How are penalty corners and penalty strokes taken indoors?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Hockey Association
- FIH Rules of Indoor Hockey 2027
- Indoor hockey
- Senior
- 2026/27
- Players
Penalty corner (Indoor Rule 13.3):
- Time stops. Get into position and put on kit without delay, as a guide within 30 seconds.
- The ball goes on the back-line inside the circle, at least 6 m from the goal-post, on the side the attack chooses.
- The injector has at least one foot outside the field and pushes the ball (no intentional raising) immediately after the start, then can't play it again or come within playing distance until someone else has.
- Other attackers: on the field, outside the circle. Only the injector may be within 3 m of the ball.
- Defenders: the goalkeeper (if there is one) in the goal, plus up to five others behind the back-line on the far side of the goal from the injector. Everyone else must be beyond the top of the circle at the other end, within 9.1 m of the far back-line. (A team with only field players may put up to six behind the back-line, outside the goal.)
- The ball must leave the circle before a goal can be scored. Shots may be raised to any height if not dangerous, but a goal only counts if the ball was on the ground at the last attacking touch.
- A defender within 3 m hit below the knee by the first shot: another corner. On or above the knee in a normal stance: free push to the defence.
- Penalty corner kit must come off before you play outside the half you're defending.
Penalty stroke (13.7): taken from the penalty spot 7 m from the goal-line. Everyone else stands outside the half where it's being taken. The defender keeps both feet on the goal-line until the ball is played. The taker pushes, flicks or scoops once, without feinting.
Added 22 Oct 2026