Hung Net

[ranjo]

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?

[Bad Zebra]

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?

[Nevadaref]

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.

[Adam]

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

I don't stop the game.

[BillyMac]

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.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I think that they said to fix nets once, or twice, but after that, forget about the nets, and play ball.

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.

[refguy]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

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?

Yes.

[IREFU2]

Originally Posted by ranjo

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?

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.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by IREFU2

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.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

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.

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

[chartrusepengui]

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

[bbcof83]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

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

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.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

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.

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.