With a 10-1 vote on Tuesday, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) board approved the proposal of adding an optional 35-second shot clock to high school basketball games.
The addition can be used in girls and boys varsity non-conference basketball games, so long as both teams agree on its use.
The WIAA is also considering a mandatory statewide implementation for the 2028-2029 season. This will be voted upon in April 2027, at the WIAA’s annual meeting.
RELATED: Wisconsin girls flag fooball push gains steam with coaches association help
Jimmie Kaska, Civic Media sports director, explained when the conversation of the shock clocks addition initially started in 2017, it brought concerns of cost from smaller and more rural public schools, as gym facilities would need a permanent or temporary fixture for the shot clock, depending on each gym.
“It brought a lot of pushback, especially from smaller rural and public schools, because it’s a big cost,” Kaska said. “Not like building a new facility cost, but it’s still a cost that school districts have to absorb, not to mention the staffing.”
Nearly 10 years later, however, Kaska explained the landscape of the issue has changed since then.
The biggest difference is the growing number of states that have adopted shot clocks.
“Now, two thirds of states have a shot clock, including most of Wisconsin’s border states,” Kaska said. “And not only that, there’s been a pretty strong lobby to do it by larger schools in the state as well.”
Now, rather than immediately requiring the use of shot clocks, the WIAA is taking a more gradual approach.
“They’re going to vote on a full implementation at the April annual meeting,” Kaska said. “And every district gets a vote on whether they want to make a full implementation or they require it.”
RELATED: 5 ways to support women’s sports in Wisconsin
The WIAA is made up of 11 members that are approved by school districts. He emphasized how this decision essentially comes directly from the schools.
“The WIAA is not some monolith that dictates all of this,” Kaska said. “It’s an executive board that’s approved by the school districts that are members. It’s a membership driven entity. So this is not something that is just being handed down from on high.”
While fans may be used to seeing shot clocks in college and professional basketball, high school coaches and players could feel the impact more directly.
Kaska explained teams with a faster style of play and deeper rosters will benefit from the change.
One struggle he anticipates, however, is a worry from coaches about competitive balance.
“There are coaches that are looking at this as prep for maybe the next level,” Kaska said. “And there are coaches saying, ‘Hey, my high school team already can’t compete.’”
For now, teams will have the chance to experiment with the optional shot clock before the WIAA’s decision on whether they should become a permanent part of Wisconsin high school basketball.
