What protective equipment can defenders wear at a penalty corner, and when must it come off?

FIH Rule 4.2 (field players):

• Face mask: recommended when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke. It must be smooth, preferably transparent or a single colour, or a metal grill mask that follows the contours of the face. Headgear isn't allowed at any other time, except for medical reasons.
• Knee pads and leg protection are allowed when defending a corner. Knee pads may be worn outside the socks only if they're exactly the sock colour or black.
• Hand protection must fit comfortably, without compressing, into an open-ended box 290 mm x 180 mm x 110 mm.
• Players must not use their protective equipment to play dangerously.

Taking it off (Rule 13.3 n, updated for 2026):

• Players should remove corner equipment safely and as soon as they can after the penalty corner is completed.
• They may keep it on while inside the 23-metre area if there's no suitable chance to remove it. All of it must come off before they leave the 23-metre area, or when you tell them to.
• Wearing equipment, a defender may pass the ball immediately from a free hit or back-line restart, but may not take a self-pass.
• If thrown equipment hits an opponent, an umpire or anyone outside the field on or above the knee (in a normal stance), the thrower must get a yellow card. Restart with a free hit if the ball was outside the circle. If it was inside the circle, restart with a penalty corner, or a penalty stroke if Rule 12.4 applies.
• If the ball hits discarded equipment: a free hit outside the circle, or a penalty corner inside it (a penalty stroke if it prevents a probable goal).