CASE NO. 015

Penalties

// verdict BUSTED
CASE NO. 015Penalties

Goalkeepers should always dive on penalties — never stay in the middle.

Bar-Eli et al. (Journal of Economic Psychology, 2007) analysed 286 elite-league penalties and found goalkeepers saved about 33% when they stayed in the centre and roughly 12–14% when they dove left or right. They concluded the diving choice reflects an 'action bias' — keepers feel they look better having tried something, even when staying still is the higher-percentage play.

// sources1Action bias (Bar-Eli et al., 2007)
Busted

33% vs 14%

Saves · centre vs dive

// verdictBUSTED

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Goalkeepers should always dive on penalties — never stay in the middle. — soccermyths