Question

An attacker’s shot hits a defender’s foot inside the shooting circle. What decision will the umpire take?

Answer 1

If an attacker’s shot strikes a defender’s foot inside the shooting circle, the umpire must judge whether the contact was deliberate and whether it prevented a probable goal; that assessment determines the restart. If the defender intentionally played the ball with their foot or a foul in the circle is judged to have prevented a probable goal, a penalty stroke may be awarded. If the contact was accidental (an unintentional foot foul) the normal sanction is a penalty corner to the attacking team. In situations where the attacker clearly gains advantage from the contact, the umpire may allow play to continue or award the appropriate free hit/restart instead.