IHSAA to vote on shot clock for basketball

(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana High School Athletic Association Board of Directors is scheduled to vote May 4 on a proposal to implement a 35 second shot clock. If it's approved, the rule would mean there would be shot clocks for all varsity boys and girls basketball games beginning with the 2028-2029 season. The recommendation comes from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, which officially presented the proposal to the IHSAA in February following years of debate regarding the pace of play in Indiana high school basketball. While the coaches' association strongly supports the change, recent straw polls conducted by the IHSAA among school principals suggest significant opposition, with roughly 70% of administrators voting against it. IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig says many schools are concerned about the financial burden, estimated at approximately $10,000 per school. He says the other concern is the logistical challenge of finding additional personnel to operate the clocks. Supporters argue the change is necessary to modernize the game and prepare athletes for the collegiate level, noting that over 30 other states have already adopted similar mandates. If the board rejects the proposal, Neidig indicated that the issue would likely be tabled for at least two years before it could be proposed again. The IHSAA has already conducted surveys showing that 66 schools in the state have already installed shot clocks in their primary gyms in anticipation of an eventual rule change.