Penalty Kicks: Keeper-Independent or Keeper-Dependent

In futsal, students compare two penalty-kick strategies: choosing a side before the run-up or waiting for the goalkeeper to move. Both are tested with and without scoreboard pressure to see which holds up better under anxiety.

How to play

1. Explain the two strategies and why the keeper-independent one cuts down on decisions under pressure; form four groups, one per goal (3 min).
2. Round 1, keeper-independent: each shooter picks a side, whispers it to the scorekeeper and shoots; record whether the shot went to that side and whether it scored (7 min).
3. Round 2, keeper-dependent: the shooter waits for the keeper to move before deciding; record the result (7 min).
4. Round 3 under pressure: a shootout between groups with a public scoreboard, and each shooter picks a strategy before shooting (8 min).
5. Compare percentages by strategy and condition, and discuss which one they'd choose in a final (5 min).

Rules

• The goalkeeper rotates every five shots and wears gloves if available.
• The rest of the group waits behind the shooter, out of the ball's path.
• Shoot on the keeper's signal, once they're ready.
• In the pressure round, cheering is fine, but no mocking or insults.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: throw or push the ball from the wheelchair at an empty goal divided into zones.
• Visual impairment: use a beeper ball, and the keeper claps before the shot.
• High anxiety: may choose to shoot first or last in the pressure round.

Learning goals

• Compare decision strategies for a high-stakes action.
• Analyze how scoreboard pressure affects accuracy.
• Choose a personal strategy backed by data.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soccer balls: 8
• goals: 4
• cones: 8
• worksheets: 4
• pinnies: 15

Teacher tip

Use futsal balls, which bounce less and make penalties safer for the keeper. With groups of seven or eight, every student gets plenty of shots.

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