FIVB rule on Net Violation

Every thing evolves over time and so does the sport of volleyball. The rules of the game changes from time to time. And I guess these changes happen to make things even more exciting. Even the face of volleyball (the ball) itself has changed over the years. Does any body still use those prehistoric white Mikasa volleyballs? (I kinda miss ‘em.) Other than introducing a completely new volleyball design, there were a handful of other changes to the official volleyball rules as mandated by the 31st FIVB World Congress in 2008. And this includes some changes with regards to contacting the net.
These new rules supposedly should have been already being implemented since the start of 2009. In the local scene, I would assume that mainstream tournaments such as the UAAP, NCAA, V-League, etc. are always up-to-date when it comes to these official FIVB rules. In fact, it is through watching these leagues that we, the general public should be able to get to know any changes that happen to the sport of volleyball.
If you’re a hardcore volleyball enthusiast, then obviously you should know any new rules by now. But for most people like me, we probably would still be playing volleyball in the streets or abandoned basketball courts with our friends (and sometimes yayas) adhering to the outdated rules. And I noticed this was usually the case whenever I play with different groups who play volleyball for fun.
Contrary to the old net rule we are used to wherein touching the net with any part of the body while the ball is in play constitutes a net fault, the new FIVB net rule states…
Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it interferes with the play. Only hitting the top band of the net or taking support from the net classed as interfering with play is considered a net violation.
So the next time you happen to play volleyball against Rachel Anne Daquis and her silky long black hair touches the side of the net by accident while the ball is in play, don’t spoil the game by stopping the rally and then call a net violation. ‘Coz it’s not a net violation anymore. And also because it’s annoying when you shout net! net! net! over and over.
Here’s what the latest FIVB Official Volleyball Rules say:

CONTACT WITH THE NET
11.3.1 Contact with the net by a player is not a fault, unless it interferes with the play.
11.3.2 Players may touch the post, ropes, or any other object outside the antennae, including the net itself, provided that it does not interfere with play.
11.3.3 When the ball is driven into the net, causing it to touch an opponent, no fault is committed.
PLAYER’S FAULTS AT THE NET
11.4.1 A player touches the ball or an opponent in the opponent’s space before or during the opponent’s attack hit.
11.4.2 A player interferes with the opponent’s play while penetrating into the opponent’s space under the net.
11.4.3 A player’s foot (feet) penetrates completely into the opponent’s court.
11.4.4 A player interferes with the opponent’s play by (amongst others):
- touching the top band of the net or the top 80 cm of the antenna during his/her action of playing the ball, or
- taking support from the net simultaneously with playing the ball, or
- creating an advantage over the opponent, or
- making actions which hinder an opponent’s legitimate attempt to play the ball

In conjunction with the new net rule, contact with the opponent’s court with any part of the body above the feet is also permitted. But if the contact interferes with an opponent physically, or with the opponent’s ability to play the ball, then it would be considered a fault. Here’s the rest of the specific rules that involves the net: