Five second count

[Rita C]

My partner tonight was on me for not making a visible count while a player was holding the ball. I finally found out by watching him that he was counting five seconds anytime the player was holding the ball, whether or not he was closely guarded. I asked him about that and he said that a player was not allowed to just hold the ball whether or not he is closedly guarded.

I can't find anything like that in the rulebook. I can only find rulings on closely guarded situations. Am I missing something?

Rita