What protective equipment may defenders wear at penalty corners, and what must happen to it afterwards?

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What is allowed (Rule 4.2) Field players are recommended to wear a smooth, preferably transparent or single coloured face mask, or a metal grill face mask that follows the contours of the face, when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke. Any hand protection must fit comfortably, without compressing it, into an open-ended box of internal dimensions 290 mm long x 180 mm wide x 110 mm high. Body protection, including leg protection or kneepads when defending a penalty corner, is permitted underneath normal playing clothing. Knee pads may be worn outside the socks if they are exactly the same colour as the socks, or black. Field players are also recommended to wear shin, ankle and mouth protection. Players wearing face masks must not take advantage of the equipment by behaving dangerously towards other players. After the penalty corner (Rule 13.3 n) Field players should remove their penalty corner equipment safely and as soon as they are able to once the penalty corner is completed. If there is no suitable opportunity, they can keep wearing it while within the 23-metres area without penalty. They must remove all protective equipment before leaving the 23-metres area, or when the umpire instructs them to. A defender still wearing the equipment may pass the ball immediately at a free hit to the defending team in the 23-metres area, but may not take a self-pass while still wearing it. If the ball hits discarded equipment, a free hit is awarded if it happens outside the circle. Inside the circle a penalty corner is awarded, unless the action prevents the probable scoring of a goal, in which case a penalty stroke is awarded. Throwing equipment so that it strikes an opponent, an umpire or anyone outside the field of play is dangerous and negligent. A yellow card must be given if the person is struck on or above the knee in a normal stance. If it is thrown deliberately at another person, more serious sanctions, including a red card, may apply. Source: FIH Rules of Hockey 2026.