Net confusion

Hey Partner,

First, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

We’ve got a controversy today.

An official recently asked, “So the ball goes through the net and makes the net go up around the rim. My partner was on the baseline and the other team inbounds the ball and goes down court. We come back down court and the net is still stuck. Do we blow the whistle and fix it or play on?”

Another official raised a similar question: “On a three point shot the ball makes the net swing up around the rim, what should we do? In training they told me not to stop play because someone's shoe gets untied, so is it the same?"

Many of us were “trained” by excellent officials—people we respect—who taught us not to stop play, arguing that it gives the defense an unfair chance to set up a press. But the Rules Gazette isn’t here to repeat training mantras. Let’s go to the NFHS 2025–2026 Basketball Rules Book.

And here’s the surprise: there is nothing in the rule book that directly addresses a net getting stuck on the rim.

There are specifications about nets. Rule 1-10-1 states, “Art 1...and a white-cord 12-mesh net, 15-18 inches in length, suspended from beneath the ring.” Rule 1-10-3 adds, “Art. 3...The cord of the net shall be not less than 120-thread nor more than 144-thread twine, or plastic material of comparable dimensions with no additional extensions. It shall be constructed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through.”

Helpful? Not really. And no official we know is counting net threads during pregame—if you are, you’re probably missing something else more important.

Appendix A, Duties of Game Management (1-C), mentions “basket nets that are either ragged or tight so as to cause delays.” This section places responsibility on game management, not officials, to maintain proper playing conditions.

Still, regardless of how you handle it during the game, this should be noted in the game report so school officials understand that it causes delays and needs correction.

Since there is no rule—or even a case play—covering a net stuck on the rim, Rule 2-3 (Referee’s Authority) applies: “The referee shall make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.”

During tournament season, we surveyed officials across Sacramento and found no consensus. Some argued play should be stopped because the stuck net can affect shots. Others were just as firm that there is no safety concern and stopping play unfairly benefits the defense. One suggestion (namely mine)—to fix it while running up court by just jumping up and grabing it—was universally rejected.

If you’re looking for a definitive answer, we don’t have one—and that’s part of the beauty of officiating this game. Judgment matters.

Our recommendation: discuss this situation in pregame and agree on a crew-wide approach so everyone is on the same page.

Good luck out there, and see you next year.

The Rules Gazette Staff Writer,
James Frazee, Ph.D.

and

Special Rules Consultant
Dylan Koury

P.S. Thanks to the many members of our association—and at least one from another—who contributed to these discussions. Your passion is evident, and your work is what makes Sacramento the best place to referee basketball.