Final answer:
When a referee finds a stick to be illegal, it is confiscated, and the player may face a penalty. The stick is either disposed of or modified to meet regulations before future use.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a referee finds that a player's stick is illegal during a sports game, the stick is typically confiscated and removed from play. The player may receive a penalty depending on the rules of the specific sport, such as hockey or lacrosse. For example, in ice hockey, according to the National Hockey League (NHL) rules, if a stick is found to be illegal, the player is given a minor penalty, and the stick is not allowed to be used in the game anymore. The team's equipment manager usually takes the stick and either disposes of it or modifies it to comply with the regulations before it can be used again.