What are the key rules for taking a penalty corner?

FIH Rule 13.3-13.6 (2027):

• Time stops on the award. Teams should be in position with kit on without delay, as a guide within 40 seconds (new for 2027; competitions may use a 40-second countdown clock).
• Ball: on the back-line inside the circle, at least 10 m from the goal-post, on whichever side the attack chooses.
• Injector: at least one foot outside the field; pushes or hits the ball immediately after the start, without intentionally raising it; must not play it again or come within playing distance until another player has.
• Other attackers: on the field, outside the circle, with sticks, hands and feet off the ground inside it.
• Defenders: no more than five (including the goalkeeper) behind the back-line, the rest beyond the centre-line. Nobody but the injector within 5 m of the ball.
• Before scoring, the ball must travel outside the circle.
• First shot a hit: must cross the goal-line at no more than 460 mm (backboard height), or be on course to, before any deflection, even if it touched a defender first. Flicks, scoops, deflections and later hits may be any height if not dangerous.
• Danger: a defender within 5 m hit below the knee by the first shot: another corner. On or above the knee in a normal stance: dangerous, free hit to the defence. A defender running into the shot without trying to play it with the stick is penalised.

Early breaks (13.6):

• Injector without a foot outside: retake.
• Injector plays early, doesn't play immediately or feints: injector goes beyond the centre-line, replaced by another attacker; retake.
• Defender (not the goalkeeper) crosses the back-line early: that defender goes beyond the centre-line and isn't replaced; retake. Crossing the centre-line early: retake.
• Goalkeeper crosses early: the defence nominates a player to go beyond the centre-line; retake.
• Attacker enters the circle early: the injector goes beyond the centre-line; retake.

Completed (13.5) when: a goal is scored; the defence gets a free hit; the ball goes more than 5 m outside the circle; it goes over the back-line without another corner; a defender offends without another corner; a stroke is awarded; or (new: a bully now completes the corner instead of a retake). Quarters are extended to complete corners.