved in!
We hope you now have all the information you need to prepare for a penalty shoot-out in soccer and wish you and your team the best of luck as you prepare for your knockout fixture!
Keen to learn more about penalties in soccer? Check out this post about whether you can pass a penalty kick in soccer!