AHSAA implements shot clock for next season

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the CBOC voted to mandate the 35-second shot clock for AHSAA basketball beginning with the 2026-2027 season.

The Central Board also voted to extend the “Mercy” rule used in post-season basketball games to include the state finals. The Mercy Rule establishes a running clock when one team takes a 30-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Other sports changes included:

CROSS COUNTRY: Approved starting box assignments to be assigned randomly by the state meet director.

SWIMMING: Approved state qualifying times being adjusted every two years based on the past two years of data – the same process used pre-Covid in 2019; approved the use of ledges for backstroke competition; adjusted the state meet warm-up and competition start times; and approved use of aggregate times at certified meets for state qualifying for relays.

WRESTLING: Returning to pre-determined brackets for state tournament placement; expanded Class 1A-3A boys, 5A and 6A girls to 16-man brackets; approved points to be determined for wrestlers who have byes and win their next match; and approved requiring a mat requirement of weight class matches for seed points.

BASKETBALL: The CBOC also discussed moving from area play to district play for 6A in next season and moving from area play to district play for all classifications. No action was taken, however.

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