Shot Clock- Yes or No

The NBA, FIBA, and NCAA all use a shot clock. Now the Wisconsin HS Association is adding a shot clock. It certainly seems to be a trend.

Some feel it is only a matter of time before Illinois will add it. People in favor believe it will speed the game up and prevent end of the game stalling. Those opposed are concerned about the cost and the need for trained operators.

What are your thoughts? Fill out the survey on this page.

I asked some high school coaches there thoughts....

Jay Hatch, Hall of Fame Coach

I believe that a shot clock would be a bad idea for high school. I don't think there is a big issue with teams holding the ball, so I don't see the need. Here are the negatives, I believe:

1. Having played with a shot clock in college, what happens is the last 10 seconds of the clock are a time pressure, so it is an excuse for a player to take a bad shot.

2. Shot clock tends to make it so the more athletic team will win the game.  Basketball is not supposed to be the decathlon.

3. I think scoring will go down.  Taking rushed shots does not lead to more makes.

The far larger issue in my mind is getting more qualified officials.  Calling the game better will lead to more scoring.  Basketball has become far, far too physical.

Mike Cooper, Hall of Fame Coach from Ottawa-

I think a shot clock would add excitement to high school basketball. The speed of the game would increase and points per game would increase.

The drawbacks from an administrative view would be the initial cost of installing the shot clocks and hiring a competent worker to run the clock for all levels of games. If you have a shot clock you would have to use it for all levels of games including freshmen.

Mark Makeever, GHS Grad and Retired Coach from Texas

No shot clock. I officiated for 5 years. There is already a shortage of good officials. So you want to add another position for someone that isn't qualified. Will just add to the already ridiculous amount of complaining about officials. Second reason: Cost. Schools are struggling to pay officials or even get text books. Shot clock would just add more expense and problems in my opinion.

Randy Weibel, Girls Basketball Coach at Hononegah

All for the shot clock

Mike Miller, Boys Basketball Coach at Hononegah

I would love it if we used a shot clock

J.R. Boudouris, Girls Basketball Coach at Rochester

I am not a fan of the shot clock at the high school level for a couple of reasons.  First, I don't think there are a lot of games - or individual possessions within those games - where a shot clock would be necessary.  Very rarely do you see a team hold the ball on offense and play 'keep away.' Usually if a team is talented enough to do that, then they are probably the superior team and don't have a reason to hold the ball in the first place.  Perhaps the biggest reason I am against the shot clock is how impractical the implementation would potentially be.  As an athletic director, I can speak to how difficult it is currently to hire both table workers and quality officials for basketball games.  Adding a shot clock to the equation would require adding an extra table worker, who may not always understand when the shot clock does/doesn't reset.  It also gives game officials one more (critical) thing to pay attention to in an era when officiating is becoming increasingly difficult.

With all of that said, IF a shot clock were to be implemented, I hope it would be no less than 45 seconds.  I could live with this, as it wouldn't alter most offensive possessions, but at the same time would be a nice compromise to keep teams from flat out holding the ball/stalling.

Mark Smith, Girls Basketball Coach at Maine South

First, the shot clock:  I do not have strong feelings about this.  Or should I say, "I can make arguments for both sides"

Part of me says, a ball control offense with disciplined players who know how to close out games has been a strength of ours.  Without a shot clock, we have strategies in place with/without the ball up or down in the game.  And over the years (especially deep into the tournament), we have had success in eating up clock, encouraging a more aggressive defensive effort from our opponent and then getting back door action to close out games.  

Having said that, with a shot clock, the game changes immensely.  And therefore, our strategies would change.  But if our players buy into the changes in strategy and we out-work other teams related to playing with a shot clock, that, too, may work to our advantage.  Disclaimer...this coming year, we have a team where having a shot clock would be a benefit.  We are short, athletic and can shoot the three.  Our quarter court defense may be our biggest weakness.  Therefore, if we apply full court pressure and get teams out of their preliminary sets, we may force bad shots late in the shot clock.  

Thom Sigel, Boys Coach at Rock Island

"I am in favor of bringing the shot clock to the high school level.  I realize there are factors, mainly monetary, as to why we may not see it.  However, with other states going to it, maybe Illinois will see it in the near future.  I used to be opposed to it, but maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks.  I would be excited to coach with the shot clock because I think it helps the college game, and it might put the pressure on high school coaches to teach the game in new, and possibly better, ways.  There seem to be many more long possessions at the high school level now, and the shot clock could change some things for the better."

Emily Cline, Women's Coach at Knox College

I have really mixed feelings on whether or not IHSA should go to a shot clock.  I think the shot clock would make high school basketball more exciting to watch and probably more fun to play but it would take a lot of the strategy out of it.   I also think that it would let the better team win most of the time and there would be less upsets.  I think there would be some benefits of a shot clock and some negatives of a shot clock.  However, if I had to choose I would say put a shot clock in and see what happens.  It could be a great thing for high school basketball.   I was very opposed to some of the new rules we have had on this level but I now think the quarters and the new foul rules are some of the best things that have happened to women's basketball in my 16 years as a college basketball coach.