When a goalie is defending a penalty, they must remain on the goal line, between the goalposts, until the kick is taken. This is the same for a goalie at any penalty kick throughout a game. But when a goalkeeper steps aside for their opposite number to defend a kick, they don’t head back to the center circle to join the rest of their team.

During a shoot-out, players other than the kicker and the goalkeepers must remain in the centre circle. The kicking team's goalkeeper stands at the intersection of the goal line and the line marking the penalty area (16.5 m/18 yards) near one of the assistant referees.

Even the goalkeeper can take penalty kicks. If a team takes an unassailable lead during the initial series of five kicks, it wins the match. However, if the teams are still level after the five kicks, the sudden death phase of the penalty shootout kicks in.

The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to penalty shots in that a single player takes one shot on goal from a specified spot, the only defender being the goalkeeper.