 Each half of the pitch is then divided again by a line , referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line , positioned 22 @.@ 90 m from each back line . Historically , this was first used to resume play after the ball passed over the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch . In 1949 , deliberate defensive offenses in this area resulted in a penalty corner . From 1961 , players on the defensive team who were not involved at the penalty corner stood behind this line ( this was then moved to the half @-@ way line two years later ) . The line was also used for the offside rule between 1987 until the rule was abolished in 1996 . Nowadays , there are detailed rules regarding fouls and free @-@ hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch . Since 2015 , the 23 metre line has also been used for the attacking team to resume play when it has gone over the back line ( this replaced long corners ) . 
