7. Saving Penalties
Whether it is from a clumsy tackle and unfortunate handball or you just haven't managed to beat your opposition in regulation time, we all have to face a penalty at some time. There are two options you have when you are trying to save a penalty; you can be reactive or proactive. Being reactive means that you wait till the ball has been kicked and then follow the direction the ball has. This can work well as it means that you have a good chance of going the right way, but if the penalty is struck well, then normally the keeper will have dived too late to reach the ball. Proactive would mean that you guess before the ball is struck. It does mean you are going to be able to reach those well struck penalties, although on the downside you can look rather foolish if you go the wrong way, or they try a Panenka chip. When playing online, a good tactic is to bounce on the line prior to the kick, making it look like you are going to dive, leading the player to put it down the middle; then you just stand there making the save. It is up to you which tactic you choose, but my advice would be to try the reactive way, as you are likely to save more than you concede.