Plan for shot clocks in UIL Texas high school basketball moves toward vote
A plan for shot clocks in Class 6A and Class 5A University Interscholastic League Texas high school basketball moved toward a vote Wednesday at the 2026 UIL Legislative Council Meeting in Round Rock.
According to Matt Stepp of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the UIL athletic committee will put together an implementation plan to phase in clocks by the 2028-29 school year. The plan still needs to be voted on and approved in the fall.
Shot clock usage is backed by the Texas High School Coaches Association, and the majority of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
TABC surveys have shown that lower-classification coaches are more likely to be against the shot clock, while Class 5A and Class 6A coaches are more likely to support it.
“There are some financial concerns and monetary standpoint, but [advisory committees] still feel very, very strongly that this is what is best for basketball in the state of Texas, and that it’s good for the kids,” Brian Polk of THSCA said in the UIL Legislative Council public forum.
“We also understand that should this pass at some point, it would probably be two to three years before it ever came into play, because of all the training that has to take place with our officials, with our workers at the tables, and then with any equipment that would have to be bought.”
Eddie Hopkins of the Texas High School Basketball Officials Association said he is nervous about inexperienced workers operating shot clocks.
“That’s just part of the learning curve,” Hopkins said. “We just have to get on board and do whatever we’re asked to do.”
Patrick Carr of the Ogden Standard Examiner reported that shot clocks cost “anywhere between $3,500-$6,000.”
According to USA Today, the list of states that use or have approved a shot clock to some degree includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina (optional), South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming (optional).
The UIL has been denying shot clock proposals since 2021, when the National Federation announced that a 35-second shot clock would be permitted in high school basketball games by state associations beginning in the 2022-23 season.
The main argument for the use of shot clocks revolves around development. While in a game with an improved pace, high school athletes in Texas will receive valuable experience in a game more similar to the collegiate and professional levels.
It’s a common strategy to see teams hold the ball in the Texas high school basketball playoffs, especially if opposing defenses refuse to press up.
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