What is a Penalty Kick in Soccer

Soccer is arguably the most popular game in the world with an estimated 3.5 billion fans around the world. It is a team game played primarily with the feet, and that’s why it’s also called [association] football. The objective of the game is to get the ball into the opponents goal net and outscore them. Players can score a goal in multiple ways according to the rules of the game, and one of those ways is a penalty kick.

What is a Penalty Kick in Soccer?

A PK in soccer is a way of penalizing one team for an offense in the opposition’s penalty box. A soccer penalty kick, commonly called a penalty or spot kick, is a way of restarting play, in which one player is allowed to take a single direct shot at the opposition’s goal while it’s defended only by the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

When is a Penalty Kick Given?

Soccer penalty kicks are awarded when an offense, which is punishable by a direct free kick, is committed by a football player in their own penalty area. This means that when a player who is in his own half of the pitch and specifically in his penalty area, commits a foul according to the rules of the game within that area, a soccer PK is awarded against him.

Rules for Causing a Penalty Kick

So, how do you get a penalty kick in soccer? Is there a specific type of offense that must be committed before a soccer penalty is awarded? These questions will be answered as we look at soccer penalty kick rules. However, you must note that a penalty can only be given if an offense is within the penalty area or off the field as part of play. The rules for causing penalty kicks in soccer include:

• If a player deliberately touches the ball with his hand or the ball strikes his hand while it is in an unnatural position [such as the arm stretched out during a jump or while tackling another player];
• If a player prevents the opposing player from scoring by means of fouling him;
• If a player engages in dangerous play by raising his elbow or boot high towards the opposing player;
• If a player pulls the opposition players shirt as a means to disrupt his stride towards goal;
• If a player engages in any form of violent conduct in a bid to defend his goal while the game is in play.

Rules for a Handball

One of the reasons pks in soccer are given is because one of the team’s players touched the ball with his or her hand. Since the game is mainly played with the feet, using your hand to move, divert or obstruct the progression of the ball is considered an offense. If a handball offense is committed on the pitch of play, it is a foul, and a free kick is given to the opposing team. Hence, when this happens in the penalty area, it is judged to be a penalty in soccer. Here are some of the rules of the game that judge a handball in soccer:

• When a player intentionally touches the ball with either their hand or arm, i.e. a player moves the hand or arm deliberately towards the ball;
• When a player touches the ball with their hand or arm by making their body bigger unnaturally, i.e. when the position of a players hand or arm is not a consequence of his body movement in that particular situation, the player is said to have made their body unnaturally bigger;
• When a player scores in the opponents’ goal with the use of hand or arm, i.e. scoring directly from the use of their hand or arm, even if it is accidental. This also includes the goalkeeper;

How a Penalty Kick Works

There are two parts on how a penalty kick works. One is in normal time, that is, during a match, while the other is upon full time, which is after the completion of a regular match time – penalty shootouts. Now, let’s look at both of them in two parts:

Regular Penalty

Regular penalties or spot kicks as they are also called, are penalties given during regular time. These are given as a result of a type of offense, e.g. handball in the penalty box, dangerous play, illegally preventing a player from scoring while he is through on goal, etc.

What causes a penalty kick in soccer regular time?

Penalty kick rules are quite straightforward. The referee can only deem the result of an action to be a penalty if and when an offense is committed in the penalty area of the opposing team. 

How far is a penalty kick in soccer?

The penalty area is also called the 18-yard box. This is because its measurement is taken 18 yards from the goal posts and 18 yards out from the goal line. When a penalty kick soccer is awarded, the ball will be placed on the “penalty spot.” The penalty spot is a circle which is 12 yards from the centre of the goal.

How to get a penalty kick in soccer?

A penalty is awarded because a foul was committed against a player. However, it is not compulsory that the fouled player must be the one who will take it. One player from the fouled team will be picked to play and convert by taking the one vs one penalty shot soccer against the opposing goalkeeper. 

Which players are involved in taking penalty kicks soccer?

The player taking the kick holds an obvious advantage because the goalkeeper does not know, and can only guess, towards where the player will shoot the ball. Sometimes, the goalie observes the body movement of the player and makes a guess to what side the ball will be played. In other cases, he could’ve watched or faced that particular player more than once and could guess where the shot might go. 

On the other hand, the player must also try to trick the goalkeeper into thinking he might want to play it one way, while he goes ahead to play it the other way. This, as well as the accuracy and force with which he hits the ball, will determine whether he will score or not.

How pks soccer goal is scored?

A goal in penalties soccer is recorded when the ball completely goes over the goal line. The goalkeeper must catch and completely keep hold of the ball to prevent it from going into the net. The keeper must also stay on his line before the kick is taken. If he moves off his line, the penalty will be retaken.

Before a penalty is taken, all players of both teams must be behind the ball and outside the penalty box. If any of the penalized team’s players run into the box before the soccer penalty is taken, then it will have to be retaken.

Penalty Shootout

A penalty shootout happens in a soccer competition when a particular game must be decided and one team must win outrightly. This occurs during knockout stages of tournaments i.e. quarter finals, semi finals and final matches. When a match ends in a draw, either over two legs or it’s a single game that warrants one winner, penalty shootouts will be played.

What causes a penalty kick in soccer after full time?

A soccer match lasts for approximately 90 minutes with two 45-minute halves and a 15 minute break in between. If there are delays during the game, such as fouls or occurrences that require medical attention, that injury time is added to sum up the 90. If both sides are even after that, an extra 30 minutes of two 15-minute halves are played to find a winner. If a winner does not emerge after all this, then penalties will be played to find a winner.

Is a penalty kick a shot on goal by just anyone in a shootout?

When it comes to penalty shootouts, it is not done by random players. Rather, five players from both teams are selected to take them, and this is done in alternate order (ABAB). Before the shootout starts, the referee summons the captains of both teams to determine at which end of the field the shootout will take place, and for a coin toss which is to decide which team will lead the shootout. 

How do you get a penalty kick in soccer shootout win?

After the first five penalties, the team that scores the most wins. But, if one team scores more successful penalties kicks than the other team could possibly get to with all of its remaining kicks, the penalty shootout ends, irrespective of the number of kicks remaining. For example, team A scored its first 3 kicks while team B lost its own. The game ends with team A winning because, even though there are two kicks remaining for each team, team B cannot cover the 3 goal deficit even if team A loses both of theirs.

How far is a penalty kick in soccer if both teams score all penalties?

After five penalties each, if both teams are still tied, then the penalties continue to the “Sudden Death” round. What this means is a single back and forth round where each team has one penalty to take. The first team to take the advantage in this round wins. So, if team A scores and Team B misses, Team A wins. If team A plays first and misses and Team B plays and scores, then Team B wins. If they both score, the play continues, and as well if they both miss.

Tips and Techniques When Taking a Penalty Kick

Taking a penalty kick in soccer requires good skill and technique. From the onlooker’s perspective, it might look like just striking the football as hard as you can. However, it is way beyond that because the goalkeeper is a professional having been trained for many years, and so, a hard kick alone may not be able to beat him. Therefore, soccer penalty kicks involve, not on physical force and strength, but also mental, emotional and psychological balance. All these come together in order to hit a good soccer pk. Here are some tips and techniques before and while taking a pk in soccer.

• Practice taking penalty kicks soccer consistently. Obviously, the more time a player takes to practice the art of penalty kicks, the better he becomes. Part of the practice is hitting targets such as the upper crossbar or the 90 degree angle;
• Place the ball on the carefully on the penalty spot and ensure that it is steady and not rolling off the spot. If the ball isn’t static, during run up or as soon as it is to be kicked, it could spin the wrong way and cause the player to mis-kick and the ball be mis-directed.
• Be decisive with where you want to place the ball when you strike it. The player must be very clear on the angle of the goal post he wants the ball to go. Never make the decision of the target while running up to the soccer penalty kick. If a player is indecisive, it could cost him to lose force, accuracy and direction of the hit, thereby leading to a poor penalty kick soccer.
• Drown out the pressure and focus on the task. In most cases, penalty kicks in soccer are played under immense pressure caused by the need for a goal during a match. In other instances, a penalty shootout occurs when, at the end of 90+ minutes of football and extra time, the winner of a game or competition is to be determined. This puts so much expectation on players, as the supporters from the opposing side will boo so that the player misses, while the fans of the kicker will cheer. So, a player will need to drown out the boos and take in the encouragement while at the same time not letting anything get to him.
• Don’t overthink what you want to do and try not to be complicated in the execution. Some players run up and feign a kick, so that the keeper would show his move, before they strike the ball. However, this is against soccer penalty kick rules and the player can be penalized for that action. So, don’t try to be stylish, just pick your spot and hit it as precisely as you can.
• Do a good run up. A good and short run up will help you gather the right momentum when you strike the ball. When you run, don’t be too fast, nor too slow, just stay with a good stride. If you move too far and your run up is too long, you could lose the accuracy of your hit because it’ll take more time to slow down and adjust your feet before taking the strike. And if run too fast, then you may not strike the ball clean enough, which could lead to a poor shot.
• Strike the ball hard and well. The penalty taker must not be complacent, but rather deliberate and confident. Ensure that you hit the ball with your foot well cupped around the ball, at the right angle and the appropriate force. Never lean backwards when you’re taking a penalty kick because it will direct the ball into aerial motion, which could take it over the goal post. It is better to lean a bit forward or slightly sideways when you strike the ball, depending on where you want it to go.

Author’s Conclusion

In the game of soccer or football as many call it, one of the rules of the game is that you can be given a penalty. A penalty kick is a direct shot at goal within the penalty area and from the penalty spot, where a player is one on with the goal keeper without interference. Penalties can occur during the regular 90-minute full time soccer match or there can be a penalty shoot out when a match decider is needed.

A team can be penalized and concede a penalty if any of the players in that team commits an offense in his own penalty box. A deliberate handball, a falling of an opposition player illegally, pulling the shirt of a player to prevent him from reaching the ball and scoring, violent play or conduct etc, are instances where a penalty kick may be awarded.

To score a penalty, you must practice consistently how to take penalty kicks, ensure that the ball is placed on the spot carefully and stay static, be very decisive with your kick, drown out the pressure fron the crowd so your can concentrate, be simple with the execution of the shot, do a good run up before striking the ball hard and precisely.

FAQ

What is a penalty kick in soccer?

A penalty kick is a way of penalizing one team for an offense in the opposition’s penalty box. It is a way of restarting play, in which one player is allowed to take a single direct shot at the opposition’s goal while it’s defended only by the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

What is the difference between a free kick and a penalty kick?

The difference is that a free kick is taken outside the penalty box while there are players stationed to defend against the ball coming towards their goal post. On the other hand, a penalty kick is taken within the penalty box and there are no other players defending the shot except the goalkeeper.

How many penalty kicks do you get in soccer?

In regular time, there is no limit to the number of penalties that a team can get. However, during a penalty shootout out the structure of 5 penalties and, if there’s no winner, then suddenly death applies.

What is the difference between a penalty and a penalty shootout?

A penalty, which is described as a penalty in regular time, is given during the 90-minute game or extra time of 30 minutes. And, it is a result of an offense committed by the opposition, such as handball, violent play, etc. However, a penalty shootout only occurs during a knockout game where a winner must be decided after 120 minutes. Unlike the regular penalty, a shootout doesn’t occur as a result of an offense.

What are the types of penalty kicks in soccer?

Types of penalty kicks in soccer derive their description from the popularity of the shot. For example, the panenka from the Czech player Antonin Panenka, is a chip down the middle of the post with a run up that makes the keeper think you want to hit it at an angle. Other ways of shooting penalties include feigning your body to one end while shooting at the other end, hitting the top angle 90 degrees, the smash kick which is power and speed over skill and perfection.

How far is a penalty kick in measurement?

The penalty area, also called the 18-yard box, because its measurement is 18 yards from the goal posts and 18 yards out from the goal line. When there is a penalty kick to be taken, the ball will be placed on the “penalty spot,” a circle which is 12 yards from the centre of the goal.

Aside from a penalty, can a free kick be taken in the penalty area?

Yes. The most common offense that will cause a free kick that can be taken inside the penalty area is when the goalkeeper handles a back pass from his own player. That offense is not adjudged to be a penalty, but a free kick.