I agree with Camron (another shot at your credibility,
) that the net's proper position is not hanging up on the rim and therefore can not do the job for which it is designed to do, and that is to check the ball. I think that Camron and I have a difference of opinion as to when is the correct time to stop the game to correct the equipment malfunction.
Rut is correct that Mary Struckhoff of the NFHS issued a ruling a few years ago with regard to a net hung up on a net. Without climbing up into the attic (Nevada, I am sure you can find and post her ruling for us) I believe that her ruling said, and I am paraphrasing here: If A1's successful FGA causes the net to hangup on the basket ring, the game officials should wait until Team A is again in possession of the ball before stopping the game to fix the net. The reasoning is that to stop the game immediately could stop a fast-break attempt by Team B. If my memory serves me correctly, the NCAA came out with a ruling at about the same time requiring schools to have someone at each basket that could fix the net while the ball was still in play at the other end of the court.
From a historical standpoint, over the years I have had a number of interpreters and officials, who were all considerably older than me, tell me that the NFHS and NCAA interpretation going back to the NBCUSC rules was the same ruling that Mary Struckhoof gave a few years back. I have never been able to find any written corroboration of their statements, but I have no reason to doubt them.
It is my humble opinion that this will be a problem that will always good judgement by the game officials as to when to stop the game to fix the problem so as to not deny a team a goal scoring opportunity (yikes, a soccer phrase,
).
MTD, Sr.