Penalty kicks are considered one of the most mentally stressful parts of sport. Those who can consistently deliver from the spot are lorded as heroes, while many fear being ridiculed for a bad miss from 12 yards. The English national team’s lack of victories from penalty shootouts is a topic of conversation every time an international tournament comes around, and 2022 will be no exception.
While spot kicks are considered a difficult challenge, it is merely a mental one. When the emotions and stress are taken away from the situation, it is just a 12-yard shot in which no one is between you and the goal barring the goalkeeper. The goal is wide enough to give you plenty to aim for, and the ball is stationary, so you can get a clean strike without worrying about a bobble or uneven bounce. So, as it is a mental challenge rather than a physical one, what mental reminders or strategies can we use to make the task easier?
You are in control
A penalty kick is a rare part of football. It is the only time when you are fully in control. The opposition outfield players cannot defend the ball and must stand behind you while you take it. The ball is stationary, and the goalkeeper must remain on his line until after you have struck the ball. You have complete control of the situation. If you need to take an extra second to compose yourself, you have that option. The game does not restart until you say it restarts. So, if you do not feel ready to take the shot, you have the opportunity to get ready.
However, people often forget this. They rush their shot, awkwardly start their run-up while panicking, or prepare to strike the ball before picking a spot. It is often viewed that when something makes you nervous, getting it over as soon as possible is good. But take a second to breathe, compose yourself and pick your spot. This pause will increase your chances of scoring through a better ball strike and add stress to the keeper, as the wait may cause an increase in nerves for them.
The goalkeeper is also under pressure
It is often perceived that only the taker is under pressure. This perception adds to the stress for the taker as they feel they are up against a fully relaxed and ready opposition. However, this isn’t the case. The goalkeeper is the only person standing between their team and conceding. Their team solely relies on their ability to save the ball, as the attacking team relies on the taker to score the penalty. The responsibility is even and shared. Take a second to look at the goalkeeper. See the stress on his face as he decides which way to dive. The pressure he feels to keep the ball out of the net. This glance will help centre you and humanise the opposition you face.
If you miss – nothing changes
There is a common misconception that a missed penalty is a goal lost for the team. That a penalty is given because the team should have scored if it weren’t for the foul the opposition committed. However, the statistics don’t back this logic. Analysis by The Athletic found that 78% of penalty kicks taken in the Premier League between 2012 and 2022 resulted in a goal. While this statistic causes a high expectation of scoring for the penalty taker, the more important statistic is the expected chance of scoring before the infraction that generated the penalty.
The Athletic found that only 1/20 chances that ended in a penalty had more than a 19% chance of being converted. In fact, half of all chances that drew a penalty had less than a 6% chance of a goal being scored. So, if the worst happens and the penalty is missed, the score remains the same, and nothing is lost. Likely, in most cases, there was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Therefore, the penalty kick is a free hit. If you score, great, but if the penalty is missed, the game continues on the same path as it would have done without the foul.
Being the penalty taker in a team should not be a burden. It is a position of leadership where you have taken responsibility off your teammates by being willing to step up and take the shot. Converting a penalty in a game should be considered a bonus for the team, not an expectation. You are in full control of the situation
The Athletic article referenced: https://theathletic.com/3161748/2022/03/04/penalties-are-too-generous-a-reward-we-have-a-solution-and-it-involves-running/
Comments