Experience the excitement of a penalty shootout with the Penalty Shootout Simulator. Take your shots, challenge the goalkeeper, and see how many goals you can score under pressure. Whether you’re a football fan looking for some fun or want to recreate the tension of a big tournament final, this interactive tool brings the thrill of penalty kicks to your screen. Test your shooting skills, enjoy the challenge, and see if you can win the shootout!
Penalty Shootout Simulator
Take on the computer in a full penalty shootout: pick your spot as the taker, then guess the right way as the goalkeeper. Or simulate a shootout between two teams and see who is more likely to win.
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- Set Up
- Shootout
- Result
Set Up Your Shootout
Play it yourself against the computer, or let the simulator decide between two teams.
Your kick
Results are random and just for fun. Kick and save chances use a simple GlobeHour game model.
Should A Goalkeeper Dive Or Stay In The Middle?
A study of 286 penalties found keepers dived 93.7% of the time, yet staying in the centre saved the most shots.
How The Penalty Shootout Simulator Works
Four quick steps to a shootout.
Choose A Mode
Play yourself or run a quick simulation.
Name The Teams
And pick who shoots first.
Shoot And Save
Pick a zone to shoot, a side to dive.
See The Result
Score, kick-by-kick log and a PDF.
The Drama Of A Penalty Shootout
Few moments in football are as tense as a penalty shootout. One kick can win a cup final, and one save can turn a goalkeeper into a hero. It’s a battle of nerve between the taker and the keeper.
The GlobeHour Penalty Shootout Simulator lets you live that battle. As the taker, choose one of six zones: top corners are harder to save but easier to miss, while low shots are safer but easier for a keeper who guesses right. As the goalkeeper, pick a side to dive or stay in the middle. The computer plays the other role, diving most of the time just like real keepers do.
How Each Kick Is Decided
Example: you shoot bottom left and the keeper dives left.
| Zone | Miss Chance | Save Chance If Keeper Goes That Way | Goal Chance Vs The Computer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Left / Top Right | 14% | 30% | 74% |
| Top Centre | 8% | 45% | 90% |
| Bottom Left / Bottom Right | 5% | 60% | 68% |
| Bottom Centre | 2% | 80% | 93% |
First the game checks whether the shot misses the target. If it’s on target and the keeper went the same way, it checks for a save. Otherwise it’s a goal. The computer keeper dives left 47% of the time, right 47% and stays in the middle 6%, which is why down the middle works so well against it. These chances are GlobeHour’s game model.
How A Penalty Shootout Works
- Five kicks each: the teams take turns, one kick at a time.
- Early finish: the shootout ends as soon as one team can’t be caught, even before all five kicks are taken.
- Sudden death: if it’s level after five kicks each, the teams take one kick each until one scores and the other doesn’t.
- Different takers: every eligible player must take a kick before anyone can take a second.
- One shot only: the taker can’t touch the ball again, so there are no rebounds.
Penalty Tips For Takers And Keepers
- Pick your spot before you start your run-up and don’t change it.
- Low and hard into the corner is the safest choice for most players.
- Top corners are hard to save but easier to miss.
- Keepers dive most of the time, so the middle can be a smart surprise.
- As a keeper, stay big and wait as long as you can.
- Watch the taker’s hips and standing foot for clues.
- Practise penalties at the end of training when you are tired.
- Breathe, take your time and trust your routine.
Penalty Shootout Simulator FAQ
How Do I Play The Penalty Shootout Game?
Choose Play It Yourself, enter team names and start. When it’s your kick, click a zone in the goal. When it’s their kick, choose Dive Left, Stay Centre or Dive Right.
Is The Penalty Shootout Simulator Free?
Yes. It is completely free, needs no sign-up and works on phones, tablets and computers. You can also download the result as a PDF.
Where Is The Best Place To Shoot A Penalty?
In this game, the middle is the hardest for the computer to save because it usually dives. In real football, low corners are a reliable choice, but the best spot is one the keeper doesn’t expect.
Should Goalkeepers Dive Or Stay In The Middle?
In a study of 286 penalties, keepers who stayed in the centre saved 33.3% of shots, compared with 14.2% when diving left and 12.6% when diving right, yet they dived 93.7% of the time.
How Many Kicks Are In A Penalty Shootout?
Five per team, taken in turn. If the scores are level, it goes to sudden death, one kick each until there’s a winner.
How Does The Quick Simulation Work?
You give each team a chance of scoring each penalty. The tool plays one shootout for the result, then runs 20,000 more to work out each team’s chance of winning.
Does Shooting First Help In A Shootout?
In this simulator both teams have the same chances whoever goes first, so with equal scoring chances each team wins about half the time.
Can The Shootout End Before Five Kicks?
Yes. If one team can no longer catch up, the shootout ends straight away, just like in real football.
Is My Information Saved?
Your team names and settings are saved only in your own browser. Nothing is sent to GlobeHour.
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Ready For The Shootout?
Step up to the spot, pick your corner and see if you have the nerve to win it.
Start A Penalty Shootout
