Soccer may be the consummate team sport, but games can often turn on the one-on-one confrontation that is the penalty kick.
The strategy: Goalkeepers . . .
Thanks to advance scouting, the goalie should already know the kicker’s tendencies in the penalty kick. Even so, the keeper has very little time to try to figure out where the ball is going, although the kicker may provide a few clues:
The goal
24 feet wide
8 feet high
Approach
The angle at which the kicker approaches the ball sometimes indicates the direction she intends to kick
Plant foot
A sharp-eyed goalie may note the angle of the kicker’s non-kicking foot. A right-footed kicker whose left foot is pointed to her left is likely to try to kick in that direction.
Kicking foot
Right-footed kickers tend to kick to the left side of the goal and left-footed kickers to the right side.
A right-footed kicker (shown below) must angle her foot to aim for the right side.
. . .and kicker
The kicker usually knows beforehand what kick she will use and for what location she will aim.
Location
A kicker will often aim for the goal’s corners, the most difficult spots for the goalie to defend.
Type of kick
In-step kick
A power shot that gives the goalkeeper less time to react but which is harder for the kicker to control.
Placement kick
Used when the kicker wants more control over where the ball goes. Usually done with the inside of the foot.
Kicking foot
Most kickers use one foot exclusively on penalty kicks, but those who can kick with either foot can make it more difficult for the goalie to anticipate the ball’s direction.
The penalty area
When a penalty kick is taken, all players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must remain outside of the penalty area and at least 10 yards away from and behind the penalty mark.
Penalty mark: Where ball is placed for a penalty shot
Goal line: Ball must completely cross the line to be a goal.
The penalty area: When penalty kicks are taken
When penalty kicks are taken
– During the match: A penalty kick is awarded for any direct-kick infraction (such as tripping or a handball) committed by the defensive team within its penalty area.
– To settle a tie: If tied after regulation and two extra periods, teams alternate taking five kicks, each by a different player. If tied after five kicks, penalty kicks continue until one team scores and the other does not.
“One of the key things for a goalkeeper to understand is that the pressure is on the field player. … The field player should never miss.”
— Phil Wheddon, U.S. women’s soccer team goalkeeper coach
“Play the ball with enough pace to get the ball into the goal. … Block out the goalie. And then when the ball goes in, celebrate like mad.”
— Brandi Chastain, U.S. women’s soccer team
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINAL MATCHES
10 a.m. : U.S. vs. Japan
10 a.m.: Germany vs. Nigeria
1 p.m.: Mexico vs. Brazil
1 p.m.: Sweden vs. Australia
Monday: Semifinals
Thursday: Finals
Athletes to watch
Mia Hamm
United States
Women’s World Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002. Soccer’s all-time leading scorer.
Victoria Svensson
Sweden
Explosive scorer helped her team place second in 2003 World Cup.
Birgit Prins
Germany
Exceptional strength and speed; a dominant player with a deadly shot.
Results
Women’s soccer
Competition began in 1996
1996
(G) United States
(S) China
(B) Norway
2000
(G) Norway
(S) United States
(B) Germany
Sources: Fdration Internationale de Football Association, “Rules of the Game” (St. Martin’s Press), International Olympic Committee, U.S. Soccer, NBC.
– See microfilm for complete graphic.
