Possible changes: Shot clock for boys basketball, sanctioning girls lacrosse

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.