At the end of the 2nd overtime, if it's still tied then all players must stay on the field as we go to a shootout. Technically speaking, if a player comes off the field after the 2nd overtime, they may not go back on the field. This is not usually enforced in VAA, but the ref has the right to, so make sure your players know. They can come to the sideline and you can hand them a water bottle.

Each team moves to the center circle. The chosen goalkeepers move to the goal that the ref chooses for the shootout (it doesn't have to be the goalkeeper who was just in goal for overtime, but I don't think you want to put a cold goalkeeper in for a shootout... then again, most shots that don't score miss the goal completely or go right into the goalkeeper's hands. Good shots almost always score, so practicing PKs is a good thing.)

Each team chooses 5 shooters and an order. The goalkeeper can be one of the shooters. The ref will flip a coin to determine who goes first. Then the teams alternate shooting. Only the shooter and the goalkeeper, the refs, and the other goalkeeper can be at the goal end of the field. The shooter can't shoot until the ref blows the whistle. The goalkeeper must have both feet on the goal line (but can jump or move side to side). Once the shooter contacts the ball the goalkeeper can come off their line. The shooter may not play a rebound. If the kicker has a violation but scores then the kick is retaken. If the keeper has a violation and the goal didn't score then the kick is retaken.

Shooters alternate until all 10 (5 for each team) have shot or one team is mathematically eliminated (i.e. first team is up 3-1 and the 2nd team only has 1 shooter left... the game is over).

If all 10 (5 each) have shot and the game is still tied, the shootout continues alternating between teams one "inning" at a time (1 shooter from each team), until one team wins (i.e. first team scores and the 2nd one doesn't, or first team misses and the 2nd one scores). No shooter may shoot a 2nd time until all other shooters have shot (including the goalkeeper). If all 9 players on the field have shot, then the players on the sideline can come in and shoot.

The longest VAA shootout I ever saw was 18 shots per team!

Notes: Darkness - at the discretion of the ref there can be two, one or no overtime periods (i.e. go straight from the end of regulation to the shootout). This can only be because of weather or darkness, which can definitely happen in the fall. I've been in a number of shootouts in which no one could see! Sometimes car lights are directed at the field, but that really only makes it worse for the kids vision. If the ref is going to make a change, they would notify the coaches before overtime starts. So, for instance, the ref cannot during the first overtime period that there will be no 2nd overtime.

The rules state that if the game cannot be decided by shootout, then it will be decided by a coin flip. I have never seen nor heard of this happening.

Technique/tactics.

Shooters. The two biggest mistakes are a huge wind-up and looking at the goal/goalkeeper. Shooters should be taught to take a relaxed 2-3 step approach, place the plant foot even with the ball and about one ball width to the side, look at the ball, lock the ankle, swing the leg from the hip, contact the ball firmly with the laces or side of the foot with the knee and body over the ball, and follow-through. That's a lot so the keys are: plant foot, eyes on the ball, follow-through.

Most shooters simply miss the goal.

Keepers. All the pressure is on the shooter. The keeper is not supposed to be able to make the save. If the keeper can make just 1 save out of 5, they have likely won the game for their team. Do whatever you can to take the pressure off the keeper and keep them relaxed. Keepers should "act" confident. (confidence also builds through practice). Keeper starts in an athletic stance (on balls of feet, feet hip or shoulder width apart, weight slightly forward, hands up in front of the body ready to make a save, body ready to move). The keeper should not guess and dive, particularly at these levels. Watch the shooter strike the ball. Be calm and react. Like all saves, the key is to get to body to where the ball is coming and then catch or deflect it.

It is best to practice PKs at the end of practice when everyone it tired, because that's how it would happen in a game!

That's about it!