How Penalty Shootouts Work in Football
ABBA order, goalkeeper movement rules, sudden death, and what happens when players are sent off before kicks.
When a knockout match is level after extra time, many competitions decide the winner with a penalty shootout from the mark. It is not part of open play โ separate procedures apply.
Basic procedure
Each team takes five kicks alternately. The team with more goals after five wins. If still tied, sudden death continues: one round each until one team scores and the other misses.
The referee chooses the goal. A coin toss decides which team kicks first. Only players on the pitch when the final whistle blows (including sent-off players who cannot take part) are eligible unless injured goalkeepers need replacement.
Kicker and goalkeeper rules
The ball is placed on the penalty mark. The kicker must kick forward; feints during the run-up are allowed, feints at the moment of striking are not. The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on or behind the line when the kick is taken.
Goalkeepers may move laterally along the line but cannot come off it early. Video review in some tournaments checks encroachment by keepers or attackers entering the box too soon.
Order and psychology
Coaches list kickers in advance. Teams often hide order until the walk to the spot. Research shows first-kick takers face less scoreboard pressure; fifth kickers carry elimination weight.
Sudden death shifts psychology โ one save ends the shootout. Training routines that replicate crowd noise help, but technique under fatigue (after 120 minutes) still decides many ties.
Common misunderstandings
Retakes happen for illegal keeper movement, encroachment that affects outcome, or outside interference.
Injuries during the shootout: if a team finishes with fewer kickers than opponents because of injury without subs left, kicks proceed with remaining players โ the other team does not skip players.
Celebrations must not delay the sequence excessively; referees manage time.
Coaching kickers before a shootout
Practice five kicks after fatiguing drills โ legs feel heavy after extra time. Assign your best taker to kick fourth or fifth if the tie reaches sudden death; statistical edges are small but real.
Goalkeepers should study opponent run-up angles from earlier penalties in the tournament, not only full-time spot kicks. Keepers who stay central until the strike win more saves than early guesses.
Youth tournaments sometimes shorten to three kicks each โ confirm competition rules before listing takers. Substitutes who enter in the 119th minute remain eligible unless competition rules say otherwise.
FAQ
Do shootout goals count for golden boot?** No โ they are separate from match statistics in most leagues.
Can a substitute take the first kick?** Yes, if they were on the field when extra time ended.
What about youth tournaments?** Some youth formats use fewer initial kicks or alternate ABBA ordering to reduce first-kick advantage studies.
Related Reading
- [Offside rule explained](/football/football-offside-rule-explained)
- [Corner kick rules](/guides/how-corner-kicks-work-football-rules)
- [VAR explained](/football/how-var-works-football)
Football rules editor covering tournaments and officiating.
