22 Jan 2016 03:15:36
question, why do keepers try to guess where penalty takers are going to shoot, can't they react when the ball is shot?

i understand that some shooters hit really hard, but not all of them surely?

1.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 04:32:02
they could react if they were saiyans.
humanly unless the shot is straight within reach it won't be possible for the keeper to get down/ or up quickly enough in time to save it. hence guess and have the advantage of body already being in motion in the direction of the shot. for more clearer understanding watch a penalty save in ultra slow mo on youtube. you will see even b4 the ball is hit keeper is ready to move in a certain direction which they think the ball will be hit. keepers are only expected to save anything central in a penalty. also penalties don't count on a keepers tab ( unless he was at fault for it) . a well placed penalty ( even if mildly hit) is difficult to save because the ball is going away from you, even if you get a hand to it you still might just end up parrying it into the net.
Also most people just blast the penalty that makes it even more tough. for any chance at saving a good penalty the keeper has to first judge where the ball will go and then prepare to dive in that direction ( all this b4 ball is hit) and then dive as soon as the spot kicker hits it. you could stand your ground if you are dead certain a paneka is coming ( something straight) . but then again its guesswork. so in short if he stands his ground and waits for the ball to be hit and then react he will reduce his chances of saving the goal because he has less time. premeditation is big part of keepers game and that's how they cut dangers. and most keepers are good at it, the best ones are just brilliant at it.

2.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 05:23:27
its good to be smart and mix it up on penalty shootouts, but against good penalty takers its always smart to dive as early as you can.

3.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 05:41:03
Because even if they're able to react to where the ball is going before it crosses the goal line, the keeper will still be too late.

4.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 06:55:53
The ball travels faster than your mind and then your body.

5.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 07:33:02
Some GK's look at the positioning of the Penalty Taker; that can also give you an indication of the direction he's intending to kick in.

{Ed001's Note - Xavi Valero used to instruct goalkeepers on this, he would also have dossiers prepared on all the potential penalty takers for the keeper to read before a match. Among the many other things that made him such a great coach, and one we should look to bring back.}

6.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 07:47:57
In the 1990 world cup semi final shootout Peter Shilton waited until the ball was struck before diving. The result was although he went the right way every time he never got anywhere near saving any, The ball was just about past him before he started moving.

7.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 08:04:40
@scruffy - I remember watching a football documentary discussing this idea which suggested that the width of the run up was key in determining which way the player was going to go. If it's a wide run up (from a right footed) then he is likely going to go to the keepers left. If more narrow the ball is more likely to be going the other side (or of course more centrally) . Narrow run ups also tend to be penalties containing more power.

The key though is that a penalty is a huge advantage to the attacking side - even if you guess, anticipate, move early and essentially do everything correct you are still not going to save a quality penalty.

8.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 10:16:57
I was always taught to watch the takers standing foot just before he shoots. the way the foot I facing is the way he shoots in theory! again its split second decision making though.

9.) 22 Jan 2016
22 Jan 2016 12:26:03
I always think I a shootout you should wait and try and react. My number one example is Italy vs England in the euros. If Joe hart doesn't dive to one corner, Pirlo dinks that into his hands and that's a massive confidence swing. Also out of 5, i'd say two will be poorly struck and saveable. If you guess, no matter how poor the penalty is you might go the wrong way. In the same way, you might guess and go the same way, and hit a great pen and you can't save it no matter what and just hold your hands up and say well done.