When is the ball considered to be in play during a dropped ball?

The ball is considered to be in play during a dropped ball as soon as it is played by one of the participating players. This means that the game resumes and players can touch or control the ball only after it has been touched by someone.

In the context of a dropped ball, it is specifically designed to restart the game fairly after play has been stopped for an interruption, and the action begins when one of the players involved in the dropped ball makes contact with it. This ensures that the game resumes with active participation from the players.

The other choices present scenarios that do not accurately represent the rules of a dropped ball. Whistling by the referee indicates the restart but does not alone put the ball in play. Similarly, a complete stop or the ball leaving a designated area doesn't signify that play has resumed until one of the participating players actively plays the ball.