NFHS Shot Clock Guidelines ...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree that the shot clock and ten second count should probably be used together (accuracy and similar to other rule sets familiar to many basketball stakeholders).

But if one is going to use the shot clock to "count" ten seconds (as it appears the NFHS want us to do) it's going to require some type of change in the existing ten second rule:

9-8: A player must not be, nor may his/her team be, in continuous control of the ball which is in his/her backcourt for 10 seconds.

4-2: A player is in control of the ball when he/she is holding or dribbling a live ball. A team is in control of the ball: When a player of the team is in control.

With no rule change there is a possibility of this worst case scenario.

State high school championship final game. Shot clock used. Team B 65, Team A 64. Fourth period. Fifteen seconds left in game. Both teams come out of a timeout. Team A, with no timeouts remaining, inbounds in their backcourt. Inbounder A1 passes to A2, who fumbles (game clock and shot clock legally start) the ball away, but eventuality, after two seconds pass, secures control of the ball by holding it and the begins to dribble. Facing strong defensive pressure in his backcourt, A2 is still in his backcourt when the shot clock is at 25 seconds (game clock at five seconds) and the trail official calls a ten second violation on Team A. Team A head coach politely argues that Team A only had "control" of the ball for eight seconds in the backcourt, quoting 9-8 and 4-2, and should not have had the ten second violation called, depriving Team A of a chance to win the game.

You could solve all this with case plays or interpretations that deal with the issue. But I do not see why it matters if using the shot clock the rule says how to apply that rule and if you do not use the rule, everything stays the same? Not sure it matters at that point, that is all I am saying. And honestly, I do not see the NF making a rule for the shot clock (in the violations section) and then another rule in that same section for situations without a shot clock.

Then again, very aware of the difference and do not think it would be that hard if you are in a state that uses the shot clock. I think this would not be that hard for most of us either way.

Peace