by Andrew Franz

Created on: September 04, 2008

In other sports, a penalty is any infraction against the normal code of conduct. However, in soccer, a penalty refers to a specific situational infraction, resulting in a free shot from twelve yards out. A penalty in soccer, or penalty shot, only occurs when a direct infraction happens in the 18 yard box, any other whistle on the field is either a foul or a stoppage.

Penalties are also used to decide games that cannot end in a tie, like in cup matches or league championships. Teams alternate five shots apiece and whoever has more goals wins. If the teams are tied after five shots, they will enter sudden death, each team shooting once until one scores and one misses.

When a penalty is awarded, all players except the goalie and the kicker must exit the 18 yard box, the shooter places the ball on a line 12 yards from the goal, and the goalie plants his feet on the end line. The goalie must not move forward until the ball is struck, but he may move side to side on his line. The shooter must wait for the referee's whistle before kicking. After the shot, if the keeper makes the save, the shooter may follow up on the rebound. If the ball strikes the frame of the goal, another player must touch the ball before the shooter may.

The awarding of a penalty is usually a controversial decision left to the discretion of the referee. A penalty should be awarded everytime a direct foul is committed in the 18 yard box. Some examples of direct fouls are intentional hand balls, tackles from behind, pulling of the jersey, and any violent act not resulting in contact with the ball first.

A penalty also may be awarded in extremely rare cases when the player is outside of the box. If a player has a clear cut path to goal, and subsequently is fouled, the referee has the option of calling a penalty.

Once again, penalties are completely to the discretion of the official, and most officials will keep their whistle in their pocket unless an extreme act is committed. Certainly giving a penalty could effect the outcome of a game and most referees find it wise to err on the side of caution. Also, because of the dangerous nature of a penalty, attacking players will try to draw one, either by initiating contact or by falling easily. Perhaps referees should award more penalties, but it is the players who force their hand.

Some people argue that penalties to break a tie in soccer are a ridiculous proposition. After two teams have played for over two hours, how can the game be decided by such a non-athletic play? Penalties are one of the most heart-wrenching plays in sports. The pressure on the shooter swells as the crowd silences. The keeper's chest pounds as he sways side to side. A collective breath sucks into the crowd, the shooter, and the keeper, as the shooter starts stepping towards the ball. After the result, save or not, depends on how everyone lets that breath out. Sometimes it will be in jubilation, other times it will be in frustration. Penalties at the end of a game with so much at stake seem just to make sense in soccer. Though the game results become a little manufactured, there is no more exciting time in sports than a player walking up, placing the ball, and striking.

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