PAGE 20

August 2006

Between the Posts

From Jens Lehman to You:

Dealing with the Penalty Kick Tie-breaker

ball might be played. If a right-foot-

The Flip Side

By Rob Walker

·

The goalkeeper should not be over-

ed kicker's hip is "open" the shot is

US Team National Goalkeeping Coach

The team needs to have rehearsed

worked in penalty kick practice.

probably going to the goalkeeper's

the penalty kick tie-breaker. There

Facing a high number of practice

left. If the kicker's shooting hip

s  my  deadline  for  this  issue

A

should be consensus between the coach

kicks by teammates does not make

"closes" at the last moment when

approaches, Germany's Jens Lehman

and team as to the general order of who

the goalkeeper more prepared to

planting, the ball is probably headed

will take a penalty and what the

has demonstrated his ability to master

face this situation in the game. The

to the goalkeeper's right. There is

descending order of players will be on

the defense of the penalty kick by stop-

"right amount" of penalties is going

about 2-3 hundredths of a second

the list at the end of overtime.

ping Argentina twice in the quarterfinal

to depend on the individual goal-

between impact (a little more in

At the end of regulation and over-

round of the World Cup tie-breaker.

keeper, but this number should be

younger players) on the ball and its

time play, players should hydrate, adjust

Lehman's saves against Argentina's Ayala

arrived at through quality perform-

arrival at goal. This cue may or may

their shoes and socks, stretch and relax

and Cambiasso have propelled the

ance, not through quantity. Practice

not help, but it is a cue: the shoot-

(take a few deep breaths, let their shoul-

German's to the semifinal, pitting them

penalty kicks for the team can be

der and neck muscles relax) and then

er's posture can give an early indica-

against arch rival Italy. What was of

accomplished by "stand-in" goal-

focus on where they want to place the

tion of where the ball is going.

interest following Lehman's perform-

keepers or by using flags to identify

·

ball--accuracy and power are a lethal

As tournament games where the

ance was the admission by the Germans

areas of the goal where the kick

combination.

penalty kick tie-breaker may be used

that Lehman studied the Argentine

should be played (placed 4 feet to

Good practice prior to the event

are on the horizon, the goalkeeper

shooters closely on video and had writ-

the inside of each post).

helps players come from the center cir-

·

should practice the event as it will

ten notes to study ahead of each shooter.

The goalkeeper should practice dif-

cle to the spot. Again, using the whistle

actually happen. Alternate with an

The Penalty Kick tie-breaker (or

ferent approaches for dealing with

to signify the taking of the kick can be an

"opposing" goalkeeper--come into

"kicks from the mark" as FIFA calls

the penalty. Having the goalkeeper

important cue to taking the kick suc-

goal from the corner, react to the

them) is a big business! After 120 min-

hold on the line and react, move

cessfully (this is the signal that unleashes

kick on a whistle, rotate out of goal

utes of regular time and over-time, teams

along the line and then get set just

the penalty taker onto the ball; the whis-

back to the corner, etc. It is also

alternate penalty kicks to break the tie so

before the kick is taken, and reading

tle is helpful in the kicker being positive

helpful to take these kicks at the end

one team can move on in the tourna-

the shooter and moving early are

at a moment of high stress).

of a game in the training session--

ment or claim the championship. When

three common strategies to deal

everyone is somewhat fatigued as if

The Breaks of the Game

youth goalkeepers play in tournaments

with the kick. Young goalkeepers

they had played through full-time

(invitational or state cups) they should

need to take a little time to find out

The taking of Penalty Kicks "from

and over-time.

be prepared for this same challenge.

what method works best. Once an

the mark" is a way to find a winner.

·

Above all else, the goalkeeper must

Prior to this form of tie-breaking, games

avenue for success is found, quality

Following overtime, a team must let all

remember that the job is simple in

in a knock-out phase of a competition

repetitions should be spent practic-

of the "baggage" go from the game and

penalties: deal with each kick indi-

ended with a coin-flip or the drawing of

ing that particular strategy. The

prepare for the task at hand. Television

vidually and move from one to the

straws!

biggest point for the goalkeeper is to

commentators are speculative when

next. A save or a forced "miss"

be "big" on the line and move

they say, "obviously, this team is playing

Penalty Kick Preparation

should carry the day. Being able to

authoritatively to the shot as it

to get into penalties". As this is some-

have one save out of five is a very

Over the course of the season, a

times the case, plenty of practice and

comes off the shooter's foot.

·

good situation for the goalkeeper.

preparation can increase (but not guar-

team's goalkeeper has probably faced

The goalkeeper should spend some

·

The team coach may want to use the

antee) success in this part of the game.

several penalty kicks in the run of play.

time in getting some powerful div-

Penalty kicks are not the best way to end

goalkeeper as a penalty taker. Many

But, because tournament play calls for

ing and deflecting into the practice

an important game, but it beats a coin

youth goalkeepers are good "strik-

games to be decided with penalty kicks

regime. Being able to cover distance

flip or drawing straws! s

ers" of the ball and would be happy

following a match that is still tied after

in a quick step or two can make a

to help the team cause by taking a

overtime, this is a situation that has huge

big difference in success or failure in

Rob Walker has coached goalkeepers at

kick within the first five, or shortly

importance and commands special

the penalty kick tie-breaker.

every level and is currently the

·

thereafter. This is something the

preparation in order to meet the chal-

Some work in assessment of the kick

Coaching Director for the Federal Way

coach and goalkeeper need to

lenge of this important event. These tips

is important to practice. Analyzing

Soccer Association and the Director of

decide on and then plug into the

may help in dealing with the penalty

which way the hip of the shooting

Men's and Women's Soccer at St. Martin's

University in Lacey.

practice plan.

leg points is one clue to where the

kick tie-breaker.

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