On the use of situation and body information in goalkeeper actions during a soccer penalty kick

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of situation information about a player’s preference to kick to either side of the goal on the goalkeeper’s performance in a soccer penalty kick. Nine goalkeepers were tested under different situational information conditions: a non-probability, an equal-probability (i.e., 50% of the kicks to either side of the goal), and two high-probability conditions (i.e., 80% to the right or left side). In the high-probability conditions, the goalkeepers’ performance tended to increase and significantly improved in terms of diving to the same side as the ball was directed. In addition, goalkeepers initiated their dive earlier in the high-probability conditions. Gaze analysis in four participants suggested that goalkeepers who relied more strongly on body information profited less from situational information. In conclusion, soccer goalkeepers can benefit from situational information about a penalty taker’s preferences, but these benefits may depend on the individual goalkeeper’s information-using profile.