A major change to high school basketball is coming to Illinois this coming season. Starting with the 2026-7 season, a shot clock will be used for varsity girls and boys basketball contests. This past Thursday, the IHSA released guidelines for the implementation of the shot clock,
A statewide survey of high school coaches in Illinois conducted by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) in 2020 revealed that 75% of the boys head coaches in the state supported the implementation of the shot clock, while 68% percent of the girls coaches who responded were in favor
Individual schools were made aware the shot clock was coming and have been given a chance to gradually implement the shot clock. Starting in 2022-3 season, schools were given the chance to use the shot clock in tournaments and shootouts. Then in the 2024-5 season, the shot clock could be used by schools who both agreed to use it, or whose conference agreed to have it used.
In a release this week, the IHSA announced that the IHSA Board voted to accept the recommendation of the IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee by adding State Association Adoption #4, which reads “A school may not host a varsity contest if a shot clock is not installed or is not properly mounted on the backboard in the primary gym in accordance with NFHS rules. The host school must secure an alternate facility or allow the opponent to host the contest. If the host school is unable to secure a gym with functioning shot clocks and the opposing school cannot host, the game shall be forfeited by the home team.”
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson spelled out the significance of the process and length of time used to implement the shot clock by saying,“We believe our Board was forward-thinking in providing significant planning time for schools to prepare for the shot clock. It is imperative that all schools are afforded the same competitive experience and that every student-athlete competes under consistent conditions. By establishing these expectations, schools have had ample opportunity to budget, plan, and install the necessary equipment, ensuring an equitable environment.”
While required on the varsity level, the shot clock is optional for lower-level games (junior varsity, sophomore, freshman, etc.).
Entering the 2025-26 high school basketball season, 29 states were requiring the use of the shot clock, while three others offered it as an option. Illinois and Oklahoma are both adopting the shot clock for the 2026-27 season, while New Jersey (2027-28) and Pennsylvania (2028-29) have announced plans to add the shot clock in coming seasons.
Critics of the Shot Clock Say…
Critics of the shot clock have cited the cost of purchasing and installing the shot clock as well as the costs of paying for a shot clock operator. There are also initial concerns about the quality of the shot clock operators.
Some purists of the basketball do not like the idea of taking away the “stall game.” Historically, basketball thru the years has continuously adopted rules to eliminate coaches ability to slow the game down- no jump after made baskets, 10 second line, over and back rule, closely guarded rules, and now the shot clock.
Advocates for the Shot Clock Say…
1- Eliminate teams from stalling for as early as the third quarter of games, or for 4-5 minutes of the fourth quarter.
2- Improve the general skill level of players by trying to create more possessions per game.
3- Prepare players for play at the next levels where a shot clock will be used.
Galesburg HS’s Nick Young Says…
1–Yes we will need to hire an additional worker to run the shot clock exclusively. We are looking at a cost of $30-40 a varsity game depending on the duration of the gameplay.
2–We are fully prepared to host varsity games in both Thiel Gym and in Kimbrough Fieldhouse on our wooden floor. Last summer we were able to get shot clocks installed in the Fieldhouse in anticipation of the upcoming season/IHSA requirements. With us hosting in-season tournaments, it was imperative for us to be prepared in both locations.
3–We will use the shot clock for all Varsity games/tournaments. Additionally within the conference, we have agreed to run soph/jv level games at the discretion of the coaches. There would need to be a consensus from both coaches. In most instances, Freshman games will not play with the shot clock.
4–I have not heard of any schools that we play not having the shot clocks installed. However the IHSA Board of Directors just met this June. They sent information reiterating that the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee by adding State Association Adoption #4, which reads “A school may not host a varsity contest if a shot clock is not installed or is not properly mounted on the backboard in the primary gym in accordance with NFHS rules. The host school must secure an alternate facility or allow the opponent to host the contest. If the host school is unable to secure a gym with functioning shot clocks and the opposing school cannot host, the game shall be forfeited by the home team.”
With the opponents/tournaments we play I don’t see this being an issue. If it does become one, we would be open to hosting the contests so that we wouldn’t lose a game or games.
5–Personally, I’m in favor and excited for the shot clock. I think it will improve and add even more excitement to an already exciting game. As a fan, it’s hard to beat the excitement of a last second shot in a game, and now we will potentially get many more of those moments and opportunities. I’m also curious to see how coaches and players will adjust. I’d venture to guess that most coaches will continue to coach the style and way they feel best suits their athletes/teams. However, this new added element is one they must consider and prepare for. It’s like adding another chess piece to the board. I’m excited to see how some will use it.
Thoughts of coaches about the shot clock:
Henry Hall- Girls Basketball Coach at Rock Island
Coach Hall has been a highly successful coach at Alleman and at Rock Island.
I don’t think the game will be much different than it has been. I don’t plan to change our style of play but I am sure some coaches will do things defensively to force the other team to use more shot clock. Offensively, teams will need to be more disciplined when the clock gets under 10 seconds. Coaches will need to develop a plan for the end of the shot clock situations. Personally, I think 35 seconds is probably too long.
Jay Hatch- Girls Basketball Coach at Riverdale
Coach Hatch won a State Championship at Alleman, and he has been inducted into the IBCA HOF.
I am neither for it or against it. People who think it is automatically going to create more offense and higher scores are wrong. Taking more shots if they aren’t good shots will not increase scoring.
I anticipate there are going to be teams who play 2-3 zone or a 2-2-1 press designed to slow up the other team and make them use more shot clock.
We have played with the clock in some tourneys and shootouts, it seems like with 35 second shot clock, it only effects about one possession per game. We are going to need to work on how to do 2 for 1’s. We will need to figure out when ahead late how to use shot clock but still get a good shot.
A major concern is the reset on an offensive rebound. That is where they will be stopping the game to get times correct.
Mike Reynolds- Boys Basketball Coach at DeKalb
Former Galesburg coach is an IBCA Hall of Fame coach.
It will 100% change the game. You will see changes in strategy at the end of quarters and the end of games. It won’t be automatic that coaches start holding the ball and start fouling, they will need to decide on strategy of playing thru the clock.
Statistically, the worst shots in basically in college and pros are shots in the last 12 seconds of the shot clock. So coaches who use analytics will want to play faster and avoid getting under 12 seconds.
Todd Borrison- Girls Basketball Coach at Mediapolis, Iowa
Coach Borrison is one of the top coaches in Iowa. He has won multiple State Championships.
We have used shot clock for 4 seasons. For us not a lot has changed. We have had only a handful of violations offensively in that 4 years, but defensively we average about 2-3 violations per game. I personally really like it because it keeps the tempo flowing and it eliminates stalling.
It takes some practice to get good at it, also it was challenging for the officials but over time it became easier for everyone involved. We have been lucky to have the same operator for all 4 seasons . We would actually practice it during some summer scrimmages to get a jump on it.
It really has been good for us , we like to play fast and press so it was something we looked forward to! It also allowed us to change up half court defense- hoping to catch teams off guard. I feel like it’s been good for the game and teams have gotten better at handling it, you don’t see a lot of 20-16 games anymore and it got fans excited as well.
