MPSSAA Implements Changes for Winter Sports

This season varsity basketball team will now have a shot clock of 35 seconds and a mercy rule of 35 points. This is the first year of having a shot clock, also the first year of using a mercy rule.

Gabe Reyes, Sports-Managing-Editor
June 13, 2017

Effective at the start of the 2017-18 winter season, there will be rule changes to three sports: basketball, swim and wrestling. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) will be instituting these rules.

There have been a few changes approved by the MPSSAA Board of Control, which is a rough percent body of our mobile school system supporting more local educational agencies in the state of Maryland. They vote and approve on all policy and procedure changes, among those are a few new rules pertaining to some of RHSa�� sports.

The main change for boys basketball is the implementation of a 35 second shot clock as opposed to the current system of no shot clock. In boys and girls basketball, they will be utilizing a 35 point mercy rule, which will start a running clock once there is a 35 point differential.

“I like the idea of the 35 second shot clock because it will help speed up the game a lot more and give more players opportunities to make plays and showcase their talents,” sophomore Andrew Pace said.

I like the idea of the 35 second shot clock because it will help speed up the game a lot more and give more players opportunities to make plays and showcase their talents.

— sophomore Andrew Pace

There have also been some rule changes to the wrestling season, as they will be moving to four dual meet classification, where four schools will compete. Wrestling currently has a two classification system for the dual meet state tournament. Over the years, there have been a number of schools who win both the dual meet state team title, but now the committee recommended going to four classifications, similar to the four classifications that baseball uses.

Along with the new changes to the wrestling season, there is also a change to the swim season. One of the changes is that players have to be consistent with wearing their uniform, specifically a cap.

“It should be up to the swimmers to decide if they want to wear a cap or not,” junior swimmer Brady Kines said.

Another change was that competitors have more flexibility when competing in 500-yard events to count either up or down with visual lap counters. This change allows flexibility for the competitor, and is in keeping with current trends in the sport.

“I think what it is, is you’re seeing some evolving of our different sports committees looking at ways to increase participation as well as taking a look at their sport and looking at it from a landscape of what they think will best enhance their sport,” Executive Director of the MPSSAA Andy Warner said.