strafcorners

Strafcorner is a term used in field hockey to refer to a penalty corner. It is awarded for specific infringements of the rules by a defending player within their own penalty circle, or for deliberate infringements outside the circle that prevent a probable goal. When a strafcorner is awarded, the attacking team has a set of advantages. The ball is placed on the back line at a designated spot, usually 10 yards from the goalpost. All players except the goalkeeper and two attackers must be behind the half-way line. One attacker can stand at the top of the circle. The defending team must have at least four players behind the goal line, and the goalkeeper can be in any position.

The attacking team initiates play by pushing the ball into the circle. A goal can only be scored from a strafcorner after the ball has travelled outside the circle, or if the ball has been stationary at the top of the circle for the pass to be made. This rule is in place to prevent dangerous high shots from entering the goal directly. The defending players can try to block the shot or clear the ball. Strafcorners are a critical part of field hockey strategy, often leading to goals and significantly impacting the outcome of a match. Teams dedicate considerable practice time to perfecting their strafcorner routines.