Soccer coaching laws of the game Law 14 the penalty kick

These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 14, which deals with the penalty kick. These rules apply to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side and minis.

A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.

A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

How to take it

• The ball is placed on the penalty mark.

• The player taking the penalty kick is properly identified.

• The defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked – he can move sideways before the ball has been kicked but not forwards.

• The players other than the kicker are located: inside the field of play; outside the penalty area; behind the penalty mark;

• The players must be 10 yards from the penalty mark as indicated by the arc on the edge of the area.

• The referee does not signal for a penalty kick to be taken until the players are in position in line with the Law.

• The player taking the penalty kicks the ball forward.

• He does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player. If the shot rebounds back to the penalty taker from the bar or post they cannot score unless it has touched an opposition player.

• The ball is in play when it is kicked forward.

Click the link to read Soccer coaching laws of the game, Law 13 free kicks.

Click the link for a game to help you identify talented penalty takers.