NJSIAA approves statewide implementation of running clock in H.S. basketball

Some rules created by NFHS – the National Federation of State High School Associations, which sets standard rules for high schools across the country – are optional, such as the shot clock in basketball. Others govern basic rules of all the sports played in high school, and must be followed.

While New Jersey is still one of several states that have not implemented the shot clock in basketball – often due to concerns about the added cost – one rule it will now implement statewide is that of a running clock.

NJSIAA Spokesman Mike Cherenson confirmed to Central Jersey Sports Radio Wednesday afternoon that its Executive Committee earlier in the day approved the “mercy rule” across the state.

Locally, the Skyland Conference already had it in place, as the rule has always been optional, until now. The NJIC has been using it, too. The Greater Middlesex Conference had voted to begin using it this year.

Now everyone will – girls’ and boys’ basketball – effective this upcoming season, 2025-26.

The measure was proposed by the NJSIAA staff along with the Basketball Committee and Leagues & Conferences.

According to the approved proposal, “Upon the start of the third quarter, if the score differential reaches 35 points or more, the clock will stop only for a time out, injury, technical foul, or when requested by the officials. Normal timing will not resume during the remainder of the game, with the exception of overtime. Any overtime period will resume normal timing.”

The GMC’s implementation of the running clock had a lot to do with lopsided scores in the Red Division on the girls’ side, which has been dominated now for several years by St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Trojans have won the last six GMC Tournament titles, but last year in the regular season, played at a completely different level. Against seven other division opponents – Colonia, East Brunswick, Monroe, North Plainfield, Old Bridge, Piscataway and South Brunswick – by a shade over 45 points a game. In four GMC Tournament games, their average margin of victory was 59.5 points per contest.

Their overall season differential per game was plus-27, including losses, and the county and state tournament.

NJSIAA Basketball Director Al Stumpf says the rule applies to “all varsity games” and adds “conferences have the option of using it [the NJSIAA rule] or their own mercy rule for the subvarsity levels.

In it’s rationale for the rule, included in the proposal put before the Executive Committee, the NJSIAA said its goal was to have a statewide adoption of the mercy rule to “bring consistency across all leagues and conferences and simplify application of the mercy rule for coaches and officials.”

Further, it adds, “this will mitigate the risk of confusion or arguments that can take place when member schools are competing in non-league/conference contests.”

Other NJSIAA sports have their version of the mercy rule. In football, a margin of 33 points or more kicks off the running clock automatically in the second half of a game. Baseball has a ten-run rule that ends a game any time after five innings of play, four-and-a-half if the home team is ahead by ten.

Soccer saw a mercy rule implemented for 2025 as well, where a game will end at the 20-minute mark of the second half if the goal differential is six or more. If the differential grows to six after the 20-minute mark, the game will come to an end, similar baseball. In that sport, if the run differential grows to ten or more after the fifth inning, the game will end at the conclusion of that inning or half-inning, depending on which team is in the lead.