MT. JULIET — A shot clock is coming to TSSAA basketball.
But member schools will have time to work out the kinks before it's implemented.
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TSSAA Board of Control members voted 8-4 to pass a proposal to implement a 35-second shot clock during TSSAA games at the organization's June 9 meeting.
The proposal originally came from Bartlett High School but was amended by board member Jody Wright to change what would have been a three-year implementation period to four years.
"I think the shot clock was coming, and I don't think noise around the shot clock is going to go away," said Wright, who is Fulton's boys basketball coach. "So, how do you manage the opposition to it, the fact that probably it needs to get passed? You've got a lot of schools that this is going to put a financial burden on them, and we represent those schools.
"So we've got to understand the shot clock is a want, it's not a need. So trying to balance the fact that you're passing a requirement that has a financial tag to it. So how do we do it in a way that's fair to all parties involved? So (four-year implementation plan) was kind of a compromise."
Beginning in the 2026-27 seasons, schools can begin using a shot clock during Hall of Champions games and holiday tournaments to help schools ease into the numerous challenges they may face. Full implementation of the rule will begin during the 2029-30 season.
There are specifications that will be ironed out by TSSAA over the course of the next few months and years, but if the rules mimic college basketball, a turnover would occur if a team doesn't get a shot off (hitting the rim) in a 35-second span after beginning a possession.
The shot clock would reset to 35 seconds following offensive rebounds and change of possession.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA Board of Control votes to add shot clock to basketball