What is a penalty corner in field hockey?

Answer 1

A penalty corner is awarded for:

• an unintentional foul in the circle by a defending player which does not prevent the probable scoring of a goal
• an intentional offence inside the circle by a defender on a player who does not have the ball or the possibility of playing it
• an intentional offence by a defender inside their 23 metres area but outside the circle.
• or a defender deliberately playing the ball over the backline (there are varying definitions of "deliberate"; the rule specifically excludes a goalkeeper deflecting a shot at goal or an opportunity for a shot).

When a penalty corner is awarded only five defending players, usually four defenders and the goalkeeper, are allowed to defend it; the remaining defenders must be beyond the centre-line. They must remain behind the goal/centre line until an attacker injects the ball back into play from a point on the backline at least 10 metres from the goal but within the circle. There is no limit to how many attackers in the team on the field can take part in a penalty corner. The corner is complete when a goal is scored, the ball goes out of play, another penalty corner or a penalty stroke is awarded or the ball travels either 5 metres from the circle or outside it more than once. A goal cannot be scored until the ball has left the circle from the initial injection.

In the modern game, they are very good scoring opportunities, and hence are usually looked for by attackers while heavily disputed by defenders.

Answer 2

A penalty corner is called when there is a foul in the circle.