New Interpretation of Rule. March 2008

The following is an excerpt from the 2008 FIH Umpires briefing:

Penalty Corners

a. A goal cannot be scored unless the ball has travelled outside the circle.
If the ball has stayed inside the circle, it is not an offence to take a shot
at goal - allow play to continue; if a defender commits an offence which
normally would have prevented the probable scoring of a goal, a further penalty corner should be awarded



This means that at a penalty corner if the ball does not travel outside the circle and a shot at goal is made the umpire should not blow his/her whistle.

Following on from this: If the ball goes over the back line, including inside the goal, then depending on who touched it last it will either be a 16 yard hit or a long corner. If there is an infringement in the circle then either a penalty corner or a free hit to the defenders will be awarded, depending on which team infringed. If the ball strikes the foot of a defender on the line then a penalty corner will be awarded, not a penalty stroke. This is because the foot is not preventing a goal from being scored because the ball had not yet travelled outside the circle.

Alastair Kerr

Chairperson Umpires Committee