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.
Penalty corner for China against South Korea during London Olympics 2012
Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the 10 m mark. The 5 m line above demarcates the closest position a defender may stand.
Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with 11 players in total, made up of 10 field players and a goalkeeper. Teams must move a hockey ball around a field by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting circle and then into the goal. The match is won by the team that scores the most goals. Matches are played on grass, watered turf, artificial turf, or indoor boarded surface.
Field hockey at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
Relief of c. 510 BC depicting ancient Greek players of kerētízein, an ancestral form of hockey or ground billiards; in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens
A game of hockey being played between Germany and Scotland at the 1908 London Olympics
Indian player Dhyan Chand won Olympic gold medals for his team in 1928, 1932 and 1936. Photo shows him scoring a goal against Germany in the 1936 Olympics hockey final.