When Was The First Penalty Kick?
Penalty kicks have been used in football for over 100 years after being suggested by former goalkeeper William McCrum back in 1890. Before this, there was no consequences for infringements of the rules when inside the opponents box, now called the "Penalty" area. In fact, before 1872, when the indirect free kick was created, the game was practically lawless.
So, what forced McCrum and the FA to consider changing the game? Two incidents encouraged the powers that be to introduce the new Penalty rule. The first occured on December 20th 1890, when a player fisted the ball from under the bar. This player was not a goalkeeper. A similar event happened again in February 1891. Both of these incidents happened in Cup Quarter-Finals.
A game played by gentlemen was in need of a change. What happens when someone breaks the rules, cheats or blatantly tries to endanger an opponent? In the case of the "Penalty Kick", the FA took a stance in 1891 by adding the following rule:
If any player shall intentionally trip or hold an opposing player, or deliberately handle the ball, within twelve yards from his own goal-line, the referee shall, on appeal, award the opposing side a penalty kick, to be taken from any point twelve yards from the goal-line, under the following conditions:— All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the opposing goalkeeper (who shall not advance more than six yards from the goal-line) shall stand at least six yards behind the ball. The ball shall be in play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from the penalty kick.
Old Penalty Kick Rules
Did you know, the following used to be allowed whilst taking a penalty:
- No limits on dribbling. That's right, you could essentially dribble with the ball towards the keeper. This was a 1-on-1, not a penalty.
- The goalkeeper can advance as much as 6-yards off his line. These days, the penalty must be retaken if the keeper comes off his line at all.
- You may place the ball anywhere. Like with American Billiards, after a foul you can place the ball wherever you like. In the case of pre-modern football, you could place the ball anywhere within 12-yards of the goal.
- There was no penalty area. Penalties were only awarded if a foul was commited within 12-yards of the goal, with the intention of stopping those defining moments we mentioned previously. The penalty area was introduced in 1902.
- Penalties were only awarded after appeal. It's funny, but we are almost back here with VAR. However, after the penalty rule was introduced and before the penalty area was around, referees would not actively give penalties without the appeal from players. Maybe that's where surrounding the man in black comes from.
Penalty Conversion Rates
According to research data, around 100,000 penalties have been taken since the creation of the penalty rule. According to the same research, most penalties are converted. 75% of all penalties have been scored, with 17% being saved and 4% going wide or wayward. 2% of takers saw their spot kicks hit the woodwork, including Ruud van Nistlerooy against Arsenal.
Maybe Ruud was not old enough? Data suggests that the best penalty takers are those between the age of 32 and 33-years old. A cool, experienced head is what you need then? The data also tells that the age group that misses the most penalties is teenagers.