what should high boys do to prepare for ca. boys state

Whether all states in the Usa of America should implement a high schoolhouse shot clock has forever been a highly debated topic.

I was recently urged to write this blog mail subsequently seeing nonetheless another important loftier school basketball game game come up down to stalling the basketball for several minutes before shooting on the cablegram (twice).

The game I'1000 talking about was a four overtime game in Iowa between Ames High School and Hoover High School.

Here's a quick summary of the overtime periods (4 minutes each):

OT 1 – Hoover holds the basketball game near half-court for the unabridged four minutes and missed the only shot (a fade-away) of the first OT on the siren.

OT two – Hoover and Ames combine for a total of three field goal attempts in 4 minutes.

OT 3 and 4 – During the tertiary and fourth overtimes there were more shots, just there was still a articulate focus on slowing the basketball downwardly.

This is the only (!) shot taken from the four-minute, outset overtime. Ames and Hoover nonetheless tied at 25 and headed to a second overtime. pic.twitter.com/PHvzHT9ewj

— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January xi, 2017

This is non a one-off scenario.

The 'stalling' strategy is a commonly used tactic past coaches in high schoolhouse basketball across the country.

I remember we can all hold that this is not the kind of basketball we want to see in the dying minutes of any game.

A shot clock is the inevitable solution to this problem.

Although my preference is articulate, my goal with this commodity isn't to pretend I know the solution to every question or to imply that there are no negatives to adding a shot clock.

In that location are.

And just similar the positives, I've done my best to cover them in not bad detail.

Important: Please Read…

I want to take this moment to brand something perfectly articulate from the offset…

I do not arraign any high school basketball coach for utilizing the stalling strategy to increment their team's chances of victory.

In fact, I applaud the smart coaches who do this! The coaches of Hoover and Ames did exactly what I would have washed in the same scenario.

You run across, the chore security of a loftier school coach relies on the numbers in the win and loss columns. Equally long as they're playing within the rules of the league, a coach must do everything they can to put their team in the best position for success.

That'south their chore.

Unfortunately, since high school basketball rules allow information technology, that often means stalling the basketball game.

And then, the existent question is…

"Why are coaches immune to use this strategy?"

And the answer is…

Because the NFHS allows it to happen.

It'south up to the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Committee to put rules in place (a shot clock, preferably) that stops this strategy hurting high school basketball game.

History of the Shot Clock

Earlier nosotros get into the pros, cons, and common rebuttals of implementing a shot clock in loftier school, here's some history on what it is and why it was first introduced…

What is a shot clock?

To put it simply, the shot clock is a timer used to increase the pace of a basketball game game.

Once a possession starts, the offensive squad must attempt a shot within the set up time limit displayed on the shot clock. The ball must be released from the player's hand within this fourth dimension and either touches the rim or enters the basket.

Failure to get a shot off within that fourth dimension or hit the rim on a shot attempt on the shot-clock buzzer will result in a turnover.

Why was the shot clock first invented?

The shot clock was first introduced to the NBA in the 1954-1955 season considering likewise many teams were getting a small lead so stalling the basketball for the residual of the game.

The only way the trailing squad could become the basketball game dorsum was to foul over and over again until the offensive team went to the gratuitous-throw line.

"That was the way the game was played — get a atomic number 82 and put the ball in the icebox. Teams literally started sitting on the ball in the third quarter." – Bob Cousy

Sounds fun, huh?

Naturally, this led to depression game attendance, next to zero printing coverage, and many incredibly tiresome games of basketball.

The NBA needed to do something to prepare this — and fast.

Enter the basketball savior: Danny Biasone.

Danny Biasone, the possessor of the Syracuse Nationals at the time, was the first person to truly push for a shot clock to be introduced to basketball game.

He decided on the specific time of 24-seconds subsequently analyzing the fast-paced NBA games he had enjoyed and noticing in these games that each team took approximately 60 shots each.

2,880 seconds (48 minutes) divided by 120 (total shots) = 24.

And with that, the 24-second shot clock was invented and introduced to the NBA.

—

As for the other levels of basketball…

The women'southward higher game was the next to bring the shot clock into their game in 1970 by implementing a thirty-2d shot clock which still remains today.

Next was men'due south higher basketball in 1985 with a 45-second shot clock that was later on shortened to 35-seconds in 1993 then shortened again in 2015 to thirty-seconds.

The WNBA launched their league in 1996 with a 30-2nd shot clock and the decreased information technology to 24-seconds in 2006.

My Recommendation: A 35-2nd Shot Clock

Instead of waiting until the end of the article to give my recommendation, I'm going to give it to you at the outset considering I'll refer to it numerous times throughout the article.

Loftier schoolhouse basketball game should implement a 35-second shot clock.

For both girls and boys.

It's elementary, consistent, and is the perfect amount of time to accomplish what high schoolhouse needs a shot clock for…

It's long plenty to consummate any basketball law-breaking as long as your team is playing smart, key basketball; while it likewise removes the opportunity for teams to stall the basketball for several minutes at a time.

Am I opposed to the current 30-second shot clock that girls high school basketball game have in place? Nope.

Would I be opposed to a 30-second shot clock or even a 45-second shot clock? Nope.

Let's just innovate a consistent shot clock and then people tin talk about adjustments that they desire to make in the future.

States Currently Using a Shot Clock

There are currently but viii states using a shot clock in high school basketball.

California: Boys – 35 seconds. Girls – xxx seconds.
New York: Boys – 35 seconds. Girls – xxx seconds.
Washington: Boys – 35 seconds. Girls – 30 seconds.
Massachusetts: Boys – 30 seconds. Girls – 30 seconds.
Maryland: Boys – No shot clock. Girls – 30 seconds.
Rhode Isle: Boys 35 seconds. Girls – 30 seconds.
Due north Dakota: Boys 35 seconds. Girls – xxx seconds.
Southward Dakota: Boys 35 seconds. Girls – 35 seconds.

Unfortunately, by going against the NFHS'southward 'no shot clock' rule, all of these states are ineligible to vote on the rules committee in the future.

Now, permit's discuss the 4 virtually important pros and cons of implemeting the shot clock.

Pros of Implementing a Shot Clock

i. Stops Teams from Stalling

Imagine this scenario…

Ii high school teams accept been competing hard against each other for three and a half quarters. Information technology'due south an enthralling game with only four points the difference with five-minutes remaining.

And then coach of the squad with the 4 point lead stands upwards and shouts out, "Spread it out! No shots!"…

You then proceed to watch the concluding 5 minutes turn into twenty minutes of fouling and free throws.

This is a common terminate to a current loftier school basketball game.

If you have a team that tin can wearisome the basketball down without turning it over and too brand their free-throws, without a shot clock there is currently no benefit any for them to adventure shooting the basketball game and missing unless they get an open layup.

Only wouldn't you lot take loved to watch these two teams continue the exciting game and battle information technology out until the very cease?

I would.

ii. Better Viewing Experience

No 1 wants to go and lookout a basketball game where one team stalls the basketball game for half of the game.

In fact, when information technology happens, it's not uncommon to hear the spectators and parents of the squad stalling the basketball game yelling out to their team to 'shoot it!' or 'play the game!'.

A fast-paced game will definitely increase the number of people that attend high school basketball games.

Hither are but a few of the other benefits of making loftier school basketball a better viewing experience for those watching:

1. Players enjoy playing in front end of bigger crowds.
2. Information technology's bully for the community.
3. More money through entrance fees.
4. Increased sponsorship opportunities.
5. More than young kids watching the game.
6. And more than…

3. Increased Player Evolution

This i seems obvious to me.

More than playing basketball = better players.

No player on the courtroom is going to amend if ane team is holding the basketball up for several minutes at a time while every player on the courtroom is continuing in the aforementioned spot watching them.

By increasing the pace of the game with a shot clock, players will have more opportunities on offense and defence force.

4. Prepares Players for the Next Level

One of the most important roles of a high school autobus is preparing their kids for the next level of basketball if they choose to pursue it.

In that location is a large benefit to allowing players to become accustomed to playing with a shot clock in high school.

By playing with a shot clock in high school, players will…

a. Experience the pressure of the shot clock winding down.
b. Arrive the habit of keeping an eye on the shot clock.
c. Acquire what to do in an cease-of-clock scenario.

A high-school shot clock will ready players for a college shot clock merely equally the higher shot clock prepares players for basketball game at the professional level.

Cons of Implementing a Shot Clock

1. The Price of Installing a Shot Clock

Disclaimer: The prices are approximations based on my own inquiry and talking to different coaches. Prices for each high schoolhouse will exist different depending on many factors.

The price of purchasing, installing, and operating a shot clock are not cheap.

Enquiry suggests that it will toll approximately $2,000 – $4,000 for most schools to purchase the shot clocks and have them installed.

Depending on the current facilities in each high school gym, it'due south not as simple as purchasing a shot clock and away they go…

At that place are installation costs that volition vary profoundly depending on the electric current setup. Some may need to purchase unabridged new scoreboards to brand it happen which volition be a remarkably more than significant cost.

And the biggest question of all is…

"Where is the actress coin going to come from?"

And to be honest, I don't know.

I don't know the budgets of each individual school and I'thousand not going to pretend like I take a simple solution for each individual school that has this problem.

What I do know is that the high schools in 8 states were able to brand it happen.

I'yard 100% sure many of their schools had similar financial concerns when the thought of the shot clock was first existence talked about seriously.

Simply when it was made mandatory, they all found a style to pay for it.

This is a erstwhile cost for each school that will take a significantly positive impact on their school's basketball program for years to come.

2. A Shot Clock Will Atomic number 82 to More Zone Defense

Many coaches in favor of a shot clock merits that it volition without-a-uncertainty lead to improved defense.

I disagree.

In fact, I remember at that place'south a hazard that it might hurt overall defense with more teams falling back into a zone.

I'yard not completely against zone defenses at the high schoolhouse level like I am at the youth level, but I do believe it'southward benign for teams to be playing a man defense most of the time.

One of the principal reasons coaches sometimes stall the basketball is to drag the defense force out of a zone and force them to compete man-to-man.

Once the shot clock is part of the game, the offense doesn't have that selection anymore.

3. Who'south Going to Run the Shot Clock?

While some schools have a seemingly endless supply of volunteers willing to jump in and assist whenever needed, not all schools accept this luxury.

Many schools have a hard plenty fourth dimension getting people to fill positions on the scoreboard and helping out with setting up.

The idea of another position to fill would make them cringe.

Deciding who's going to run the clock is i of the most of import questions each high school must ask.

• Will it exist a paid position?
• Will it be a volunteer position?
• Will they need to pay another referee to run it?

Every bit for the knowledge part of running a shot clock, I don't think it would be too much of an issue.

I've seen plenty of people get taught the nuts on how to run a shot clock in 5 minutes and and then immediately washed a perfect job during a game.

Even a unproblematic YouTube video like this 1 is perfectly capable of instruction beginners the shot clock nuts.

4. A Shot Clock Will Arrive Harder for Underdog Teams to Compete

Stalling the basketball is a strategy that many high school coaches employ to compete against more than skilled teams.

The theory is, the fewer the possessions in a game, the more than chance the underdog team has of coming away with an upset victory.

When preparing for a next game, 1 of the most important things a jitney must do is decide if they want it to be a loftier-possession game or a low-possession game.

If the motorcoach thinks their team would have more of a chance in a depression-possession game (normally significant they're playing a team more than skilled than they are), so they'll often dull the ball downwards and employ the spread criminal offense at some stage during the game.

This frequently allows underdog teams to keep game competitive or at least prevent a large point differential.

Past implementing a shot clock, these teams won't have the pick to tiresome the game down anymore.

6 Most Common Arguments Against a Shot Clock

1. The "We don't demand one. Our games are always high scoring. It wouldn't be a factor in our league anyhow" argument.

This is literally the worst argument against shot clocks of all time.

Nothing makes me more than frustrated when I read coaches trying to justify that there'southward no need for a shot clock in their league by saying things similar…

"The league has done the research and the shot clock wouldn't come into play enough for the league to warrant information technology any further word."

"There'due south no need for a shot clock at this stage. Look at the high scores of all of our games."

"I can't even remember the last time our team kept possession of the basketball for 30 seconds without shooting or turning the brawl over."

Sure, the shot clock won't come into play during most regular season high school games…

But practise you know when information technology volition?

During the most important games of the season!

When the season is on the line. Knockout tournaments. Playoff games. Championship games.

That's when smart coaches start applying the stalling tactic to requite their team the best possible take chances to win.

Don't allow the lack of a shot clock to ruin the most important game of the entire flavor.

2. The "We surveyed the coaches of our league and they were carve up 50/50 on wanting to implement a shot clock" statement.

Asking the electric current coaches in each league frequently isn't a great strategy for figuring out what's best for the competition.

Want to know the obvious reason why?

Every coach is going to respond by analyzing their current team and asking themselves whether a shot clock is going to aid their squad or not.

If information technology wouldn't do good their team, they'll vote confronting it.

If information technology would benefit their team, they'll vote for it.

Naturally, about surveys completed past the coaches in a sure league render close to l/fifty on each side.

three. The "The fundamentals of basketball at the high school level are already bad enough. Implementing a shot clock and forcing players to rush their shots volition just make information technology worse" argument.

If your squad can't get off a quality shot within 35-seconds, there are far bigger problems on your squad to worry about than the shot clock.

Certain, there are going to be times when your squad gets close to the shot clock and need to force up a shot attempt; but that should not be oft.

If your team is setting strong screens, cutting with purpose, staying aggressive, and moving the ball well, there's no reason it should regularly accept a high school team more than 35-seconds to get off a proficient shot.

four. The "'Why should we change our sport just to entertain the spectators? That's not why nosotros play. If they don't similar it they can go out" statement.

To this argument I'll bring up the numerous benefits of improving the viewing feel stated earlier in the commodity:

1. Players savour playing in front end of bigger crowds.
ii. It'south cracking for the customs.
three. More than coin through entrance fees.
iv. Increased sponsorship opportunities.
v. More than young kids watching the game.
half-dozen. And more…

But it'due south non simply the spectators that don't desire to watch a game that ends 10 – 6 at half fourth dimension…

The kids don't want to play in them either.

They're bored, humiliated, and they're not developing into better players while they're continuing around watching the point guard dribble at half-court.

v. The "Barely anyone else has changed so why should we?" argument.

Yous're right.

There have already been viii states that have committed to improving loftier school basketball game and at that place needs to exist even more!

Who's going to be next to step up?

6. The 'High school players don't have the skills to become off a good shot with merely 5 seconds left on the shot clock' argument.

There are going to exist some wild shots attempted at the stop of the cablegram. That's something we accept to accept.

Information technology's the end result of an criminal offense not having created a amend shot opportunity in 35-seconds.

Players aren't going to miraculously discover the skills to perfectly navigate an end-of-shot-clock situation when they enter the college organisation.

Knowing what to do with the shot clock winding down is something that all loftier school players should practice and learn before they make the jump to higher.

Conclusion

No matter how in favor I am of introducing shot clocks to the high schoolhouse game, I can appreciate the difficulties that a lot of schools face with funding and personnel.

With that said, the positives of a shot clock far outweigh the negatives.

This is something that we all should be pushing to happen as soon every bit possible.

There is no dubiousness in my mind that there will be a point in time when shot clocks are made compulsory in every state; information technology will exist 1 of the most important and positive changes in high school basketball history.

The just question left to answer is:

How long do we accept to wait?

—

Over to y'all…

Do you remember high schoolhouse basketball should add a shot clock to the game?

Leave a comment beneath. I'yard excited to hear your opinion.

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Source: https://www.basketballforcoaches.com/high-school-shot-clock/

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