Few moments in football are as tense as a penalty kick. The entire stadium goes quiet, one player places the ball on the spot, and everything comes down to a single shot against the goalkeeper. But behind this dramatic moment is a very specific set of rules — governing everything from where the ball is placed to what the goalkeeper is and isn’t allowed to do.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about penalty kick rules, in simple terms.
What is a Penalty Kick?
A penalty kick is awarded when a foul that would normally result in a direct free kick occurs inside the defending team’s own penalty box. It’s also awarded for certain handball offenses committed inside the box. Because it removes almost every defender from the equation, a penalty is one of the highest-probability scoring chances in football.
If you haven’t already, check out our full guide on football fouls to understand exactly what triggers a foul in the first place.
Where is the Penalty Spot?
The penalty spot is located exactly 12 yards (approximately 11 meters) from the goal line, directly in front of the center of the goal. This distance is fixed across every football pitch in the world, from professional stadiums to local club grounds.
The Basic Rules of a Penalty Kick
- The ball is placed on the penalty spot
- Only the kicker and the goalkeeper are allowed inside the penalty box (and the arc in front of it) until the ball is kicked
- All other players must be outside the box, behind the penalty arc, and at least 10 yards from the ball
- The goalkeeper must stay on the goal line, facing the kicker, until the ball is struck
- The kicker must clearly kick the ball forward — no backheels or unusual touches designed to deceive without actually striking the ball properly
Goalkeeper Rules During a Penalty
For a long time, goalkeepers had to keep both feet on the goal line until the ball was kicked. This rule has since been relaxed slightly — modern rules only require that the goalkeeper has at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal line at the moment of the kick. They’re allowed to move sideways along the line before that, but can’t move forward off the line early.
If a goalkeeper is caught moving off the line too early and saves the shot, the referee can order a retake.
What Happens on a Missed Penalty?
If the ball misses the goal entirely, or the goalkeeper saves it cleanly, play generally continues as normal — unless the ball rebounds back into play, in which case any player (including the original kicker, in most competitions) can react to the loose ball, as long as it’s touched by another player first in some competition rules. Regulations here can vary slightly by tournament, so it’s always worth checking specific competition rules for exact rebound situations.
Why Would a Penalty Be Retaken?
A penalty can be ordered to be retaken in several situations:
- The goalkeeper moved off the goal line early and the shot was saved or missed
- A player from either team encroached into the box before the kick was taken and it affected the outcome
- The kicker was fouled or interfered with just before taking the shot
If the encroachment came from an attacking player and the goal wasn’t scored, the penalty is simply not retaken — play restarts with an indirect free kick to the defending team instead.
Penalty Kicks vs Penalty Shootouts
It’s worth clarifying an important distinction. A penalty kick happens during normal play, as a direct consequence of a foul inside the box. A penalty shootout is a completely different situation, used to decide a winner when a knockout match ends level after extra time — and it follows its own separate set of rules.
We’ve covered penalty shootouts in detail in our dedicated guide, including how the order of kicks is decided and what happens in sudden-death rounds.
Common Penalty Kick Techniques
While not part of the official rules, it’s worth understanding a few common penalty-taking styles you’ll see referenced during matches:
- Power shot — aiming for pace and placement in one of the corners
- Panenka — a delicate chip straight down the middle, relying on the goalkeeper diving early to one side
- Stutter-step run-up — pausing mid-run to wait and react to the goalkeeper’s movement
Conclusion
A penalty kick might look like a simple one-on-one battle between the kicker and the goalkeeper, but it’s governed by a surprisingly detailed set of rules — from the goalkeeper’s foot positioning to strict encroachment regulations. Understanding these rules makes it much easier to follow why a penalty is sometimes ordered to be retaken, or why a seemingly good save doesn’t always end the drama.
Next, we’ll look at another major set piece — corner kicks — and the specific rules that govern them.