Why the Stutter Step Penalty Kick Is a Bad Idea

By: Daryl | July 28th, 2009

Seems that every once in a while, some footballer or other overthinks things from 12 yards out. The result is usually a stutter step penalty kick, and – often it seems – an embarrassing miss.

This weekend it was Szombathelyi Haladás’ Brazilian midfielder Maikel’s turn to get it very much wrong in a 5-0 preseason defeat to Arsenal. Think it’s safe to say Arsene Wenger will not be offering the lad a contract anytime soon.

I don’t have any hard figures on spot kick success/failure rates using the stutter step, so I can’t mathematically prove that it’s a bad idea. But I do have some embarrassing stutter step video to share. Which is arguably more convincing than numbers ever could be:

This is Ronaldo’s recent lazy effort for Corinthians…

And here’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s horrific attempt in the 2008 Champions League Final that very nearly cost Man Utd the trophy. He seems to be frozen in time for a second…

Well, at least Maikel can now claim to have something in common with the two Ronnies.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: 5-0, Arsenal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maikel, panelty miss, peanlty kick, Ronaldo, stutter step, Szombathelyi Haladás, World Football, World Soccer

« Who Will Have The Biggest Impact: Cristiano, Ricky or Zlatan? | Home | Zlatan’s Move To Barca Was Always In The Cards »

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share

Comments   |  Add your comment

• Naturelover |  July 28th, 2009 at 11:45 am

  
  
  

  I always didn’t link penalty kicks. they spoil the mood and there is no fun in watching team winning on the ground of penality shootout.
  thx

  Posted from United States

  

• The Binocular |  July 28th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

  
  
  

  Nice collection! Very funny!

  Do it like Henry and chip lightly straight !

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Marlon |  July 28th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

  
  
  

  It looks much more like Maikel slips, where as I think the Ronnies through in those stutter steps with the hopes of messing with the keeper.

  Posted from United States

  

• andersen |  July 28th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

  
  
  

  i agree with marlon, it does look like Maikel slipped and just tried to salvage it.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  July 28th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

  
  
  

  I thought it was a little from column A, a little from column B, meaning he slipped as a result of attempting the stutter step. Could very well be wrong though.

  Posted from United States

  

• Charley |  July 28th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

  
  
  

  i love original ronaldo’s attempt. lol classic. he is so winded from running down the field (and lazy) that all he can do is trudge up to the ball and slap at it. haha

  Posted from United States

  

• Luka |  July 29th, 2009 at 3:26 am

  
  
  

  Firstly, that should never have been allowed had it gone in, because the player actually stopped before taking the kick. Secondly, Daryl is correct in saying that he slipped because he attempted the stutter. In the end, there is no better way to take a penalty than to blast it into the top corner.

  Posted from Australia

  

Leave a Reply