Rule 43. Penalty 5b - Centre
Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 43 · Penalties
In plain English
Penalty 5b: free hit from the centre of the field.
- A free hit from the centre of the field.
- It is the restart after a Penalty 1, and the punishment for time-wasting at a change of ends.
- The hitting side may stand where it likes; the defence must be behind a line parallel to the back line, 30 yards from the ball.
The clause that governs
A Penalty 5b shall be a free hit from the centre of the field of play.
Quoted extract · Blue Book 2026, Part 1, Rule 43
4 questions on this rule
In the context of a 'Fair Play Dropped Ball', where should the team members of the player taking the hit be positioned?
- They must be behind the ball
- They can choose any position on the field ✓
- They must be within 30 yards of the ball
- They must be at least 5 yards away from the ball
A Penalty 5b shall be a free hit from the centre of the field of play.
Penalty 5b: Where is the free hit taken from?
- From the centre of the field of play ✓
- From the spot where the foul occurred
- From the 60-yard line nearest the goal of the team that has fouled
- 40 yards from the goal line of the team that has fouled
A Penalty 5b shall be a free hit from the centre of the field of play.
Penalty 5b: How is the team taking the hit allowed to position themselves during play?
- They must position themselves 30 yards from the ball
- They must position themselves behind the back line
- They are free to position themselves where they choose ✓
- They must position themselves on the imaginary line parallel to the back line
A Penalty 5b shall be a free hit from the centre of the field of play.
Penalty 5b: Where should the team facing the hit stand?
- They must stand 30 yards from the ball behind an imaginary line parallel to the back line ✓
- They must stand on the imaginary line parallel to the back line
- They must stand 40 yards from the ball
- They are free to position themselves where they choose
A Penalty 5b shall be a free hit from the centre of the field of play.
Test yourself
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