Dropping from knee height when you have a disability

Yes, you can drop without worrying about perfect knee height. Rule 25.6b says the Committee must accept your reasonable judgment and best effort when physical limitations make it hard to drop from exactly knee height.

What the rule actually says

Rule 14.3b normally requires you to drop from knee height. But Rule 25.6b carves out an exception for players with disabilities. If your physical limitations make it difficult or impossible to know whether you've dropped from knee height, the Committee should accept your reasonable judgment that you did. They should also accept all reasonable efforts to drop from knee height, taking your limitations into account. This isn't a free pass to drop from shoulder height — it's about honest effort given what your body can do.

How it works in practice

You don't need to ask permission before every drop. Just do your best to get the ball to knee height — or as close as your body allows — and play on. If someone questions it later, the Committee looks at whether your effort was reasonable given your disability. They're told to use a relaxed standard. The rule explicitly references Committee Procedures Section 5D for extra guidance, so tournament organizers should already know this exists.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You deliberately drop from well above knee height when you could have gotten closer → That's not a reasonable effort — you'd need to re-drop correctly under Rule 14.3b

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a medical certificate to use this rule?

No. The rule doesn't require documentation. The Committee evaluates your reasonable effort based on what they see. If your disability is visible or known, they apply the relaxed standard.

What if I drop from waist height because I can't bend my knees?

That's exactly what this rule covers. If waist height is your reasonable best effort due to physical limitations, the Committee accepts it. No penalty, no re-drop.

Can my playing partner challenge my drop height?

They can raise it, but the Committee decides — not your partner. The Committee applies the 'reasonable effort' standard from Rule 25.6b, not the strict knee-height rule.

Does this apply in casual rounds with friends?

The rule is written for Committee-run competitions. In a friendly match, just agree among yourselves — but the same spirit applies: accept each other's best effort.

What if I'm not sure my drop was from knee height?

That's the point of 'reasonable judgment.' If you genuinely tried and believe you were at knee height (or as close as possible), the Committee accepts that judgment. You don't need to measure.