Wisconsin just took major steps toward joining more than 30 states across the nation in implementing a shot clock in high school basketball.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Board of Control passed two measures in its June 23 meeting pertaining to the potential full implementation of a shot clock by the 2028-29 season. The first approved the implementation of a 35-second shot clock for boys and girls varsity basketball by mutual agreement of the teams for nonconference games in the 2026-27 season.
The latter approved measure sent full implementation of a 35-second shot clock for the 2028-29 season to the WIAA membership for approval at the next WIAA annual meeting, scheduled for the end of April 2027.
A survey conducted in the fall of 2025 on behalf of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association by School Perceptions of 919 statewide coaches, athletic directors, superintendents and principals shared with the Journal Sentinel indicated 57% of respondents approved the use of a shot clock in high school basketball. Of the remaining respondents, 30% did not approve and 13% were undecided.
Support for a shot clock skews toward Wisconsin’s upper divisions, with 82% in favor in Division 1 and 74% in D2. Division 3 (53%) and D4 (51%) still have majority approval, but resistance climbs to 33% and 37%, respectively. Division 5 is the lone division that sees majority disapproval of a shot clock, with 45% opposed to 39% in favor.
The two approved measures were identical to proposals put forth by the WIAA basketball coaches advisory council in 2025 which were voted down by the WIAA advisory council prior to reaching the board of control.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin high school basketball moves closer to having shot clock
Reporting by Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
