To loosely paraphrase Shakespeare, “to use a shot clock or not to use a shot clock.” That is the question before the Colorado High School Activities Association.

CHSAA’s first board meeting of the academic year included the results of a survey on shot clock use. CHSAANow.com said three in five athletic directors and district athletic directors wanted a shot clock in high school basketball. Seven in 10 metro area schools supported it; more than half of the rural schools didn’t. More than 300 people participated in the survey.

Former Frederick girls basketball coach Brett Andersen (he’s the current girls coach at Fort Morgan High School) and former Horizon boys basketball coach Brandon Brown – now the coach at Eaglecrest High School in Aurora – would rather see a shot clock.

“Overall, it’s the best thing for the development of our athletes and our brand of basketball,” Brown said. “We played club basketball with a shot clock this year. (There were) minimum clock malfunctions, the game was faster. And it forces teams to execute end-of-quarter/end-of-game situations without stalling it out. I’m a big fan of the shot clock.”

The board also heard some concerns, such as cost, availability of workers and potential disadvantages for weaker teams. CHSAA states more than half of the United States will be using a shot clock by the end of the next school year.

CHSAA’s board plans to continue conversations. The goal is to present a recommendation to the association’s legislative council in time for its January meeting. Earlier this spring, CHSAA’s basketball committee “strongly” recommended use of the shot clock “In the near future.”

Other rule changes

The National Federation of High Schools changed the rules for teams that commit too many fouls in each quarter of their games.

The sixth foul in a quarter (a change from the previous five fouls per half) will put the opposing team “in the bonus.” It also means two free throws per common foul for the balance of the quarter instead of a one-and-one scenario. Team fouls reset after each quarter.

The national basketball rules committee proposed the rules this spring, and the NFHS board agreed.

“The rules committee studied data that showed higher injury rates on rebounding situations and saw this as an opportunity to reduce opportunities for rough play during rebounds,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the basketball rules committee.

Her comments appeared on the NFHS website. “Additionally, resetting the fouls each quarter will improve game flow and allow teams to adjust their play by not carrying foul totals to quarters two and four.”

For more, visit www.chsaanow.com