Question Number: 27844

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 10/2/2013

Steve of Stockton, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27759

For drop ball restarts with young and excitable players - who often think of the occasion as a face-off with a very large, round puck - try a two-handed method. Hold the ball in the palm of one hand, then just before you drop the ball, place your other hand ON TOP of the ball. You don't need to push the ball down, but you will draw their attention to the top hand while you're pulling your bottom hand out, and that is usually just enough of a momentary distraction so the ball will hit the ground.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Thank you for your point. It is well made and one that referees can use. Contested dropped balls though are becoming rare. I can't recall the last one I had in a game. Pity though as the Fair Play part IMO has now gone too far causing problems for games. The DB rarely if ever did so.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Nice advice Steve. There are a few different ways drop balls in these games can be managed - and the fact that the law doesn't really give very specific instructions allows us quite a bit of leeway as well.

I haven't come across your particular method before, so thanks for sending that in!