72 - REFEREE'S BALL

72.1. A referee’s ball will be declared when two or more players of opposing teams have one or more hands firmly on the ball, so that the players share possession of the ball for five (5) seconds.
If initial contact is made directly with the ball illegal holding will only apply if either player uses the opposition for support.

72.2. If the referee needs to stop the game, not during a break in play and where neither team is at fault (e.g. referee error, faulty goals, injury) and the referee cannot determine who had possession at the time of the whistle, the referee will restart the game with a
referee’ s ball.

72.3. A referees ball will be taken at the nearest point on the sideline to the incident. Where a referee’s ball is awarded for an incident that occurs between the six (6) metre line and the goal line, the referee’s ball will be held at the nearest six (6) metre line. Signal 8 and Time-out applies. Time-out applies Referees Ball & Time-Out.

L&T=> The Trailing Referee will directly administer the Referee’s Ball whenever this is near a 6m area.

72.4. Two opposing players will line up at right angles to the sideline, on the side nearest their own goal line, near to the sideline where the situation occurred, one metre apart facing the referee. They will place their paddles on the water, but not between their kayaks and their hands on the deck of the kayak or on their paddle.

72.5. All other players must be at least three (3) meters away from the point between the two players participating in the referees ball.

Other players who tackle opponents into the three (3) metre area can be penalised with an illegal Kayak Tackle, or any player freely paddling into the 3m area can be penalised with an illegal Start Infringement and thus avoid the need to continue with the Referee’s Ball.

72.6. The referee will throw the ball on the water between the players and blow the whistle to restart play. Both players must make an attempt for the ball with their hands as soon as it touches the water. The players must not play the ball before it hits the water. Infringement incurs a sanction. Signals 11 and 15 apply. Illegal Possession & Free Shot.

Open play resumes on the whistle which is blown at the time of throwing the ball in, so a direct shot at goal is permitted.