How strict on touching the net?

[Scrapper1]

Here's another judgment question. Player jumps at the net to attempt a block. Misses the ball by a mile. But she brushes the top of the net. It has no affect on the play at all.

Is this a judgment call? Or is it a fault regardless of how it affects the play?

[Andy]

Under NFHS rules - that's a net fault and needs to be called.

If I remember correctly, you call under NCAA rules - I believe that ruleset is a bit different, someone should be along to give you a definitive answer.

[OmniSpiker]

I've witnessed NCAA...Middle blocker reaches and nets, set is going to outside, ball was no anywhere close to playing area of middle blocker, net moves only slightly - not enough to interfere with play on outside. Play continues - no net fault.

Diffucult for me to get acustomed to that.

[chartrusepengui]

NCAA - If player is attempting to make a play on the ball - and makes any contact with the net - it is called. However - if they inadvertantly touch the net while not attempting to make a play on the ball, and there is no interference with opponent - the contact with the net is ignored and play continues. A "fake" is an attempt to make a play on the ball.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by chartrusepengui

NCAA - If player is attempting to make a play on the ball - and makes any contact with the net - it is called.

Right, and let's say that she is trying to make a play on the ball -- but she doesn't get near the ball. Call it or no?

[chartrusepengui]

NCAA POE

9. Net Faults: The net fault rule has been modified in recent years to provide some leniency regarding net contact. Contacting the net while
playing the ball is still a fault. Attackers or blockers are considered to
be playing the ball from the time they initiate their jumping action until
they return to the floor. Moving sideways into position to block or
turning away after completing the blocking or attacking motion is not
considered playing the ball.
If a player who is not playing the ball contacts the net, referees must
judge whether or not the contact interfered with play. If no interference
occurred, the contact is not a fault. To determine interference, referees
use criteria such as whether the contact was distracting to the next
player(s) involved in the play or whether the contact affected the integrity
of the net so significantly that it impacted the result of the play.

It would depend on the actual action - judgement call.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

They made a big point at our rules interp this year(we use NCAA here in NY) of emphasizing the 'let them play on if it is incidental/is away from the play' thing....especially since there were basically zero rule changes this year.

We were making a lot of jokes/comments this year about how the NCAA could literally have phoned their rules committee meeting in - just to make the 'call it a set instead of a game' change!

Both in this game and softball we all wonder sometimes if NCAA/ASA softball/ and a hundred other governing bodies make some of these rule changes simply because they need to do SOMEthing at these committee meetings!