Non vertical parts of a vertical backboard

[dbwill]

I had a middle school match tonight with vertical backboards hanging from the ceiling behind both halves of the court. Simple enough that if the ball hits the backboard or rim or pole I blow it dead and decide whether it was playable or not and award side or replay.

The retraction system for these backboards was like the ones used to raise ceiling mounted volleyball nets - a long angled strap and cable that reached toward the center of the building from both ends. That means that part of the strap was fairly low near the backboard and then up high at about the attack line.

I looked through the rule and case books, and it seems to address volleyball net straps but not backboard straps. I told the coaches I'd consider them part of the backboard system and rule on them the same as the backboard. Is that right or should they have been considered part of the ceiling?