field hockey Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ...

, a penalty stroke, sometimes known as a penalty flick, is the most severe penalty given. It is predominantly awarded when a foul has prevented a certain goal from being scored or for a deliberate infringement by a defender in the penalty circle.

Awarding a penalty stroke

There are two reasons why a penalty stroke may be awarded: *For an intentional foul on an attacker who has possession of or opportunity to play the ball in the

circle A circle is a shape consisting of all points in a plane that are at a given distance from a given point, the centre. Equivalently, it is the curve traced out by a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a given point is cons ...

*For a foul in the penalty circle that prevents "the probable scoring of a goal".

Procedure

Upon the awarding of a penalty stroke, time in the match is stopped. The penalty stroke is between any chosen attacking player and the defensive goalkeeper. The penalty stroke is taken from the ''penalty spot'' which is directly in front of the centre of the goal. Before the penalty stroke is taken, the goalkeeper must be standing with both feet on the goal line and the attacker within playing distance of the ball. When the umpire blows the whistle, the attacker may play the ball at goal using a "push, flick or scoop" motion. The attacking player must not

feint Feint is a French term that entered English via the discipline of swordsmanship and fencing. Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or e ...

and can only play the ball once (there is no rebound); the goalkeeper is not permitted to move their feet until the ball is played. A goal is scored if the ball completely crosses the line. Otherwise, play resumes with a defensive 15 m free-hit. Any infringement by an attacking player during the stroke concludes in the same result, an infringement by a defensive player may result in the penalty stroke being retaken if a goal has not been scored.

History

The first equivalent penalty in the rules was introduced in 1908 and known as a penalty bully, a form of bully-off between the offending player and any player from the attacking team. Other players could not take part until the penalty bully was complete and had to remain outside the penalty circle; in 1909 this was revised to remaining beyond the 25-yard line (now known as the 23-metre line). The penalty bully would cease when either a goal had been scored or the ball was played out of the ''penalty circle'' or over the ''back line'' by the attacker. Play was then resumed with a normal bully-off at the centre of the 25-yard line. If the ball was played over the back line by the defender (outside the goal) then the penalty bully was retaken. A foul during the penalty bully could result in a penalty goal. In 1963, the penalty stroke replaced the penalty bully and was awarded for deliberately stopping a certain goal. Then the ''penalty spot'' was from goal. In 1973, a stroke could also be awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle. The penalty spot was moved to its current position in 1974. Penalty goals could also be awarded for intentional fouls during a penalty stroke until 2009.

Notes

References

{{Field Hockey Field hockey terminology