Field hockey / Rule 12
Awarding penalties
FIH · 2026In short
Advantage and free hits · Corner or stroke
Advantage and free hits
An infringement is penalised when it disadvantages the opponent. A free hit generally covers midfield offences, attacking offences in the opponent’s 23-metre area and unintentional defensive offences in that area outside the circle. Advantage can allow play to continue when that better benefits the non-offending team.
Corner or stroke
A defensive circle offence normally brings a penalty corner unless it prevents a probable goal. Preventing a probable goal, or deliberately fouling an opponent who has possession or an opportunity to play the ball inside the circle, brings a penalty stroke. Deliberate defensive offences outside the circle in the defensive area bring a corner.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent summaries of the supplied FIH Rules of Hockey, effective 1 March 2026, for outdoor eleven-a-side hockey. Competition regulations and national implementation can differ. References use PDF pages.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗