With the addition of the shot clock to HS boys basketball, HS officials will have to quickly ramp up their game awareness. When HS went from 2 to 3-man crews, there was an adjustment period. I told people it would take 3 years to really learn and understand the concepts, and feel comfortable with what you are doing. Some arrogant people scoffed at that, but 3 years later understood what I said and knew I was right. The others till don’t get it. The shot clock will not have nearly the impact to the game as the switch to 3-man, however, the potential for crew embarrassment is actually higher, because it adds another element that must be dealt with. Bad game awareness can make you look foolish as a crew should problems occur; good game awareness can make individuals look great and save their crews. As with everything else, the choice is yours. I’ve been through it for 9 years, and probably did not get really comfortable with shot clock game awareness until about year 5-6. Instead of telling “I Love Me” stories, I’m posting these ideas for you to read, ponder, and use at your discretion.
1. Early in the game, when the ball is inbounded in the backcourt, ensure that the shot clock starts when the ball is touched (controlled), NOT immediately after a made basket. To be honest, very few people will notice a 2-3 second headstart when this is done incorrectly. However, a correct shot clock is a great ally when you call 10 seconds, because it can verify a correct 10 count. I can tell you that I will make absolutely sure that the clock reads 25 or less before I will call a 10-second violation. I will also be sure that the shot clock operator is doing his job correctly on that early in the game so I have confidence that the shot clock helps me on the 10 second count. It ends the 2 comments a coach can throw at you—quick 10 count and/or the shot clock started early. And I have never made a 10 second call that was not protested. This helps a ton.
2. If you are confident and have big balls, you can call a 10-second count based on the shot clock from the C or L. You want to talk about good game awareness and helping your partners? They’d probably get pissed at you, but if the game needs it and the defensive team earned it, you can now make that call. If somebody did that to me as the T, and they were correct, I’d tip my cap and be greatly impressed with their game awareness.
3. “Do The Math”. When a possession starts, the trail should try to note what the game clock read at the start of the possession. Shot clocks are weird. Sometimes, they get reset during play. Sometimes, they get reset on a whistle when they should not have. They go out. The funny thing is, someone will notice and let you know about it. If you know the game clock at the start of the possession (or can credibly guess), you can quickly and authoritatively set the shot clock correctly and effectively resolve the issue. Nothing is more impressive than you saying “Game clock was 5:50, it now reads 5:30, so set the shot clock to 15!” Nothing is worse than saying “Let’s just set it to 18.” If you know exactly, that’s the gold standard. You’re a stud. If you have a great idea, make a confident guess and roll with it. In college, they track the possessions by computer, so the scoring table may be able to help you as well. So if you lapse and forget, ask the table for help. I will tell you—the longer the conference/meeting you have to resolve these things, the uglier it can get. Do The Math and save yourself and your crew the hassle.
4. There are times they forget to reset the shot clock, and the buzzer goes off early in a possession. “Do The Math” saves you there.
5. If you have an inkling that the shotclock is wrong, stop play and try and fix it.
6. If you have a whistle stopping play with anything associated with the shot clock, you can go with an “inadvertent whistle”, and give the ball to the team that has possession. Sometimes people anticipate the ball missing the rim with the shot clock winding down, and they blow the play dead because they anticipated it. (GJJ January 2009). Inadvertent whistle is the right way to fix those satiations, instead of sticking with the wrong call with respect to the shot clock.
7. Realize what you have at the table. I am guessing that the bigger schools will have decent table crews, but you always have to be aware. At freshman and JV games, my guess is you will really have to communicate with them, and be a lot more aware than the Varsity guys. You can make excuses, or train yourself and learn the skills. Crappy tables have to be managed—shot clock operators will have to be taught at lower levels. Accept the challenge and get it done!
8. It sounds to me like HS rules say that any shot attempt shot reset the shot clock, not if a shot hits the rim. That opens up room for interpretation. A airball deemed a legitimate shot attempt can be rebounded by the shooter. What is a legitimate shot? My opinion would be that you should not penalize the defense. The offense takes a reasonably good shot as the shot clock winds down—give them the benefit of the doubt. The offense panics and throws up a wild ass shot—you going to bail them out? My opinion is to use commons sense, understand whether the defense won the situation or not, and make your decision based on that. My guess is that shot-clock operators in HS will not reset unless the ball hits the rim, and I would instruct them to do just that. The better game management method in this situation would be to hear the buzzer, blow the play dead, and then rule that a legitimate shot attempt had occurred prior to the buzzer, and go the point of interruption. If the offense has the ball, they get it back. No control, you go to the arrow. Defense has it, they get it. Justice for all.
Lots of stuff here. If you have any questions for me, you know where to find me. Game awareness is become more important. Use it to your advantage with the shot clock.
