Non vertical parts of a vertical backboard

[john5396]

I think the intention of the rule writers for vertical backboard is that the supports, cables, pipes, etc all go either up to the ceiling or back away from the court toward the back wall.

I'm not certain I understand from your description, but if the strap comes from the supports significantly toward the court so that it is over the playing court, then I agree with Bob and I would think it a part of the ceiling.

I think of it this way. The typical ball hitting a BB goal is heading away from the court because of a team passing error. The rule does not bail them out for making a bad pass, dead ball. Under the rare occasion where they have a play-replay. In any case, leaving the ball in play would give an advantage to the team that just shanked a pass.

For a ball hitting the ceiling, they typically failed to control the ball, but have kept the ball in play. The ceiling hurts their chances of playing the ball because it usually returns to the ground quickly. If the court was outdoors or at an Olympic venue, the ball would have continued up, then returned to the court for the next hit. So the team has not gained an advantage by playing the ball off the ceiling, rather they needed additional skill to keep the ball in play.

So if a ball can be played straight up from a back row position and hit this strap, then it needs to be called as part of the ceiling.