1v1AnalyticTactics
Penalty: reading and deciding
Work on reading the run-up and the striker’s body at a penalty, where directional uncertainty is total and preparatory posture decides everything.
Choose a session and the exercise is added to today’s plan.
Load
- minutes
- 8
- dives/set
- 5
- Sets and reps
- 3 × 5
- Intensity
- Medium
dives per set, per goalkeeper
Microcycle days it fits
MD-3, MD-2
Each bar’s height is that day’s dive ceiling.
Setup
- Goalkeepers
- 1
- server
- 0
- outfield player
- 2
Space: 20 × 14 m
Equipment: Balls, Full goal
The coach serves and manages the breaks.
1 steps
Successive penalties with the striker varying sides. The information available to the goalkeeper changes with the constraint: announced side, no information, or a stuttered run-up allowed.
Exercise sequence
Coaching points
- Preparatory posture under total uncertainty differs from posture with a known direction: lower, more balanced, feet slightly wider.
- Read the plant leg and trunk lean — the information exists, but arrives late and partial.
- Committing too early is the costliest error: with a stutter allowed, the striker sees the commitment and changes.
- Keep the feet grounded until contact whenever possible — every extra instant is more information.
- The rebound counts: after the save, get up and cover the second shot.
Progressions
- Allow a stuttered run-up, the hardest scenario to read.
- Require the decision only at contact, removing all anticipation.
- Add a mandatory rebound from a second attacker.
Regressions
- Striker announces the side before shooting.
- Fix the side and work only the diving mechanics.