How long for a held ball?

[Smitty]

I will tend to wait a little longer with girls. More often than not, if I quick whistle it, someone has already yanked the ball free at the moment I hit the whistle. It also helps avoid so many whistles in a girls game. I also try and get close to the scrums and make sure I see a held ball before any whistle because sometimes we whistle for a held ball when no one has control of the ball yet just to avoid what we think will be something bad happening. I won't blow the whistle unless I see 2 players' hands on the ball.