A "penalty shootout" in sports is a method used to break a tie when the score is level after regulation time and, if applicable, extra time. Typically seen in soccer, it involves players taking direct shots on goal from the penalty mark, while a goalkeeper attempts to block the shots. Each team usually alternates turns, and the team with the most successful conversions at the end wins the match. Penalty shootouts require a combination of skill, composure, and strategy, making them an intense and decisive moment in competitive play.