IHSA working toward implementing shot clock in 2026-27

[Da Coach]

The IHSA is working toward implementing a 35-second shot clock in Illinois high school basketball in 2026-27 - https://wrmj.com/ihsa-targeting-2026...mplementation/

Why will it take almost 3 more years to implement this? Other states (there are 14 states that use a shot clock) that have a shot clock implemented it without a delay.

Illinois has actually had a shot clock the last 2 seasons for special use in regular season shootouts and tournaments that choose to use it. The reactions have been nearly 100% positive.- https://www.ihsa.org/multimedia/arti...le_2022-23.pdf

[tomahawk chop]

The IHSA is working toward implementing a 35-second shot clock in Illinois high school basketball in 2026-27 - https://wrmj.com/ihsa-targeting-2026...mplementation/

Why will it take almost 3 more years to implement this? Other states (there are 14 states that use a shot clock) that have a shot clock implemented it without a delay.

Illinois has actually had a shot clock the last 2 seasons for special use in regular season shootouts and tournaments that choose to use it. The reactions have been nearly 100% positive.- https://www.ihsa.org/multimedia/arti...le_2022-23.pdf

I heard a lot of the smaller schools complained they could not afford the cost to buy and install them.

[Da Coach]

I heard a lot of the smaller schools complained they could not afford the cost to buy and install them.

Yes, I have read this, too. But digital wifi shot clocks are a lot less expensive and easy to install than the old hardwired lightbulb shot clocks of the past.
They are available for as little as a few hundred dollars.
And how did the other states that implemented the shot clock do it? They have small schools, too, and it didn't take them years to start using them.

[Da Coach]

Video of a high school team that held the ball for an entire quarter - https://twitter.com/TheHoopHerald/st...47212870570346

Looks like an exciting game. One rule change would eliminate this silliness, a shot clock.

[Stryker]

Its been in college basketball for almost 40 years, no real reason not to have it in highschool imo.

[Da Coach]

Yes, and there is nobody who thinks it was a mistake or who wants to go back. It is now used in all high school games in 14 states, and a total of 27 states use it in some form. Illinois allows the shot clock to be used in shootouts and in-season tournaments. Coaches and players like it almost unanimously, so there is no reason not to adopt it universally, except for the cost issue.

[yoda]

I know it's inevitable, but I am not convinced it's needed. HS ball doesn't need to copy college or NBA- and if it does, then how about Jr HS or 5th grade ball? Obviously, you have to draw the line somewhere.
If you've watched high school ball for a while, you know there's only a TINY percentage of the stalling and slow-down offense nowadays than there's been in the past - especially back in the 50's, 60's, 70's...
Coach Buescher used the tactic a few, select times to win State Championships and his strategy was widely applauded.

What pct of HS games are dominated by stalling?
The answer may surprise some - but it's somewhere around 3-5% maybe a lot less depending on whether a 40 or 50 second possession is called stalling-
(see link below), and so there are few games that a shot clock would affect- (and don't accept a Twitter poll, it isn't very scientific)

Of 600 high schools surveyed by IHSA, only 19% favored using a shot clock for all games.
So 81% don't really want it in every game. -LINK

btw- other sports (wrestling, baseball, tennis...) have easily solved their stalling issues by implementing
a simple rule that they have to play or proceed if the ref tells them to (at his judgement & discretion) or they get a penalty.

[egib52]

I know it's inevitable, but I am not convinced it's needed. HS ball doesn't need to copy college or NBA- and if it does, then how about Jr HS or 5th grade ball? Obviously, you have to draw the line somewhere.
If you've watched high school ball for a while, you know there's only a TINY percentage of the stalling and slow-down offense nowadays than there's been in the past - especially back in the 50's, 60's, 70's...
Coach Buescher used the tactic a few, select times to win State Championships and his strategy was widely applauded.

What pct of HS games are dominated by stalling?
The answer may surprise some - but it's somewhere around 3-5% maybe a lot less depending on whether a 40 or 50 second possession is called stalling-
(see link below), and so there are few games that a shot clock would affect- (and don't accept a Twitter poll, it isn't very scientific)

Of 600 high schools surveyed by IHSA, only 19% favored using a shot clock for all games.
So 81% don't really want it in every game. -LINK

btw- other sports (wrestling, baseball, tennis...) have easily solved their stalling issues by implementing
a simple rule that they have to play or proceed if the ref tells them to (at his judgement & discretion) or they get a penalty.

I watch a bunch of high school basketball. The issue isn't the amount of games, it is the importance of games. I would say that in bigger games where top teams are playing each other, or in State tournament games that are under a 10 point spread, it is a lot more common.

[Da Coach]

...
Of 600 high schools surveyed by IHSA, only 19% favored using a shot clock for all games.
So 81% don't really want it in every game. -LINK

That survey was of administrators of 600 schools in the IHSA. Administrators do not represent the people who coach and play the games, nor the spectators and families who pay to watch. Probably many never watch a basketball game. You own link (earlier in the article) says that 75% of 742 people surveyed wanted a shot clock, so the administrators don't represent everyone's opinions.
Searching the internet, it appears the majority of surveys favor a shot clock.
This survey of coaches found 73% of boys coaches were in favor, and 64% of girls coaches- https://www.al.com/sports/2020/07/al...hot-clock.html
In this survey in Iowa, 70% favored a shot cock- https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/s...-a-shot-clock/
And there are many more. But as you say, it is going to happen eventually, so why wait. The only objection is cost, and now with far less expensive digital LED wireless and wi-fi shot clocks available, the cost of installing and running them is not nearly as prohibitive as it once was. Every level of basketball above high school uses a shot clock.
And I the statement that "there's only a TINY percentage of the stalling and slow-down offense nowadays", is not really true. Sure, teams don't often stall out entire quarters, but I've seen lots of teams go into a stall in the final minutes of quarters and especially the end of the games to preserve a lead or get the final shot.

What if football teams could stall and take several minutes to run each play, just so the other team couldn't get the ball back? Would anyone like that?

[yoda]

You own link (earlier in the article) says that 75% of 742 people

That was the internet survey, 800 people on Twitter
and if IHSA is surveying school administration then pretty sure the voices include the opinions of coaches & ADs.

[bradleyfan124]

That was the internet survey, 800 people on Twitter
and if IHSA is surveying school administration then pretty sure the voices include the opinions of coaches & ADs.

I think this makes a good point about surveys. All these surveys that come out about this and that people need to look at how they are taken

[Tommy]

Survey, studies, and statistics have a funny way of substantiating the beliefs and desires of the people financing the study.

[Fetz86]

Survey, studies, and statistics have a funny way of substantiating the beliefs and desires of the people financing the study.

Absolutely, and if the results don’t match their predetermined outcome they usually throw it out.