We talked to Chris Sharpe, Colorado Rapids’ Goalkeeper Coach, about how he gets the guys ready (just in case).
The penalty shot. Some people love ‘em, some people hate ‘em. And it’s always been a point of contention—when William McCrum introduced the idea in 1890, he was ridiculed. McCrum continued to push the idea, and after quite a bit of debate, the penalty kick was added to the rulebook in 1891.
It’s no secret that at just 12 yards out, the spot favors the shooter. The average professional soccer player can boot a PK at about 70 mph, meaning that the goalkeeper has less than half a second to react.