In 2026-2027, the IHSA plans on bringing the shot clocks that are used in the NBA and NCAA to high school basketball games. Shot clocks are a timing device that shows a countdown of the time of a team’s possession of the ball. The team with the ball has to make a field-goal attempt within that timing range.

“It has not been uncommon for rules adopted by levels of play above the high school level find their way to high school,” Executive Director of the IHSA Craig Anderson said. “The addition of the shot clock is in many ways like the addition of the three-point line that happened first at the collegiate level and then made its way to high school.”

The shot clock is added in hopes to speed up the game, create more competition between teams and to be more enjoyable for fans.

“I think with colleges and professional teams all having the shot clock, it makes the game more exciting and fast paced,” Crystal Lake South Athletic Director Jason Bott said. “I think this can make the game from a fan experience more enjoyable along with preparing student athletes that play in college to prepare them for those levels as well.”

Since this is a new concept, it’s going to take time to get used to the games being faster paced.

“I’m not sure it is a good idea. We won’t know until we try,” FVC basketball official Steve Bellmore said. “It will force teams to play out each quarter versus holding the ball and stalling. It will create better basketball and smarter players.”

Since other states have implemented the rule, it was only a matter of time until it made its way to Illinois schools.

“It really was only a matter of time until we saw it at the high school level,” Jacobs High School boys basketball coach James Roberts said. “Other states have already implemented it. The why? I think to improve the game, prevent teams from playing slow and holding the ball.”

Other schools in Illinois decided to try out the shot clocks before it became official that it will become a rule in years to come.

“[T]he NFHS basketball rules created an opportunity for the state to adopt a shot clock for play a couple of years ago,” said Anderson. “The IHSA allowed schools to experiment with using the shot clock during the 2022-2023 season and 2023-2024 season at tournaments and shoot-outs. We maintained feedback from different individuals including coaches, tournament managers and officials.”

The overall feedback was positive, so the basketball advisory committee recommended acquiring the shot clock for full use in 2026-2027.

“Team’s will now play at a quicker pace thus increasing the score,” said Bellmore. “Player’s will have to make quicker decisions. It will promote more scoring and excitement for the fans.”

Coaches are going to have to make a ton of adjustments over the next couple years to get used to the amount of time given.

“Emphasis on ‘early offense,’” Roberts said, “emphasis on taking open shots and opportunities, not passing on things to possess the ball for an extended period of time.”

There are benefits with the shot clock like teams not holding the ball for a delay, less fouls and more.

“One of the benefits includes the elimination of teams holding the ball for minutes at a time to delay the game,” Anderson said. “Coaches are less likely to continue fouling at the end of a game to get the ball back when the team could play defense and secure their next possession as their opponent must shoot or take a shot clock violation at the end of the 35 seconds.”

MCHS boys basketball coach Corky Card said, “there are games that people want to see that are faster paced, so I think the shot clock could help with that.”

Schools are struggling financially when purchasing the shot clock and having someone run it during games.

“Some of the problems that have been expressed to me have included a financial burden on schools for purchasing and installing the shot clocks,” Anderson said. “And a continued financial burden potentially for the additional individual at the scorer’s table to run the shot clock during the game.”

A lot of teams are going to change the way their offense and defense runs with this new addition.

“We are an aggressive team and a lot of teams try to spread us out to slow the game down,” said Card, “so I’m pretty excited that we will not have to defend people as long.”

Having teams with different skill levels up against each other can cause things to be off-balanced.

“Some issues could be that there is a big difference in skill level,” Bott said. “Games could become more lopsided, as teams typically will hold the ball if up by a lot of points. This would take that away.”

Full court pressure defense seems to be a good concept to add in order to reduce the amount of time a team has.

“I think mainly it will help with end of game situations,” Roberts said. “If a team is up seven with say, three minutes left in the game, the team in front will no longer be able to possess the ball for a long period of time and run a bunch of time off the clock. They will have to continue to play.”

For schools being worried about the expenses of a shot clock, the IHSA is trying to work with scoreboard companies to help support by sponsoring.

“We are also working to secure a shot clock/scoreboard company as a sponsor who could help provide discounts for shot clock purchases,” Anderson said, “and dedicate sponsorship dollars back to schools that have a financial hardship.”

This story was originally published on The McHenry Messenger on March 7, 2025.