Soccer Tip

Presented by Mike Brizendine, Camp Director
Nike Collegiate Soccer Experience at Virginia Tech

Soccer Tips: Taking a Penalty

A penalty is supposed to be an easy goal and a free opportunity. However, with it comes with the pressure, the butterflies in the stomach, and the fear of missing. Here are 4 tips form Nike Soccer Camps to help become an efficient penalty taker.

• TiTake a deep breath. Cancel out all the noise around you and just focus on your own breath and where you are going to shoot the penalty.

• When setting the ball down place your plant foot next to the ball aimed at the direction you want. **Low and in the corner is always a good place for a penalty

• Take your steps back and focus on the ball. Don’t get distracted by the goalkeeper.

• When the whistle blows strike the ball with power, keeping your chest over the ball and aimed in your desired direction.

Practice is the best way to become a great penalty taker. Be consistent when taking your penalties by aiming in the same spot every time. This way, when the opportunity arises in a game situation you won’t have to think twice about where to shoot.