Net Play

[PaREF]

I don't have my NFHS rulebook in front of me, but here goes. First, the play is dead the instant the ball touches the antenna. Any action after that is irrelevant. I would then award the ball and a point/side out to the team opposite the side where the ball fell. Why?

For one thing, I have to rule in favor of one team or the other. The penalized team will beg for a replay, but I would only grant a replay in that situation if I or my partner didn't see the play clearly.

My reasoning is that I am rewarding the more aggressive player. With the players being so close to the antenna, my feeling is the stronger player forced the ball on to the weaker player's side of the net and antenna, causing the ball to fall on the weaker player's side. It would be consistant with a player "wiping" a ball off an opponent's hands when the set is tight to the net.

I'll check my rulebook later to see if I can find anything to back me up.