how far is a penalty kick

A penalty kick is taken from 11 meters away from the goal line, which is about 12 yards or 36 feet.

Quick Scoop

• The kick is taken from the penalty spot, centered in the penalty area.

• The penalty area itself is the 18-yard box, but the actual kick distance is measured from the spot to the goal line.

• That short distance is what makes penalties so tense and decisive.

In plain terms

If you’re watching soccer, the player places the ball on the spot and shoots from a distance that’s just over 10 meters, close enough that the keeper has very little time to react.

TL;DR: a penalty kick is from 11 meters, or 12 yards, to the goal.