Local Coaches, ADs Weigh In on IBCA 35-Second Shot-Clock Proposal

Indiana high school basketball has resisted the shot clock longer than almost any basketball-obsessed state in the country, but the pressure is mounting. The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association formally put the question to the IHSAA, and coaches and athletic directors in the Brookville area are now weighing in on what could be the most significant rule change to hit the state's gyms in decades.

Tom Beach and Michael Adams, representing the IBCA, presented the rule proposal at the Feb. 20 IHSAA Executive Committee meeting, calling for a 35-second shot clock to be implemented in Indiana high school boys and girls basketball beginning with the 2027-28 school year. No action was taken at that meeting, but the proposal will be considered and voted upon at a future Executive Committee meeting.

The IBCA announced that 68 percent of coaches polled in a survey favored a shot clock, providing the momentum needed to bring the formal proposal before the IHSAA. The IHSAA will consider the proposal at its May 4 board of directors meeting.

The timing reflects a broader national shift. There is no mandate from the National Federation of State High School Associations to add a shot clock, though Indiana is now in the minority as one of the states not to utilize one. For the 2025-26 season, 32 states use a shot clock in some form. Kentucky has approved a shot clock starting with the 2027-28 season, and Illinois will require one for boys and girls varsity games beginning next season.

Under the IBCA's proposal, the shot clock would reset to 35 seconds with no partial resets for offensive rebounds. Most states that use a shot clock operate on the 35-second version, though a handful play with a 30-second clock.

The split between those who see the clock as a necessary evolution and those who view it as a threat to Hoosier basketball tradition runs deep. Supporters of the shot clock argue it will eliminate stalling, make the game more entertaining, force teams to be more creative with offensive strategies, and help players develop skills that translate to the next level. Those against contend that a faster-paced game will hinder fundamentals and lead to sloppier play.

Implementing the shot clock in Indiana won't come without logistical hurdles: each school must purchase a clock for both sides of the court, and individuals must be trained to operate it every game. Shot clock equipment comes at a significant price point, with a pair of combination game-time shot clocks listed above $5,000 on the Daktronics website.

For Franklin County-area programs, the vote at the May board meeting will determine whether they have roughly one year to prepare for a rule that would fundamentally reshape how Indiana basketball is coached, played, and watched.