| As if soccer penalty kicks weren't difficult enough for | | | | - Repeatedly changing directions |
| goalkeepers, there is a new wave of penalty kick | | | | - Stopping and backing up |
| trickery gaining in popularity. This technique called the | | | | These are considered cautionable offenses, and will |
| parardinha, though not new, is causing quite a bit of | | | | typically draw a yellow card. |
| discussion among soccer organizations, referees, | | | | However, the paradinha does not fall into any of |
| players, and even fans. The opinions are varied as to | | | | these areas. Although the kicker stops the forward |
| whether this should be allowed to continue, or if it | | | | momentum, they do not change direction or back up. |
| should be ruled "unsporting behavior." | | | | They simply stop, and then take an easy kick. |
| This bit of penalty kick trickery takes place when the | | | | FIFA took up the discussion of the kicker "feinting" in |
| kicker makes a run at the ball, then hesitates before | | | | order to draw the keeper off balance, and decided |
| actually taking the shot. In that moment of hesitation | | | | that feinting is not an offense. Despite that ruling, |
| the kicker can see which way the keeper is diving, | | | | some referees still penalize for feinting, partially |
| and then makes an adjustment that typically results | | | | because there is no clear definition of what |
| in an easy goal. | | | | constitutes feinting. |
| The paradinha (pronounced par-a-JEEN-ya), which is | | | | What will be interesting is seeing how this move is |
| Portuguese for "little stop" was first popularized by | | | | handled as soccer once agin moves to the |
| Pele. While used frequently in Brazil it never really | | | | international spotlight with the beginning of the World |
| caught on in other soccer leagues until recently. Now | | | | Cup. There is speculation that the paradinha will be |
| with the upcoming World Cup many organizations, | | | | allowed in some countries, while others will deem it to |
| including FIFA are trying to decide whether the move | | | | be unsporting. |
| is legal or not. | | | | Penalty kick trickery is nothing new. Johan Cruyff |
| In the past the rule of thumb was that the | | | | made the penalty kick pass famous when instead of |
| designated kicker needed to make a continuous | | | | shooting on goal he lightly kicked the ball to the side, |
| move through the ball. Anything else was considered | | | | where a teammate dribbled toward the goal, passing |
| to be unsporting. The problem is, the laws of the | | | | back to Cruyff who then shot the goal. Only time will |
| game do not specify that the move needs to be | | | | tell if the paradinha will be treated in a similar fashion, |
| continuous. Soccer organizations have specified that | | | | or whether soccers ruling body will decide that it will |
| unsporting behavior in a PK is: | | | | not be allowed. |
| - Excessively long runs at the ball | | | | |