NY State 70-second Shot Clock Procedures (2026)

NY State 70-second Shot Clock Quick Guide (2026)

70-Second Shot Clock Mechanics:

3-Person Mechanics

• The Single-Side official will take the 20-second clearing using their beeper.
• The Single-Side official will initiate the first 70-second shot clock by pressing the Whistle Stop (WS) timing device and signal by putting arm straight up and twirling arm/hand/fingers. Partners should all mirror the signal.
• When shot clock hits 60-seconds all officials will say, “UNDER” and point in the direction of attacking team.
• The Trail official will take all resets after valid shots, “Play-ons,” timeouts and time-serving penalties by pressing the button on the WS timing device and using the “Reset” signal. As a backup ONLY, and IF the Trail official misses a “Reset,” the other two officials could reset the shot clock.

2-Person Mechanics

• The Trail official will take the 20-second clearing count using their beeper.
• The Trial official will initiate the first 70-second shot clock by pressing the Whistle Stop (WS) timing device and signal by putting arm straight up and twirling arm/hand/fingers. Partners should all mirror the signal.
• When shot clock hits 60-seconds all officials will say, “UNDER” and point in the direction of attacking team.
• The Trail official will take all resets after valid shots, “Play-ons,” timeouts and time-serving penalties by pressing the button on the WS timing device and using the “Reset” signal. As a backup ONLY, and IF the Trail official misses a “Reset,” the other official could reset the shot clock.

70-Second Shot Clock Situations:

SITUATION A: Team A is clearing the ball and is under a 20-second count. The ball becomes loose in Team A’s defensive half of the field, then is directed over the midline thus satisfying Team A’s 20-second clearing requirement. The loose ball now goes back into Team A’s defensive half of the field directed by either team (it doesn’t matter which), Team A regains possession in their defensive half of the field. RULING: Team A gets a new 20-second clearing count, then a 70-second shot clock once possessed in their offensive half of the field. NOTE: Team A never possessed the ball in their offensive half of the field.

SITUATION B: Team A with 14 seconds on the shot clock takes a “valid” shot that carries over the midline into Team A’s defensive half of the field. Team A regains possession.

RULING: Team A gets a new 20-second clearing count, then a 70-second shot clock once possessed in their offensive half of the field.

SITUATION C: Team A is under a 70-second shot clock. Team B deflect a pass by Team A and/or the ball becomes loose and is directed by Team B back over the midline into Team A’s defensive half of the field. (a) Team A regains possession the ball. (b) Ball goes out of bounds and awarded to Team A. Ruling: (a) The shot clock is not reset and shall continue to run. (b). The shot clock is not reset and shall continue on the restart. NOTE: In both (a) and (b) Team A is under no obligation to clear the ball and may use all of the remaining time on its original shot clock to return the ball to their offensive half of the field, but once the ball returns to the offensive half, then the “over and back” rule is back in force.

SITUATION D: Team A with time running down on the 70-second shot clock takes a shot. While the ball is in flight, the shot clock horn goes off. The ball then goes into the goal. RULING: Goal counts. NOTE: Similar to the end of the quarter, if the shot is released before the shot clock expires or quarter ends, the goal counts. It is highly recommended that we don’t sound our whistles at the end of a quarter or shot clock if a shot has already been released.

Questions? Call, text or email Brendan Wallace at (516-315-3017) or  bwallace23@verizon.net.