Faceoff Ruling

[Casa42]

For all you refs out there, I am confused about the rules regarding faceoffs when one of the players comes out of the faceoff w/ the ball in the back of his stick. I don't understand why if the ball comes out perfectly clean the first time you toss it up, it is still a penalty. Some claim that it is illegally withholding the ball, but what about if you accidentally caught a pass w/ the back of your stick? Is that illegally withholding? Some claim that there is a time limit to how long you can hold it in there, but I don't think that's right. I have heard several different rulings, so what is the right one?

[murderlax]

wrong thread. this should go in the rule/officiating forum.

[LeanderLax]

Alot of it just depends on the refs and what they consider witholding.

[Laxmann019]

Yeah it depends on the refs most of the time. I'm not sure about the official rule though