High School Shot Clock- by Coach Scott Fields

Shot Clocks in High School Basketball - Coach Scott Fields

We need to start a movement with High School Basketball across the United States. We need to start petitions in each state that doesn't have a shot clock in high school basketball.  Can we at least start the dialog? Can we vet it out and get answers to our key questions?

I will be the first to say I don't have all the answers, but I do want to start the dialog and ask the right questions to start the movement.

Isn't it time to evolve as a basketball community? isn't it time to grow the game and assist the players with their development? isn't it about the kids and players? or is it about the coaches and their win records? isn't it about making the game fun to play and make the product entertaining to watch for fans?

Let us be proactive- Let us evolve and make the game better in each state that still does not have a shot clock.

Each state has a high school athletic association. I will take the time to research and locate each high school athletic association. I will provide e mail addresses for each of these associations.
Let us collect signatures and take to these Associations and press them to get a SHOT Clock in each state.

The National Federation of State High School Associations or the NFHS

P.O. Box 690
Indianapolis, In. 46206
Ph     317 972 6900
fax    317 822 5700         www.nfhs.org


Who is with me? Who will take the lead in each State? Who will start collecting signatures and take to these associations?
This is something bigger than myself. I will need the help from many.

allow me to present you some facts as I found on a search drive.

in 2013 there were 8 states who had a shot clock     (in alphabetical order)
1) California
2) Maryland
3) Massachusetts
4) New York
5) North Dakota
6) Rhode Island
7) South Dakota
8) Washington

in the next few seasons  two more states were added to the list
1) Michigan
2) Texas

Now some more facts to think about.... California is the number 1 state for NBA players ? interesting thought:  New York is the number 2 state in NBA players and Maryland is the number 7 state to have NBA players.
of the two states to later institute the shot clock Michigan is number 11 in NBA players and Texas is number 6 when it comes to NBA players.
This information from Ethan Morof on a twitter blog from the past.

The NBA instituted the shot clock 1954 at 24 sec
NBA G league has a 24 sec shot clock
FIBA, instituted the shot clock at 30 sec in 1956
WNBA had a 30 sec shot clock and then switched to 24 sec in 2000
NCAA had a 45 sec shot clock and it was reduced to 35 sec shot clock in 93-94

The high school in the united states listed above have either a 35/30 sec shot clock.

The shot clock is used to of course speed up the game. the shot clock gives a rhythm to the game, it provides a tempo to the game.

I have coached at all levels of the game.         (see my bio at coachscottfields.com)
I am eager to work on this to better the game. There have been many great articles in the past written on this topic. There have been social media accounts in the past. I just want to add gas to the fire !

The Following is the National High School Athletic Associations contact information. These are listed by state. I am looking for representatives from each state. Lets evolve the game. I care about the Game. I care about the development of the Game.

Thanks for your help, Thanks for your leads to make a network to get the right people involved to "GET A SHOT CLOCK IN EVERY STATE" in the United States.

 

National High School Association list

·        Alabama High School Athletic Association

P O Box 242367 (36124) 7325 Halcyon Summit Dr Montgomery, AL 36117Phone: (334) 263-6994Fax: (334) 387-0075                             www.ahsaa.com

·        Alaska School Activities Association

4048 Laurel St, Ste 203 Anchorage, AK 99508

Phone: (907) 563-3723Fax: (907) 561-0720              www.asaa.org

·        Arizona Interscholastic Association

7007 N 18th St Phoenix, AZ 85020-5552

Phone: (602) 385-3810Fax: (602) 385-3779               www.aiaonline.org

·        Arkansas Activities Association

3920 Richards Rd North Little Rock, AR 72117-2920

Phone: (501) 955-2500Fax: (501) 955-2521                  www.ahsaa.org

·        California Interscholastic Federation

4658 Duckhorn Dr Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone: (916) 239-4477Fax: (916) 239-4478        www.cifstate.org

·        Colorado High School Activities Assn

14855 E Second Ave Aurora, CO 80011-8900

Phone: (303) 344-5050Fax: (303) 367-4101               www.chsaanow.org

·        Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference

30 Realty Dr Cheshire, CT 06410-1655

Phone: (203) 250-1111Fax: (203) 250-1345              www.casciac.org

·        Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association

35 Commerce Way, Ste 1 Dover, DE 19904

Phone: (302) 857-3365Fax: (302) 739-1769            www.doe.k12.de.us/diaa

·        District of Columbia State Athletic Association

1050 First St. NE., 6th Floor Washington, DC 20002

Phone: (202) 654-6115Fax: (202) 724-7656                www.dcsaasports.org

·        Florida High School Athletic Association

1801 NW 80th Blvd Gainesville, FL 32606-9176

Phone: (352) 372-9551Fax: (352) 373-1528                   www.fhsaa.org

·        Georgia High School Association

PO Box 271 151 S Bethel St Thomaston, GA 30286-4187

Phone: (706) 647-7473Fax: (706) 647-2638       www.ghsa.net

·        Hawaii High School Athletic Association

PO Box 62029 c/o Kaimuki High School 2705 Kaimuki Ave., P3 Honolulu, HI 96816

Phone: (808) 587-4495Fax: (808) 587-4496       www.sportshigh.com

·        Idaho High School Activities Association

8011 Ustick Road Boise, ID 83704

Phone: (208) 375-7027Fax: (208) 322-5505                 www.idhsaa.org

·        Illinois High School Association

2715 McGraw Dr Bloomington, IL 61704

Phone: (309) 663-6377Fax: (309) 663-7479                www.ihsa.org

·        Indiana High School Athletic Association

PO Box 40650 9150 N Meridian St Indianapolis, IN 46260-1802)

Phone: (317) 846-6601Fax: (317) 575-4244      www.ihsaa.org

·        Iowa High School Athletic Association

PO Box 10 1605 S Story St Boone, IA 50036-5226

Phone: (515) 432-2011Fax: (515) 432-2961       www.iahsaa.org

·        Kansas State High School Activities Association

PO Box 495 (66601-0495) 601 SW Commerce Pl Topeka, KS 66615-1234

Phone: (785) 273-5329Fax: (785) 271-0236      www.kshsaa.org

·        Kentucky High School Athletic Association

2280 Executive Dr Lexington, KY 40505-4808

Phone: (859) 299-5472Fax: (859) 293-5999       www.khsaa.org

·        Louisiana High School Athletic Association

12720 Old Hammond Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Phone: (225) 296-5882Fax: (225) 296-5919       www.lhsaa.org

·        Maine Principals' Association

50 Industrial Drive Augusta, ME 04330

Phone: (207) 622-0217Fax: (207) 622-1513         www.mpa.cc

·        Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association

200 W Baltimore St Baltimore, MD 21201-1595

Phone: (410) 767-0555Fax: (410) 333-3111         www.mpssaa.org/

·        Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association

33 Forge Pkwy Franklin, MA 02038-3135

Phone: (508) 541-7997Fax: (508) 541-9888            www.miaa.net

·        Michigan High School Athletic Association

1661 Ramblewood Dr East Lansing, MI 48823-7392

Phone: (517) 332-5046Fax: (517) 332-4071           www.mhsaa.com

·        Minnesota State High School League

2100 Freeway Blvd Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-1735

Phone: (763) 560-2262Fax: (763) 569-0499                www.mshsl.org

·        Mississippi High School Activities Association

PO Box 127 1201 Clinton-Raymond Rd Clinton, MS 39060

Phone: (601) 924-6400Fax: (601) 924-1725            www.misshsaa.com

·        Missouri State High School Activities Association

1 N Keene St Columbia, MO 65201-6645

Phone: (573) 875-4880Fax: (573) 875-1450         www.mshsaa.org

·        Montana High School Association

1 S Dakota Ave Helena, MT 59601-5198

Phone: (406) 442-6010Fax: (406) 442-8250              www.mhsa.org

·        Nebraska School Activities Association

500 Charleston Street, Suite 1 Lincoln, NE 68508-1119

Phone: (402) 489-0386Fax: (402) 489-0934             www.nsaahome.org

·        Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association

1188 Victorian Plaza Circle Sparks, NV 89431

Phone: (775) 453-1012Fax: (775) 453-1016               www.niaa.com

·        New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association

251 Clinton St Concord, NH 03301-8432

Phone: (603) 228-8671Fax: (602) 225-7978               www.nhiaa.org

·        New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association

PO Box 48 1161 Route 130 Robbinsville, NJ 08691

Phone: (609) 259-2776Fax: (609) 259-3047               www.njsiaa.org

·        New Mexico Activities Association

6600 Palomas Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87109-5639

Phone: (888) 820-6622Fax: (505) 923-3110               www.nmact.org

·        New York State Public High School Athletic Association

8 Airport Park Boulevard Latham, NY 12110

Phone: (518) 690-0771Fax: (518) 690-0775             www.nysphsaa.org

·        North Carolina High School Athletic Association

PO Box 27515 222 Finley Golf Course Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Phone: (919) 240-7401Fax: (919) 240-7399               www.nchsaa.org

·        North Dakota High School Activities Association

PO Box 817 350 2nd St, NW Valley City, ND 58072-3047

Phone: (701) 845-3953Fax: (701) 845-4935             www.ndhsaa.com

·        Ohio High School Athletic Association

4080 Roselea Pl Columbus, OH 43214

Phone: (614) 267-2502Fax: (614) 267-1677               www.ohsaa.org

·        Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association

PO Box 14590 7300 N. Broadway Ext Oklahoma City, OK 73113

Phone: (405) 840-1116Fax: (405) 840-9559               www.ossaa.com

·        Oregon School Activities Association

25200 SW Parkway Ave, Suite 1 Wilsonville, OR 97070-9616

Phone: (503) 682-6722Fax: (503) 682-0960                  www.osaa.org

·        Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association

PO Box 2008 550 Gettysburg Road Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-0708

Phone: (717) 697-0374Fax: (717) 697-7721                 www.piaa.org

·        Rhode Island Interscholastic League

875 Centerville Road Building 3, Suites 7 & 8 Warwick, RI 02886

Phone: (401) 272-9844Fax: (401) 272-9838                   www.riil.org

·        South Carolina High School League

PO Box 211575 (29221-6575) 121 Westpark Blvd Columbia, SC 29210

Phone: (803) 798-0120Fax: (803) 731-9679                 www.schsl.org

·        South Dakota High School Activities Association

PO Box 1217 804 N Euclid Ave, Suite 102 Pierre, SD 57501-1217

Phone: (605) 224-9261Fax: (605) 224-9262                www.sdhsaa.com

·        Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association

PO Box 319 3333 Lebanon Road Hermitage, TN 37076

Phone: (615) 889-6740Fax: (615) 889-0544                   www.tssaa.org

·        Texas University Interscholastic League

PO Box 8028 1701 Manor Rd Austin, TX 78722

Phone: (512) 471-5883Fax: (512) 471-5908                 www.uiltexas.org

·        Utah High School Activities Association

199 East 7200 South Midvale, UT 84047-1534

Phone: (801) 566-0681Fax: (801) 566-0633                    www.uhsaa.org

·        Vermont Principals Association

Two Prospect St, Ste 3 Montpelier, VT 05602

Phone: (802) 229-0547Fax: (802) 229-4801             www.vpaonline.org

·        Virginia High School League

1642 State Farm Blvd Charlottesville, VA 22911-8609

Phone: (434) 977-8475Fax: (434) 977-5943                www.vhsl.org

·        Washington Interscholastic Activities Association

435 Main Ave S Renton, WA 98057

Phone: (425) 687-8585Fax: (425) 687-9476             www.wiaa.com

·        West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission

2875 Staunton Turnpike Parkersburg, WV 26104-7219

Phone: (304) 485-5494Fax: (304) 428-5431              www.wvssac.org

·        Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association

5516 Vern Holmes Drive Stevens Point, WI 54482-8833

Phone: (715) 344-8580Fax: (715) 344-4241                www.wiaawi.org

·        Wyoming High School Activities Assoc

6571 East 2nd Street Casper, WY 82609

Phone: (307) 577-0614Fax: (307) 577-0637            www.whsaa.org

my e mail address is coachscottfields@gmail.com
my twitter is @Scott_Fields
my Instagram is @coachscottfields
I am on linkedIN and Facebook.

my website is coachscottfields.com

I am eager to hear from all of you !

                                                       

Olympics vs World Cup Basketball competitions - by Coach Scott Fields

Olympics vs World Cup  Basketball Competitions  - by Coach Scott Fields

Olympics vs World Championships basketball !!

Which is bigger ? Which is better ? Which is more important ? Which has more significance?

F.I.B.A, is the International Basketball Federation it comes from the French term which stands for or translates to the Federation of International Basketball. FIBA started in 1932 and it is an establishment for all governing countries who participate in International basketball around the globe.

Please indulge me while I share some history and research with you on the competitions. It seems  a bit college course  101 of me,  but here you go.

The history of FIBA World Championships began in 1950, with the first FIBA Basketball World Cup which was the 1950 World Cup Championships. The FIBA Basketball World Cup is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation. (FIBA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1950 (the 1958 tournament was postponed to 1959 and did not get back on its current schedule until the 1970 tournament was held three years after the 1967 tournament).

The tournament was conceived during the 1948 Summer Olympics when FIBA leaders, seeing how successful the Olympic basketball tournament had become, wanted to hold a Championship every four years between Olympiads. The first tournament was held in 1950 in Argentina and was won by the hosts. The tournament was later dominated from 1963 through 1998 by Brazil, the Soviet Union (and later Russia), the United States, and Yugoslavia  (and later Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro), as those four teams won every medal in that era. Since 2002, however, parity has seen new teams claim medals as basketball continues to grow throughout the world.

The tournament was restricted to European and South American professional players for the first forty years of its existence. In 1989, FIBA made the decision to allow NBA players for future tournaments. Starting in 1994, NBA players have played in each Basketball World Cup.

Olympics Games history  : Olympics, comes from Greek origin and stood for the city of Olympia in Greece. The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, in south west Greece. Every four years, around 50,000 people came from all over the Greek world to watch and take part. The ancient games were also a religious festival, held in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods. This Olympic logo has the five rings to be symbolic for the five continents.  These games were designed to bring peace and unity through the medium of sports. These games were designed to bring political enemies together. Interesting , don't you think? The Olympics started back in 1896. Some Olympic history The Ancient Olympic Games were religious and athletic festivals held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia Greece. Competition was among representatives of several city- states and kingdoms of Ancient Greece. These Games featured mainly athletic but also combat sports such as wrestling and the pankration, horse and chariot racing events. The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held every four years, with the Summer and Winter games  alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart. There are now Para Olympics and Special Olympics.

now that I have put you to sleep and you have lost interest in the topic, here is my take on these games.

I have an unique perspective on this topic. It hits home for me as I have been blessed to have coached in FIBA as a head coach for 15 seasons and we have won multiple championships. My lens is different from most people from the USA, which I call home.  FIBA is the Federation for International Basketball Association. With my professional coaching abroad I was woven into the fabric of this competitive environment. I even assisted and consulted with a handful of national teams.

The Olympics are every four years but with alternating Winter and Summer games we wait only 2 years between those specific Olympic competitions. The FIBA World Championships are also 4 years apart. Basketball, is of course apart of the summer Olympic games.

FIBA will have the field grow from 24 teams to 32 teams. FIBA has multiple continents represented from regions such as Oceanic, Africa, Americas, Europe and Asia.
The Olympics has over 200 nations represented. I am just trying to compare and contrast here a bit.

I want to get back to my lens and perspective of these wonderful games and competitions. This article is not about ME, I am just sharing my experiences and why I feel the way I feel about the current situation of the many players removing themselves from the World Championship competitions.

I see both sides of the argument. I understand how the world views the World Championships for Basketball and I get the entire Olympic game attraction for the American public.

My personal involvement is this. I have coached over 100 players who went on to represent their countries. Many of these players played and proudly represented their countries and wore their countries colors across their chest. I know and understand the pride they have to say they played for their country. USA, Puerto Rico, China, France, Venezuela, New Zealand, Lebanon, Nigeria are a few of these countries I speak of who participated in either World Championships or Olympic games. I have also coached players who represented their countries  and I had the honor to coach players from Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Luxemburg, Austria. Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Dominican Republic who wanted nothing more to represent their countries in lower level competitions. I also have close friends who have coached national teams in Africa, such as Angola, European counties such as Poland, England and even Canada.

These players who represent their countries do it for honor, do it for pride. It is an act of service so to say.

I want to share with the American public this. The world Championships are the biggest competition for countries around the globe.  The World championships are the pinnacle of competitions on the basketball stage. Now, to the USA, we do not take the World Championship as serious as we do the Olympic games.

Why? the way I see it, the Olympic games have pageantry, they have marketing opportunities, they have sponsorship opportunities. Olympic games have the TV support on multiple channels all day and night. The American public set around the TV and love the back stories. The endorsement dollar speaks. I will say it again, the endorsement dollar speaks. The Olympic games are a platform and entertainment that brings the American public together for the common goal of winning GOLD ! The 1992 Basketball Dream Team , which was compiled of the best players in the game during that era of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who NBA commissioner David Stern wisely marketed the league around. Then Michael Jordan helped take the game global.  That Team also had Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen Clyde Drexler Chris Mullins and Patrick Ewing. They were coached by Chuck Daly assisted by Lenny Wilkens, Coach K and PJ Carlisemo. This team was dominant. in the Qualifying tournament they beat Cuba by 79,
 they beat Canada by 44, Argentina by 41 Venezuela by 47 and Puerto Rico by 38. the games were not close and America sent a message, the game was founded here in the USA and we were the best in the world,. The world was in awe of this collection of talent. players from other teams would shake the hands of the American players while lining up for FT's. They would take pictures of the players from the bench while they waited to get on the court. I coached a player from France who was on the National team and he told stories on the bus of how he tried to guard Michael Jordan. When these 1992 Olympics started the beat the African country of Angola by 68 the beat Croatia by 33, where MJ and Scottie put on a defensive show to stop Toni Kukoc as Chicago Bull front office executive J Krause wanted Toni with the Bulls the next season. They then beat Germany by 43 Brazil by 44 and Spain by 41 , They then beat Puerto Rico by 38 Lithuania by 51 nd in the Gold Medal game they beat Croatia again by 32. No game was ever in question. only a glimpse of the endorsement dollar would flex its muscle of American flags were draped over the sweat suits of the American players to hide the logo on the stars and stripes suits to get their gold medal on the stands when the National anthem was playing.

but since that time and era, the world has caught up the American dominance. American teams would once again struggle with team put together and with the ego's of the players feeling the other counties would be intimidated by the NBA stars.

it was like the NCAA sending their best to compete vs the strong professionals of club teams of Europe. European teams were club players and not considered professional and maintained amateur status. but NBA players were professional and not able to play in Olympics until that 1992 team, but it was considered by many to dominate. the Dream team was compared to the dominant African runners of the distant races. but now the tables have turned? The World has caught up with the Americans.  Why? was it the lessons taught by the Dream Team, is it the AAU culture ? (this is a topic for another day) Is it the FIBA clubs have better grass roots basketball and fundamentals are better taught through a club system? Is it the ESPN sports center highlights are only of dunks and not fundamental team basketball?  I will allow you to make your own decision. Is it the young players playing against club pro's? To me it is a mix of all the previously mentioned.

The world and all other countries put far more importance on the World Championships? The Americans and the American players put far more importance on the Olympic games when it comes to Basketball competition. Is it because of Ego? Is it because of the ol' mighty dollar? is it because of the newer term now known as load management? or is it a sprinkle of all? (again I will allow you to form our own opinions)

I feel disappointed when I read the recent news of NBA players withdrawing from the FIBA world cup qualifiers. These games are great confidence builders for players such as D Mitchell, Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum,  Harrison Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Joe Harris, Kyle Kuzma, Khris Middleton, Brooke Lopez Marcus Smart, Myles Turner Derrick White these are all nice young players but do not have the fire power of the NBA elite athletes and star power. I can only believe that these young stars will go into their NBA teams vet camps with confidence and swag after these games. Should America only send U23 teams to these games? Why are Lebron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry not going? Is it because of the shift with Coach K stepping down and Coach Pop of the Spurs taking over. NOT !?! Is it because of Load management? probably, these older vet players want to save their legs for the NBA season? is it again the ol' might dollar and exposure?  Just think of the number of International players now in the NBA ? Think of the influx of international talent on NBA rosters. the fear and intimidation factor is and has been gone.

We can not take these World Championship qualifiers lightly. We are about to send these young players into the lions den. These other countries of Spain, France, Serbia don't care who dons the USA jersey, they will come to win it all for their country.

Remember me saying the Dream team of 1992 beating Spain by 41, well Spain can and have beaten team USA. Argentina with Manu G, Luis S and other NBA players beat team USA in World Cup championships.

This could be a challenging summer for team USA. They have nice young talent. but I do not foresee 50 pt wins with this group. I do not see an average of 30 pt wins with this group. I am not saying the young NBA stars can not compete, I am saying it will be a learning curve for this young collaboration of talent.  It could be a hard lesson for Team USA? Is it the players fault? Is it the NBA's fault ? is it the old mighty dollars fault? There is a new Coach, these tem was just put together and it takes time to get chemistry. It takes time to learn the rules of international play.

I just hope the American fans and spectators are realistic going into these World Cup qualifying games. There will not be 70 point blowouts. Again, I have been apart of FIBA.  I know the passion and purpose of the other nations competing in these upcoming games. It will be interesting....It will be entertaining,... It will be basketball played at a high level of basketball IQ....It will be strategic...It will be a chess match exploiting weaknesses of teams. Can the athleticism of the young NBA players vs the fundamental ball being played by other FIBA teams? Can the young NBA players match the inside game of other top countries? Does the young NBA team have enough bench depth and shooting? Can we match or equal the team play of the older and more experienced Euro national teams? remember the international game is a bit different than the FIBA game, there are a few rule differences, Travels are called when the ball is not put down on the first step, the ball can be played off of the rim, and this is a mental conditioning thing for these players, that is a goal tending call in the NBA. We need to be able to react and swipe the ball off of the rim and utilize or athleticism. The 3 second lane is wider. the no touch rule when a team takes the ball out of bounds to speed up the play. These are all adjustments team USA can make on the fly, but it takes time...

I do feel team USA has talent, we just don't have the star power of the top names of the NBA. Will the American viewers follow and support this team? basketball fans, are basketball fans, the will watch summer hoops think of the TBT tournament where the winner takes all 2 million dollar purse. the BIG 3 of Ice Cubes retired players tour.  Fans support the NBA summer league in Vegas, so they can get a first glimpse of the drafted NBA talent of the future.  so those fans will support these games. but the casual fan?   I know they have far more interest in the Olympic games.

I, am excited for the World Championship qualifiers. I enjoy watching former players of mine compete, I enjoy watching friends of mine coach with team USA and with team abroad.

Lets enjoy the games, lets pray they stay injury free and healthy. Lets support these young men and embrace the games !