How do free hits, the self-pass and the 5-metre rule work?

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Where (Rule 13.1). A free hit is taken close to where the offence occurred, meaning within playing distance with no significant advantage gained. The location must be more precise inside the 23-metres area. A free hit to the defence within 15 metres of the back-line is taken up to 15 metres from the back-line, in line with the offence and parallel to the side-line. A free hit to the defence in the circle may be taken anywhere in the circle. How (Rule 13.2). The ball must be stationary. The FIH guidance says umpires are sometimes not strict enough on this, especially when the free hit is taken as a self-pass. Opponents must be at least 5 metres from the ball. An opponent within 5 metres must not interfere with the free hit or play, or attempt to play, the ball. If that player is not playing the ball, attempting to play it or influencing play, the free hit need not be delayed. The ball is moved using a hit, push, flick or scoop. It may be raised immediately using a push, flick or scoop, but must not be raised intentionally using a hit. For a free hit to the attack within the 23-metres area, all players other than the taker must be at least 5 metres from the ball, and the ball must not be played into the circle until it has travelled at least 5 metres (not necessarily in one direction) or been touched by a defender. If the taker keeps playing the ball (a self-pass) and no defender has touched it, they may play it any number of times, but it must travel at least 5 metres before they play it into the circle. At an attacking free hit within 5 metres of the circle, defenders inside the circle within 5 metres of the free hit may shadow a player taking an immediate self-pass around the inside of the circle, provided they do not play the ball or influence play until it has travelled at least 5 metres or a defender has legitimately touched it. If the attacker does not take it immediately, all other players must be at least 5 metres from the ball. Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2026.