Hung Net
 

This question was brought up by one of my boards senior members in response to a question from a new official and I thought the forum would be the place to put it for your opinions as I didn't recall anything in the rule or case book that applied.

"Why do we stop the game every time the net gets hung up after a shot goes through? My response was, to keep it from preventing the next shot from not going through. Realistically I know that's the reason but how often does that happen? Should we stop the game each and every time the net gets hung? We now create a dead ball situation and should allow subs in, not to mention we slow down a possible fast break or allow a team to set up a press."

What are your thoughts on it? :confused:

Things that make ya go Hmmmm.....
 

This brings up another point...has anyone ever actually seen a hung net prevent a ball from passing through?

I haven't in my ten years of experience...what about some of you guys that started out officiating for Dr. Naismith?

I'll allow MTD Sr. to come along and answer your question.

Or you could do a search for his answer to previous threads containing this question.

Yes.

I'll give you a preview:
"Let them play on."

I don't stop the game.

NFHS Interpretation ???
 

Didn't the NFHS come out with an interpretation regarding this about 10-15 years ago? I think that they said to fix nets once, or twice, but after that, forget about the nets, and play ball.

I'm sure that Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. can find the answer up in his attic "library". He can't complain that it's too cold this time of the year.

It's even been suggested here that if it happens more than twice to have a member of the home team's school stay under the basket to "free it up" as the ball goes the other way.

We have some Rec Refs who blow it dead and stop the clock every time. I never do. I personally have never seen it prevent a basket.

If it's a rec league game with a running clock, then whistle it dead every time! :D

Sort of. I seem to recall them saying something to the effect of "if it is discovered in pre-game, have the nets changed," but I don't recall them saying anything about what to do once the game started. Like many other responses from them, that was very frustrating.

Play on. If they are a problem, have the home management change them at halftime, if possible.

Nets? What are nets? We don't have those on the peach baskets. :confused:

Uh, aren't you famous for WEARING them?

Wearing peach baskets? :confused:

Good point Nevada! However, this league doesn't have a running clock and these Refs blow thier whistle to stop the clock every time......and that's just WRONG! ;)

Doesnt the rule state that the ball has to "check" through the nets or something like that ? If they are hung, it cant to do that...just my 2 cents.

WTH does that mean?

I had this situation just before the '09 season tipped off. I got mixed responses about how to handle this situation properly. So I contacted our local rules guru for clarification:

If the net flips up we are obligated to make sure it is in its normal position because by definition a goal cannot be scored unless the ball passes through or remains in the basket. If we need to stop play, we stop play to fix it.

When it appears to be an ongoing problem, having someone free the net in transition was an acceptable solution as well.

So, when the net flips up and prevents the ball from going all the way through, what problem is there again?...

We've been instructed to fix the net at next dead ball.

Maybe there is no problem specifically stated in the rules with the ball staying in the basket (no doubt something left over from the olden days) but this does create an advantage/disadvantage situation.

Just like the delay of game rule that states a player from team A cannot bat the ball after it goes through the hoop. If the ball is staying in the basket or slow to get through, team B is prevented from quickly bringing the ball back in play, allowing team B to setup a press or get back in transition.

Some argue that shooting at a net that is hung up is harder to do (can't see it normally and lose perspective on it) than shooting at a basket hanging normally....may have some truth to that.

Fix it at a dead ball if it's not fixed yet. If it's a continuing problem, have game admin replace the nets.

Only old nets have this problem. I guess if I ref in Denver, I'll have to stop the game. But until I'm told to, I'm not going to. And, I'm not likely to ask. :)

Let me just ask this one question; have you ever seen a shot not go in because the net was hung up? I haven't, even on a playground. Ever. In fact, the next basket that goes through almost always (99.59870870u34% of the time) fixes the problem.

:D I'm sure you could get away with "ohhh I didn't know that." :D

You doing any of those MAYB tourneys down there? The guy assigning it is out here, perhaps I could get us scheduled together.

To answer your question, growing up in the City of CHI I'd have to say yes. Once those pesky but great sounding chain nets flip up, the next attempt had the net completely locked up for a few minutes :)

I just got tired of the multiple answers & decided to go to the source. I am on a mission & don't want any major dings for a minor misunderstanding.

Down by me, or by you? Seems odd that a guy from your area is assigning games in mine.

That said, when are they? I'd be interested.

All valid points, except for one thing - the team that <B>may</B> be disadvantaged is the team that just scored. So there is another possession to finish before that basket will come back into play. Someone else (ball boy, parent, game management, etc.) will have time to fix it while play is on the other end of the court. However, if you blow the whistle to stop the game, you are doing exactly what you want to prevent by stopping play to fix it. You have now definitely prevented the other team from quickly bringing the ball in play, where it is only a posssibility if the net is left alone, and not an issue at all if someone else fixes it.

What rule or mechanic can you quote that allows a stoppage of play in this case?

Also, 1-10-3, as mentioned before, says the net "...shall be constructed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through." Iow, the rules require the ball to be slowed up as it passes through the basket. Since there is no definite number associated with "momentarily", a hung-up net that may add a few tenths of a second is immaterial IMO.

You're in the Springs right? I think they bid on the MAYB tourneys & you get what you get, no matter where it's located. Like this weekends MAYB tourney is way up North assigned by a Western female. But hey as long as it's cash on the spot...

6/19 - 21
7/10 - 12

Let me know & I'll make it happen.

Touché

Can't Somebody Find The Actual Citation ???
 

http://forum.officiating.com/484814-post18.html

I'm positive that the NFHS has already ruled on this.