Late next month, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Representative Assembly will consider 23 proposed amendments.
If adopted, many of the amendments could have a drastic impact on the state’s prep sports scene. Here are a few of the most interesting proposed changes.
*Adding a shot clock for boys basketball.
*Requiring a running clock if a 40-point differential rule is reached in basketball.
*Requiring a running clock when a 45-point differential is reached in football.
*Adding girls lacrosse to WIAA sanctioned sports.
Check out this detailed explanation of the proposed amendments. It includes interesting background on the basketball shot-clock debate. Here is a sampling:
Washington is one of eight states to utilize a shot clock for either girls or boys during the 2008-09 season: California (30-second shot clock for girls, 35-second shot clock for boys); Maryland (30-second shot clock for girls); Massachusetts (30-second shot clock for boys, 30-second shot clock for girls); New York (35-second shot clock for boys, 30-second shot clock for girls); North Dakota (35-second shot clock for boys, 30-second shot clock for girls); Rhode Island (35-second shot clock for boys, 30-second shot clock for girls); South Dakota (35-second shot clock for boys, 35-second shot clock for girls); and Washington (30-second shot clock for girls).
Sixty-six percent of the boys’ coaches who completed the 2008-09 WIAA online basketball rules clinic voted in favor of adopting a shot clock for boys (ninety-four percent of the girls basketball coaches voted to maintain the shot clock for girls.)
If a shot clock is approved for boys basketball, the Representative Assembly will consider three options: 30 seconds (just like the girls), 35 seconds or 45 seconds.
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