Rule 15. Defender Hits Behind (corner 60)
Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 15 · Interruptions and Restarts After Break in Play
In plain English
Defender puts it over their own back line: Corner 60 to the attack.
- A defender who puts the ball over their own back line concedes a Penalty 6, the Corner 60.
- It still counts as the defender's if, after they hit it, the ball deflects off their own pony, another defender's stick, a goal post or the boards.
- Deflect off anybody else - an attacker, an attacker's pony, an umpire or the umpire's pony - and it is only a hit-in under rule 14.
The clause that governs
If the ball deflects off any other player or pony or the umpire before going behind it shall be a hit-in (Rule 14).
Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 15
2 questions on this rule
If the ball is hit over the back line by a defender directly or after deflecting off his own pony or another defender’s stick, goal post, or boards, what is awarded?
- A Penalty 5
- Penalty 6 (Corner 60) ✓
- A free hit
- A throw-in
If the ball deflects off any other player or pony or the umpire before going behind it shall be a hit-in (Rule 14).
The ball deflects off the umpire’s pony before crossing the back line. What is the call?
- A Penalty 6, the Corner 60
- A hit-in ✓
- A throw-in
- A Penalty 5a
If the ball deflects off any other player or pony or the umpire before going behind it shall be a hit-in (Rule 14).
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