Penalty shoot-outs

A player taking a penalty while the goalkeeper dives the other way — Five kicks each, then sudden death. Nerves of steel required.

When a knockout game ends level, a penalty shoot-out decides who goes through. It is the most nervous few minutes of any tournament – for the players, the goalkeepers and the organiser keeping count.

How it works

Each team takes five kicks, one after the other.
If one team cannot catch up any more, the shoot-out ends early.
Still level after five each? Sudden death: one kick each until one scores and the other does not.
Every player should take a kick before anyone kicks twice.

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For small tournaments

With short games and small teams, three kicks each is common – agree on it before the day.
Use one goal for the whole shoot-out so both teams have the same conditions.
In Cup Day, a level knockout score asks for the shoot-out result before you can save it.