Question of the week: How Do I Strike a Penalty Kick?
Your team is battling it out against a strong💪 opponent. Suddenly your team is awarded a penalty kick. Also known as a PK in soccer. This happens when the other team commits a foul inside their penalty box or the 18-yard box.🥅
If you are chosen to take the PK, you need to understand how best to kick the ball⚽ with both placement and power. There is more to it than stepping up and kicking the ball as hard as possible!
Striking a penalty kick is a test of nerves.😰 Remember to take a few deep breaths and say some encouraging words to yourself before setting the ball up on the spot.
The strike of a penalty kick should be both accurate and powerful ⚡to ensure the goalkeeper has no chance of saving the ball.
How to Strike a Penalty Kick
Developing a penalty kick routine can help stop nerves and get your mind and body ready for penalty kicks.🦶
Kick to the same spot every time. Pro players make it seem like they are trying to decide where to place the ball. But in reality, they already have their spot of the net🥅 chosen. Looking at the goalkeeper can allow doubt and nerves to creep in. Don’t add stress to this!
Next, you want a quality kicking technique. A goalie can stop a weak shot. But a powerful💪 shot with no accuracy will probably go over the crossbar.
Jog up to the ball and use 75% power when you kick.🦶
Locking your ankle as you strike the ball is always key to being able to produce power. Make sure you also don’t stop short of the ball,⚽ as you strike the ball, move your body forward towards the goal to also help produce power from your whole body.
The accuracy of your strike is all about how you shape your foot when contacting the ball. Using your instep will always guarantee more accuracy and allow you to “steer” the ball with your foot into the correct side or corner of the goal.🥅
Penalty kicks are rare, so they take a lot of repetition to master and feel confident with.😃
Interesting Facts on Penalty Kicks
- Jogging up to the ball increases the chance of scoring versus running at full speed or walking.
- Top corner shots are the most difficult to block for goalies but are also the most missed.
- Striking the ball as hard as possible makes it harder to save, but also increases the chance of missing the goal.
Get out to the field and start practicing your routine today!🏆🏆
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Article of the week: Soccer Goalkeeper Training – 6 Drills to Block Any Shot
How about you goalkeepers? How do you stop penalty kicks? Read this article to find 6 amazing drills that all goalkeepers should practice to learn how to block those PKs!
Video of the Week: 20 Greatest Penalty Kicks of All Time
Check out this fun compilation of 20 of the greatest and most unique penalty kicks ever.
