ceiling suspended net system
 

One of my local colleges has one of these. The only one that I know of locally really. In its deployed position, there are vertical poles from the ceiling holding the net and the ref platform/cage and there are also diagonal support beams (on one side of the court only) going up to the ceiling as well.

The question is - how should this be played?

It is clear that if a ball contacts vertical part of the support at the net plane - the ball is out.

How about the diagonal beams? Some time back they were marked/taped at 15 feet, presumably to be considered and played as an overhead obstruction. (Instead, nowadays they are played as judgement replay regardless of the height).

However the NCAA rules specifically addresses net support like so:
The diagonal beams surely fit being “any supporting apparatus for the net or net post”. But it feels very wrong to play them unconditional “out”. Even more so regardless of the height.

NCAA: Out

NFHS: Judgement. If a player could have made a play, replay; otherwise out ( like a vertical backboard)

Always listen to Bob!
I worked a high school tourney on Saturday in a big sports center that had that set up. It was played as dead ball judgment, and it never came into play once all day long.

Here's a picture from the internet...
https://i.postimg.cc/GhD2zmSJ/ceiling-net-1-x800.jpg

The NFHS rule for playing the diagonal supports is far more appropriate than NCAA for two reasons:

1. Calling an unconditional "out" when the ball is high and away from the net and over playable area just does not make sense.
2. It is unreasonably unfair to the team that will have more sets played on that side (you guessed it - the visitors).

IMO NCAA should either adopt the HS rule or play the diagonal supports as overhead obstructions.

Coincidentally, just got today the "Women's volleyball Call for Proposals" email. Time to fill up that form...

NCAA teams will only have more sets played on the "bad" side if the match goes 3-0. All other scenarios, teams will play on both sides for approximately half the match.

True. Then again - 3:0 is a very common score. Perhaps the most common. A look at that team's (the one with the ceiling net system) 2024 season shows:

• 16 matches ended in 3 sets - 67%
• 6 matches ended in 4 sets - 25%
• 2 matches ended in 5 sets - 8%

And according to Google...
In any case - what's your opinion on the current NCAA rule?

And if it's 3-0, did the net system really affect the result?

There's a tournament in this area played on the opening weekend. A couple dozen courts, all day Friday and Saturday and a slightly reduced schedule on Sunday. Over the weekend, I'd estimate fewer than 10 balls that hit the diagonal and where a team would have had a play.

I'd probably support a change, but it's not a big deal.

No idea. This is beside the point that statistically one of the teams does have more sets played on the "bad" side.

And I am sure it affected the results way more than the uniform and undergarments colors, sleeve lengths, number sizes, jewelry and whatever other "important" stuff we get to chew on year after year did.

The first time I was at that location years ago, I asked how do we play this. The answer came with the added remark "...don't worry, it won't happen". Happened twice :D.

at least with that system you dont have to worry about gashing your forehead. local school has one of these that the pole comes down and elbows 45* to your face as r1. It blocks the view of the official and also the aforementioned forehead gashing if your taller than 5'6. whoever designed that system hates r1's.

Platform is seperate so i back it up to get away from the stupid thing.