UIL Decides Against Adding Shot Clock for Basketball

AUSTIN, TX — Once again, the UIL has decided to stall on adding a shot clock to Texas high school basketball.

During its annual summer Legislative Council on Tuesday, the state’s governing body chose to remain in the minority of states by keeping basketball without a shot clock.

There are 32 states that are using it or plan to use it by the 2026-27 season.

The UIL's Athletic Committee announced it would continue to study adding a shot clock, but supporters of the proposed change will have to wait another year for a decision.

The addition of a shot clock has long been a hot debate among basketball fans in Texas.

Some like its absence, which allows teams the opportunity to try and pass the ball around without attempting to score in an attempt to waste time.

Teams can also take advantage of the lack of a shot clock by simply being patient and deliberate in their offensive approach.

Fans who would like to see a shot clock often speak with disdain about teams stalling — for even minutes at a time — forcing other teams to foul them.

Without a shot clock, defenses aren’t rewarded for keeping teams from scoring.

The NBA has a 24-second shot clock, while the NCAA’s shot clock goes to 30 seconds, so a logical time for a shot clock in high school would be about 36 seconds.

The UIL’s decision not to add a shot clock was the biggest news to come out of the summer meetings, along with the announcement it would continue to study adding girls flag football.

There were also some significant changes, including making water polo a fully sanctioned sport.

The baseball playoffs will be altered as Class 3A and 4A will join 5A and 6A in requiring all rounds of the playoffs through the state semifinals to be best-of-three series unless both coaches agree to a one-game playoff.