In football, a penalty kick is a direct free kick from the 12 yard spot. It an be awarded in play for a foul by the defending side inside the area. A penalty shootout is a series of kicks from the spot, when a game (usually in a cup tournament, or a promotion/relegation match) ends undecided.
In a penalty shoot-out, each team takes turns shooting at goal from the penalty mark, with the goal defended only by the opposing team's goalkeeper. Each team has five shots which must be taken by different players; the team that makes more successful kicks is declared the victor.