UIL Approves Shot Clock for High School Basketball

AUSTIN, TX — Texas high school basketball teams in Classes 5A and 6A will be required to use a 35-second shot clock beginning in the 2028-29 school year after the University Interscholastic League Legislative Council approved the change Monday.

The decision makes Texas the 36th state to adopt a shot clock for high school basketball. Schools in Classes 5A and 6A may implement the clock as early as the 2027-28 season.

“It has taken a while, but I think the UIL legislative council took deliberate steps to make sure that once we did get it, everything will be implemented the correct way,” Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Executive Director Johnnie B. “Hawk” Carter told the Houston Chronicle. “We’ve been working on this for some time now, and I’m very excited about it.”

The council also established a gradual timeline for lower classifications. Class 3A and 4A schools may implement a shot clock beginning in 2030-31, while Classes 1A and 2A may do so beginning in 2032-33. The UIL said it will monitor implementation and timing, leaving open the possibility of further changes.

Carter said approximately 70% of coaches surveyed supported the change, with most opposition coming from inner-city and smaller schools.

Implementation will bring additional staffing and equipment costs for school districts. Houston Lamar head coach Jerry VanDeusen said schools will need an adult to operate the shot clock and another to maintain the scorebook during home games.

Districts typically hire personnel for those duties, but schools with limited budgets may rely on volunteers. Installing two shot clocks in a gymnasium costs an average of $4,500, excluding wiring and installation labor.

Carter said the phased implementation accounts for those financial concerns.

“That’s why I think the UIL and the legislature [did a] gradual implementation of it and not just force it on everyone,” he said.

Other news coming out of the UIL's Legislative Council meeting included: 

• The Council approved a proposal for home field advantage for the first round of playoffs in all conferences for all team sports beginning with the 2027-28 school year.
• The distance of the Conference 4A girls cross country race will increase to 5,000 meters beginning in 2028-29, and junior high cross country meet start times will now be allowed to take place in the morning
• The Legislative Council also passed a proposal to allow Conferences 1A and 2A to participate in Conference 4A team tennis beginning next school year. Currently, Conference 3A schools are allowed to participate in 4A team tennis.
• The development of girls flag football in concept as a pilot program with the establishment of no more than two classifications to begin no earlier than the 2028-29 school year. UIL will gather additional information for rules and guidelines of the pilot program to be considered at subsequent Legislative Council meetings.
• Additionally, the Legislative Council passed a proposal to allow linear football broadcasts on Friday night of the regular season when mutually agreed upon by both schools.