How to Approach a Penalty Shoot Out

As World Cup time approaches us there is one inevitable fact, hearts will be broken by the terrifying emotions of the Penalty shoot out. If 90 minutes of International football, followed by a nail biting additional 30 minutes cannot divide two teams then they are faced with a penalty shoot out. English hearts flutter at the mere mention of the two dreaded words as they know more than most the feelings of failure in the alternate kick format of the game.
So, as the 2010 tournament approaches we have a look at the theory behind a successful penalty.

Make a firm Decision……and Stick to it.
If the nerves of appearing on the greatest stage are not quite enough, if the moment of a personal battle against a foreign goalkeeper infront of millions of television onlookers does not have the hairs on the back of your neck standing up then try the decision of how to take the penalty. Should you place it with precision or strike it hard? Force the goalkeeper into the first move or take it early? The advice of psychologists is to make an early decision and to stick to it. Changing your mind at the last moment only breeds doubt which increases the chance of failure. Penalty taking really is a case of mind over matter.

What part of the goal to aim for?
Low into the bottom corners? High into the top corners? Or simply keep it straight in anticipation of a goalkeeper dive? The decision of where it place the kick is as complicated as prisoners game. Tom Riley of John Moores University Liverpool has extensively researched the art of penalty taking. “A well-placed ball, high to the corners (A & B on graphic) will not be stopped by the goalkeeper even if he anticipates it. There is not enough time to react so a kick placed in this area would have a 100% strike rate. Some players blast the ball straight down the middle, assuming that the goalkeeper will move, but it is not always successful”

Who should take the penalty’s
An initial 5 are to be chosen with more on the waiting list incase the teams are not equal after the 5 set kicks. In a tournament such as the World Cup where everything is to play for, one of a coach’s most important decisions is that of ‘Who should take the 5 penalties?’ Coach’s may evaluate which players strike the ball most cleanly, which players are most comfortable in one on one situations, strikers for example, others may look into the psychology of their players mind’s and select the footballers who react best to high pressure situations. The most successful spot kick teams will incorporate all of these factors but will also consider other variable factors such as player fatigue, player’s influence over the past 120 minutes and of course research undertaken on the opponents goalkeeper and past saves he has made in the past.

Clearly the penalty shoot out is a high pressure situation with many factors to be considered. If your supported country faces the situation this summer, then best of luck

Author Bio: Adrian Bryan writes for The Football Merchandise Store the web’s finest collection of Football Souvenirs Football Merchandise and Gifts.

Category: Sports
Keywords: Football Merchandise, Football Souvenirs, Football, Wales, Welsh Football