How to execute the penalty corner

by Eric Pfahler
Staff Writer

Although field hockey is becoming a popular sport throughout the Midwest, most so-called sports gurus do not know the basic rules and strategies of the game. Like a penalty shot in ice hockey, the penalty corner is a way for the offense to try to convert a quick score.

Any foul on the defense from within the field's penalty circle results in a penalty corner. Four defensive players and the goalie stay behind the goal line. The rest of the defense has to start behind midfield until the ball is put in play.

An offensive player passes the ball from the end line to another player who stops the ball outside the penalty circle. The offense then tries to create a good shot. The initial shot, however, must hit the ground.

Players cannot score from outside the penalty circle; but they are allowed to shoot with the hope of a deflection.

Penalty corners have made a difference for the Bobcats this season. Ohio has 91 penalty corner tries and 27 team goals, while opponents have attempted 44 penalty corners and scored only seven goals.

Ohio coach Shelly Morris said in 2000 the Bobcats used two batteries, a player receiving the inbound pass who lays their stick on the ground to stop the ball for the oncoming shooter, but this season Ohio uses only one.

"Some people set up with a double-battery system so that the defense doesn't know which stick stopper and hitter they're going to," Morris said.

Goalkeepers have the chore of defending the penalty corner.

Ohio goalkeeper Tara Elliott said goalies try to kick the ball away from the net instead of trying to control it with their stick during a penalty corner.

"All goalies kick the ball," Elliott said. "You don't really use your hands."

Substitutions can be made at any time except during a penalty corner.

"There used to be a rule where you could sub on the corner," Ohio assistant coach Tamara Durante said. "People would be specialized on the corner, and it was just wasting too much time."