The Game of Field Hockey

6 PENALTIES

Advantage: a penalty shall be awarded only when a player or team has been clearly disadvantaged by an opponent's offence.

6.1 A free hit shall be awarded:

a. for an offence by an attacker

b. for an unintentional offence by the defence outside their circle.

6.2 A penalty corner shall be awarded:

a. for an intentional offence by the defence within their 25 yards area but outside the circle

b. for an unintentional offence by the defence in their circle where the attacker does not have possession or is unlikely to gain possession of the ball

c. for the defence intentionally playing the ball over their back-line from within their half of the field

d. for an intentional offence by a defender in the circle which neither prevents a goal nor deprives an attacker of actual or likely possession of the ball.

6.3 A penalty stroke shall be awarded for:

a. an intentional offence by a defender in the circle to prevent a goal being scored

b. an unintentional offence by a defender in the circle that prevents the probable scoring of a goal

c. persistent breaking of the back-line by defenders at penalty corners.

6.4 If there is another offence before the awarded penalty has been taken, the free hit may be progressed 10 yards but not into the circle, upgraded and/or dealt with as misconduct or reversed if committed by the previously benefiting team.