Rule 14 · HPA Blue Book 2026

Attacker hits behind (knock-in)

When the attacking team sends the ball over the back line, the defending team restarts with a hit-in from the back line.

14
ATTACKER HITS BEHIND (HIT OR KNOCK IN). When the ball is hit over and clear of the back line by the attacking team it shall be a hit-in by the defending team from the spot where it crossed the back line, but at least 4 yards from the goal posts and no further than 40 yards from the centre of the goal. The ball will be placed by a goal judge clear of the back line by up to one foot within the field of play.
The knock-in: White hits in from where the ball crossed the back line; Blue, the team facing the hit, keeps 30 yards away.
1. Ball placed where it crossed, up to 1 ft inside: at least 4 yd from the posts, at most 40 yd from the centre of the goal
2. The hitting team stands where it chooses
3. Team facing the hit: none within 30 yd
14a
None of the team facing the hit should be within 30 yards except if they are returning from an offside position and do not interfere with that phase of play. In the case of any infringement or delay by the team facing the hit, a Penalty 5b shall be awarded.
14b
The team taking the hit-in may place themselves where they choose. Once the goal judge has placed the ball, the umpire will call “Play” and the hitter must play the ball within 10 seconds. In case of delay the umpire shall blow the whistle and throw-in perpendicular to the back line from the spot where the hit-in should have been taken, with the team due to take the hit-in nearest to the goal.