This suggested change could be problematic for a referee. It’s not clear if this change is suggested for the beginning of a rally or is it anytime during a rally. As well, non verbal signals can easily be missed by a referee in a fast paced game depending on where they are focusing at the time the non-verbal signal is initiated. In Pickleball the order of events is crucial to determining a referee’s decisions and actions.

It should be noted that a non-verbal indicator only demonstrates a player's INITIATION of a stoppage. In the mind of the one stopping play the ball was already dead, either by 8.B. "A fault called by a referee or player, or a fault committed by a player, will result in a dead ball."; or by another valid reason such as a service or score error. Other actions also initiate stoppage — catching the dead ball, letting it land unreturned, hitting it onto the court or into the net, etc. "Any action that stops play will result in a dead ball." (8.A.). It's then up to the player to make a case for why the ball was already dead or why play should stop. The initial non-verbal indicators would show the stoppage was intentional.