Be the Referee: Tennis Nets
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
September 24, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Tennis Nets - Listen
Let’s talk tennis… specifically, the rules around the net.
First – tennis nets are 42 inches high at the posts and 36 inches high in the center. And nets measure 42 feet wide.
Players and their equipment CANNOT touch the net during a point. However, a player’s follow-through can cross over the net if the ball was hit to the correct side of the court. But no part of the follow-through can touch the net.
Also, the ball must completely cross the net before it can be hit. If your opponent hits a high lob and you are standing at the net ready to smash a return – you must wait until the ball is completely over the net before hitting it.
Making contact with the net during play or hitting the ball before it’s over the net results in a loss of point.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
(Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)
Be the Referee: Libero
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
September 17, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Libero - Listen
In volleyball, a libero is a defensive player who plays in the back row. It’s a fairly new position, as it was introduced in 1998 – and the libero plays by some unique rules:
► The libero wears a different color jersey from the rest of the team – so they are easily identifiable. Only one libero can be designated for each set of a match.
► The libero can serve, but can't perform an overhead set in front of the attack line, or complete an attack if the ball is above the net.
► The libero is never allowed to rotate to the front line.
► The libero is the first line of defense, often passing to the setter and covering open spaces.
► The libero can be replaced without restriction – but in the event of an injury, can only be replaced by the player the libero originally replaced.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
PHOTO Livonia Franklin libero Mckenna Moore (1) defends during her team's match against Livonia Churchill this season. (Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)