How to use
- 1Enter the team names, pick the team that won the toss as “Kicks first” and choose 5 or 3 kicks per team.
- 2After every kick tap “Goal” or “Miss”; the board highlights the team that is up and the kick number.
- 3Watch the “must score” and “wins with a goal” hints; once the shootout is mathematically over the winner is announced.
- 4Go fullscreen for spectators, fix a mistake with “Undo” and start again with “New shootout”.
The rules of a shootout (IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 10)
The referee chooses the goal and tosses a coin; the team that wins the toss decides whether to take the first or second kick. Teams kick alternately (A-B-A-B), five kicks each, but the shootout stops early as soon as one team has scored more than the other could reach even by scoring all of its remaining kicks. If the scores are level after five kicks each, kicks continue one per team in sudden death until one team has scored more after the same number of kicks. The ABBA order trialled in 2017–18 was not adopted, so ABAB remains the law.
Who may take a kick?
Only players on the pitch at the end of the match are eligible; a team with more players reduces its number to match the opponent. No player may take a second kick until every eligible team-mate, goalkeeper included, has taken one. When the kick is taken, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, or in line with, the goal line.
For youth, school and 5-a-side tournaments
Many youth and small-sided tournaments use three kicks per team to save time; set the tracker to 3 and the early-finish and sudden-death logic adapts. The shootout is saved in your browser, so a closed tab does not lose it, and a phone or laptop on a projector makes a simple scoreboard for the touchline.
Frequently asked questions
How many penalties are taken in a shootout?
Five per team. If it is still level, they continue one each in sudden death until one team leads after the same number of kicks.
Do shootout goals count in the final score?
No. The match is recorded as a draw and the shootout result is added separately, for example 1–1 (4–3 on penalties).
When does a penalty shootout end early?
When one team cannot catch up even if it scores all of its remaining kicks. Leading 3–0 after three kicks each, for instance, ends it, because the other team can score at most two more.
Can the goalkeeper take a penalty in a shootout?
Yes. Any eligible player can kick, and nobody may kick twice until all eligible players, goalkeeper included, have taken one.
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