What comes to your mind when "PK Shootout" is uttered? Some love the drama associated with spot kicks deciding a match and some hate the "lottery" of spot kicks. Roberto Baggio was hating them after his infamous PK miss gifted Brazil its 4th World Cup Trophy in The 1994 final. Next to the offsides rule, the PK Shootout is the most controversial aspect of on-pitch football.

An article written by Buck Cargal on Foxsoccer.com posed an interesting alternative to the PK Shootout. He proposed a corner kick showdown and while i'm not in favor of that, it was a creative idea when most people just complain without having a solution. Well I have a solution that's already been used: The Golden Goal, with some aids.



First of all, the Golden Goal is a great idea (ask David Trezeguet), Golden Goal sudden death intensifies the drama and makes every shot off the post or crossbar or shot that was just wide more agonizing. The key to avoiding PK Shootouts is to stop the match from getting to that point. The Golden Goal with some modifications during the match would work.

Firstly, allow 3 or 4 more substitutions for the extra time period. Currently if a team has used its 3 subs before the 90 minutes they cannot sub any more. The fatigue forces teams to play the next 30 minutes overly defensive, in essence playing for PKs. Giving each team 3 or 4 more subs for extra time would put fresh legs on the pitch and provide more goal scoring opportunities. A smart manager could put as many as 6 or 7 players (adding the 3 subs from regulation) on the pitch. This would test the team's depth and the manager's knowledge of his players.

Secondly, modify the offsides rule. Its a tricky rule as it is but what can be done is only call offsides if the attacker is completely behind the last defender. Much like the way the ball has to completely cross the endline for a goal or the sideline for the ball to be out. Another part of the offsides rule that's gets thrown out in extra time is calling offsides on a deflection from the defense.

After all of that if the score is tied than the luck or fate or whatever people want to call it of PKs should be the decider. Contrary to soccer purist thinking PKs is not a lottery. You don't practice picking the lottery numbers at your house before going to the store. Is their some luck involved in winning in PKs? Yes, but its not entirely up to luck. It still takes skill and practice to take a well-paced, well-placed, indefensible penalty kick.

Detractors to the Golden Goal say that teams would play extra defensive to avoid the goal but let's be real, the vast majority of coaches manage their teams that way regardless. Most modern managers are scared and work to avoid losses rather than going for the win. To borrow an American football term, they play "prevent defense." All that does is prevent victories, maybe these new ideas might open up the game more.

The Golden Goal along with extra subs for extra time and a modification of the offsides rule in extra time would hopefully keep matches from going to a PKs. If after all that the match is still tied than keep your defibrillators close cause there nothing more dramatic in sports than a PK shootout in a Cup match.