Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA field hockey penalty corner—also called a short corner—is a set-piece restart awarded for specified defensive offences. It gives the attacking team a structured scoring chance, but it is not an automatic goal or a direct penalty shot: players must follow prescribed positions and the attack must meet specific conditions for a goal to count.
Why is a penalty corner awarded?
Under the FIH Rules of Hockey 2026 for outdoor 11-a-side hockey, a penalty corner is awarded for defined defensive offences, including:
- A defender commits an offence in the circle that does not prevent the probable scoring of a goal.
- A defender intentionally commits an offence in the defending 23-metres area, but outside the circle.
- A defender intentionally plays the ball over the back-line, except where the goalkeeper exception applies.
- The ball becomes lodged in a defender’s clothing or equipment while in the circle.
The penalty corner is a bounded sanction: it creates a set attacking opportunity without awarding a goal. If a defender’s offence prevents the probable scoring of a goal, the rules provide for a penalty stroke instead. The precise award depends on the offence and its circumstances; not every defensive mistake results in a corner.
How does a penalty corner work?
The 2026 FIH rules specify how the teams set up, how the ball is put into play, and what must happen for a goal to count.
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1. The attacking team sets up the injection
The attack chooses a spot on the back-line inside the circle, at least 10 metres from either goalpost. One attacker takes the push or hit, with at least one foot outside the field of play.
2. Players take their starting positions
All other attackers must be on the field and outside the circle. Their sticks, hands and feet must not touch the ground inside it. Up to five defenders, including the goalkeeper, line up behind the back-line. When the injection is taken, players other than the injector must be at least five metres from the ball.
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3. The injector puts the ball into play
The injector pushes or hits the ball without intentionally raising it. The attacking team can then use a planned pass, stop, redirection or shot. The injection itself is not a penalty shot directly at goal.
4. The attack must meet the goal-scoring conditions
For a goal to count, an attacker must play the ball inside the circle. The ball must then cross completely over the goal-line under the crossbar without leaving the circle first. If the first shot at goal is a hit, it must be no higher than 460 mm at the goal-line for a goal to count. The rulebook distinguishes a hit from a flick, scoop or push, and dangerous-play restrictions still apply.
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5. The corner can be retaken or end in several ways
Early entry, a player breaking the line and other defined offences can lead to a retake or a free hit. The penalty corner sequence ends with a goal, a defensive free hit, the ball travelling more than five metres from the circle, certain back-line outcomes or defensive offences, or the award of a penalty stroke. If time expires at the end of a quarter, play is prolonged so the corner—and any resulting subsequent corner or stroke—can be completed.
How does a penalty corner differ from a penalty stroke?
A penalty corner is a set-piece restart for the specified offences in Rule 12.3 of the FIH rules. A penalty stroke applies when a defender’s offence prevents the probable scoring of a goal. The distinction is the seriousness and effect of the infringement; a corner does not itself mean a goal was stopped.
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What safety rules apply?
The FIH Rules of Hockey 2026 permit field players defending penalty corners to wear protective face masks. Separately, FIH announced on 27 January 2025 that masks are mandatory for all players defending penalty corners at FIH events, effective immediately for those events. FIH encouraged other hockey communities to adopt this measure or another protective solution, but that announcement does not make the requirement universal outside FIH events. Check the rules of the governing body and competition you play in.
For covered FIH outdoor competitions, the May 2025 General Tournament Regulations specify a 40-second stopped-time countdown for an initial penalty corner. An umpire should allow additional time if defenders need it to put protective equipment on safely; the regulations also provide sanctions for intentional delay. This countdown is a tournament regulation, not a universal timing rule for every field hockey competition.
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The FIH rulebook and outdoor tournament regulations cited here do not provide a general penalty-corner conversion rate or frequency statistic. Any rate should be tied to a named competition and season rather than treated as representative of the sport as a whole.
Which rules explain the details?
- FIH Rules of Hockey 2026 (effective internationally from 1 March 2026): award, procedure, goals, retakes and completion.
- FIH announcement on mandatory face masks at FIH events (27 January 2025).
- FIH General Tournament Regulations: Outdoor Competitions (May 2025): countdown and protective-equipment provisions for covered events.
These details describe outdoor 11-a-side hockey under the FIH rules and regulations cited above. National associations may set their own implementation dates, and tournament regulations can add event-specific requirements.
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