MN will try shot clock
 

The MSHSL yesterday approved the use of a 35 second shot clock for non-conference, and tournament play for this year on a test basis. Seems a lot of the big school coaches want to go to this beast. For those of you who have to deal with this at the HS level, do you find it to be as big a pain as I think it will be?

It's funny how they are willing to spend the $3k or so on the clocks, but not willing to fork out the extra change for 3 man crews.

If you're going to use it in the state tournament, why wouldn't you use it for conference games? You want teams to be accustomed to it in the second half of the season before they get to the tournament, don't you? :confused:

Yes.

"Funny" isn't the word I'd use. :(

Tournaments as in Christmas tournaments.

Nope, you learn how to manage it just like any other aspect of the game. I much prefer a game with a shot clock.

I agree. It is a disservice to the kids who play to not go to 3-person.

Really - in today's world, you'd think the schools could find a better use for that money other than for shot clocks. I'm all in favor of recognizing the value of youth sports, but shot clocks aren't going to teach the kids anything more than what they're already getting out of participating in athletics.

Maybe they should take the money and hire some people to come in and lecture to parents on sportsmanship. Now that would be money well spent.

Do they add another person to the table crew? Are there a lot of errors with clock resets on shots? I don't see any HS games with shot clocks and hope it is awhile before I do. I certainly do not view a shot clock in the same manner as the AP arrow.

The first few games with new shot clock people will be awful - lots of things to fix, etc...just take time before the game to really discuss with the new shot clock operator when to and when not to reset the thing...after a few games, it's really not that difficult.

I wish Oregon would use a shot clock. I like the idea of a shot clock .

This won't be that big of a change as people think. Everyone thought staying tableside would be terrible; many people didn't (and still don't) think 3-man is the way to go; and I'm sure lots of people didn't like the thought of the 3pt line.

There is resistence to change regardless of what the change is. In the long run, it will make the games better for the kids, coaches, fans, and us officials too.

Way to go MN! Now if we could only convince the "powers that be" in Illinois...

It is not going to change in Illinois unless the NF changes the rule. To make a long story short, the IHSA has a very good relationship with the NF and they are not going to do something that is going to jeopardize that relationship by using a rule that goes against the NF. At least that is not going to be the case with this current administration in the IHSA office.

I also do not see a necessity at the HS level. Personally I would deal with it if and when it becomes a rule. Right now I do not care either way. I do think it would cause some problems from the clock operator not starting or resetting the clock properly. I really feel this way if it was a lower level adoption. Most of the time we get a kid running the clock and they are more concerned with text messaging than paying attention to the game.

Edited for you comedians. :D

Peace

Not sure that the two situations are comparable. Going tableside was a simple change that we did - it had nothing to do with the table or adding another factor that can cause disruption and have to be fixed...so while I agree that the change won't be as hard as some people fear, I think it will be considerably harder than changing to tableside after reporting a foul.

One would certainly hope so. :D

Is there a real problem in schools holding the ball outside for 2 or 3 minutes on a regular basis?

I've been seven years in Houston, and there are some games I wish they CAN'T shoot the ball until 35 seconds have expired, so I can catch my breath.

I always suspected the NF was a little schizophrenic. ;)

There was a tournament game this year where one team held the ball for most of the first half, then blew the lead. The other team held the ball for most of the second half, then blew the lead. I think it was in Wisconsin or possibly Minnesota. Almost everyone who watched that game would be in favor of a shot clock.

In NY, most offensive possessions are completed in 18 seconds or less, and the shot clock rarely comes into play. One thing that almost always happens at least once every game is that the shot clock has to be reset because it wasn't started properly. This is a minor inconvenience. The other issue is that bad tables now have an additional opportunity to screw up. But that's really the responsibility of the athletic association and the athletic directors to institute and enforce standards and training.

One game...out of how many?? Thousands? Even tens or hundreds of thousands.

I've maybe seen this sort of play 2-3 times in over a dozen years.

Shot clock in HS game? Why not?:D
Perhaps we need to change the rules a little first. No more technical fouls for coaches. Instead, the officials would activate a 35 second shot clock, giving any official at the court 35 seconds to run to the changing room, grab a gun, return and shoot the HS coach. Gets the message to coaches, entertains the audience, and makes officials feel better about the game.
I like the idea of having a SHOT clock in HS games.:rolleyes:

Tom, your screen name is 'Kiwi', so maybe you are from outside the United States. But there is so much gun violence in this country that your post -- although obviously intended in humor and/or sarcasm -- just strikes me as a subject that is not really a joking matter.

(I'm not angry or offended, just offering you some information if you want it.)

I agree with this. It really doesn't happen much at all. The only times I've seen a stall play used were when, (a) the defense won't "come out" on the ball, and the offense is annoyed, and (b) the offense is stalling because they have no clue how to score, and the defense is giving them a little break (no running clock, remember).

I might be okay with a shot clock if it was at 45 or 50 seconds, but I think for a lot of girls' teams, even varsity, 35 seconds is just too short.

This was a state championship game on television. Don't know how many other games had this type of stalemate, but it was like watching the old Yule Log show, only without the Christmas carols.

We have had a 30-second shot clock in girls HS basketball in Washington State for more than 10 years. In my experience, it makes the game much more enjoyable for the players and fans, even for small school contests. For me, it makes it more enjoyable to ref as well.

It really makes you evenmore aware of the game clock as an official, especially at lower level games when a clueless parent is running the game and shot clock. Very good for your clock management skills when you move to higher levels.

So, changing a rule to improve 1 game is worth making 50 others worse? For teams that are not able to get something done in 35 seconds to be pushed to launch a shot, any shot, just so they don't run out of time doesn't improve things. HS sports is not (solely) about the championships. It about teaching and experiences too. Some teams that may not compete for the title may gain/learn a lot more for working and being patient. I'm not willing to support forcing every player and every team to be run-n-gun. Some schools just don't have the horses to do that. The game should allow a variety of styles such that a smart, patient, and precise team has a chance to win a game against a team of race horses.

Massachusetts uses a 30-second clock for all high school games. There are shot clock issues every year...but the same can be said for every other aspect of the game that we have to manage. It is absolutely no big deal to officiate a game with the shot clock. It rarely comes into play in a meaningful way....and when it does....we deal with it.

Some of the New England Prep School leagues use a shot clock (35 seconds for boys, 30 seconds for girls) in certain games.

The main problem I've seen is that there are no written rules for how the shot clock should be handled, so sometimes things get decided on the fly.

You've got to be kidding me. Learn to laugh a little. GEEZ!!

The Division 1 (largest schools) championship game in Wisconsin did have ONE team hold the ball. However, it was not for most of the first half or second half. They held it for a little less than 3 1/2 minutes in the middle of the second quarter.

The second half neither team held the ball.