Plant the ball, then take three steps back and one to the side of your non-kicking foot. However, some coaches believe that taking two steps back before kicking gives the player more time to think about what they're doing. There is no right or wrong number of steps to take before kicking a penalty, but simply being aware of your options will help you make the best decision possible. The only real rule regarding steps is that you cannot take more than two steps to the left or right before kicking. If you take too many steps before kicking, the referee may call a free kick. This means you'll have to start over again at the place where you stopped. It's important to remember that you are not actually scoring until the ball has been kicked so make sure that you don't run out of space before then! In rugby terms, this action is known as "scoring under pressure". It can be used to great effect by a team who is struggling to find the try line, or in general crime against humanity. The idea is to force your opponent into giving up their defensive position so that you can run in unhindered.