3.A24. Permanent object— Any object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play.   Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts (not including attached support structures, wheels, or removable handles), the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.

1. 3.A.24. Permanent Object – Any object on or near the court,
   including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play. Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts, net post legs, the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.

Proposed rule change regarding net post support structures and attachments.

Purpose.  

As written, the rules specify net posts, net post legs and any support construction including connected arms or wheels as permanent objects, and as such are positioned out of bounds.  It is a fault if a player or ball contacts any of these structures while the ball is in play.

The standard reference net post is a vertical post no more than 3 inches in diameter with the inside of the post positioned 1 foot from the sideline.  No attachments other than the net assembly are addressed in the net post description.

A player has the right to play on a court based on the standard reference net post.   Any other attached structures that can potentially interfere with the player or ball movement should be considered a hinder.  

Therefore we propose the following rule changes.

Definitions

Rule 3. A. 24 Remove “net post legs” from the definition and add “(not including attached support structures, wheels, or removable handles)”.  

New Definition.  Permanent object— Any object on or near the court, including hanging over the court, that can interfere with play.   Permanent objects include the ceiling, walls, fencing, lighting fixtures, net posts (not including attached support structures, wheels, or removable handles), the stands and seats for spectators, the referee, line judges, spectators when in their recognized positions, and all other objects around and above the court.

Rule 11.K  

Remove   “(including connected wheels, arms or other support construction)”.  

Add  ‘(including permanently attached net adjustment handles)”.  

Add “Net post legs, wheels, removable adjustment handles and other supporting structures are not considered permanent objects .  If after crossing the net a ball in play contacts one of these structures a hinder shall be called and a replay granted.  If a player, a player’s apparel, or a player’s paddle inadvertently touches one of these structures while the ball is in play a hinder may be called and a replay granted. “

Add  “It is a fault if a player or ball contacts the net post while the ball is in play”

New Rule 11.K    The net posts (including permanently attached net adjustment handles) are positioned out of bounds.  It is a fault if the player or ball contacts the net post while the ball is in play.   Net post legs, wheels, removable adjustment handles and other supporting structures are not considered permanent objects.  If after crossing the net a ball in play contacts one of these structures a hinder shall be called and a replay granted.  If a player, a player’s apparel, or a player’s paddle inadvertently touches one of these supporting structures while the ball is in play a hinder may be called and a replay granted.

See 11K proposed changes.