Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Padgett
Years ago, I was on the Board of our local rec league for kids. At a pre-season coach's meeting, one of the coaches of a 4th grade team (the teams went from 3rd grade through varsity) asked if we used a shot clock. I told him we did, and it ran for two hours between shots for kids at that grade. He stared at me for a few seconds then realized I was joking.  |
Indeed, it wouldn't make sense at that age. USA Basketball recommends a shot clock around 12, so middle school should play with a shot clock, maybe 40 seconds. If officials cut their teeth on shot clock MS games, it would ease the learning curve once they got to high school, since they would know the necessary mechanics and signals, and learn clock awareness. The next step would just be to learn 3-man in off season camps, summer games, men's league games, or intramural games, and the officials would be ready for JV or (initially limited) varsity experience.