Corner

In field hockey, a penalty corner, sometimes known as a short corner, is a penalty given against the defending team. It is predominantly awarded for a defensive infringement in the penalty circle or for a deliberate infringement within the defensive 23-metre area. They are eagerly sought by attacking players and provide an excellent opportunity to score. There are particular rules for that only apply at penalty corners and players develop specialist skills, such as the drag flick, for this particular phase in the game.

The penalty corner has always been an important part of the game, that importance has become more pronounced since artificial turf became mandatory for top-level competitions in the 1970s. The Netherlands’ Paul Litjens was the former leading international scorer with 267 goals in 177 matches and was a specialist in hitting goals from penalty corners. Litjens and early specialists were accurate, hard-hitters of the ball; however, the introduction of the drag flick to counter the goalkeepers that lie down during the hit became the favoured technique.

This led to the introduction of experts in this skill and Litjens’ record was surpassed by Pakistani player Sohail Abbas who is often described as the “world’s best” penalty corner and drag flick specialist. India’s Sandeep Singh is also regarded as one of the best and has the fastest drag-flick at 145 km/h (90 mph). The importance of penalty corners has drawn criticism, with the proportion of field goals scored through open play reduced as attackers look to create a foul in the penalty circle, particularly from defenders’ feet, rather than shooting directly.

There are six ways a penalty corner may be awarded:

• For an offense on an attacking player in the penalty circle that does not prevent the “probable scoring of a goal”.
• For an intentional offence on an attacking player outside the penalty circle but within the 23-metre (25-yard) area they are defending
• For deliberately playing the ball over the backline. However, a goalkeeper is permitted to deflect the ball over the backline.
• For an intentional offence by a defender in their penalty circle against an opponent who “does not have possession of the ball or an opportunity to play the ball”.
• When the ball becomes lodged in a defending player’s clothing or equipment within the penalty circle.
• When the ball hits a defending players foot inside the circle.