drop ball

American  

[drahp bawl] / ˈdrɑp ˌbɔl /

Or drop-ball

noun

• drop balls
  plural

1. Soccer. an act by the referee to restart play after it has been stopped under certain conditions, such as a serious injury or damage to the ball, where the referee drops the ball at the point where it was last touched while all players except the one to whom the restart is awarded must stand 4 meters away and refrain from touching the ball until it hits the ground.

2. Baseball. a pitch thrown in such a way that the ball falls sharply as it approaches the plate, tending to produce a ground ball if the batter hits it.

3. Sports. in volleyball, a setting technique affecting the ball's trajectory in such a way that it lands where the opposing team is not expecting it.

4. Rugby. an instance of being forced to give up possession of the ball as a result of being tackled.

5. Basketball. a technique to avoid holding the ball too long while stationary by dropping it so that it bounces once directly in front of one and then catching it again.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drop balls
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drop ball

Fisher boasts a high-velocity fastball and “wicked” drop ball — tools that position her for an immediate impact.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025

She said Williams fouled off three pitches during the exhibition and threw his bat down in frustration before striking out, misjudging her drop ball.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 28, 2022

A neighbor taught her to pitch and throw a drop ball.

From New York Times ● Sep. 22, 2016

Milner wins the drop ball against Ozil, for what that’s worth, blootering it upfield for Arsenal to gather.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 13, 2016

He had a wonderful drop ball, good command of the sphere and great speed.

From A Ball Player's Career Being the Personal Experiences and Reminiscensces of Adrian C. Anson by Adrian Constantine Anson