MCLA Retaining 80-Second Shot Clock
ATLANTA – The Board of Directors of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), the preeminent non-varsity league in the country, has voted to retain the 80-second shot clock for the 2022 season and not require member schools to adopt the new NCAA 80-60 shot clock that will be introduced this spring.
With the costly upgrade to current shot clock technology along with the short timeline, holding off the introduction of this new mechanic gives MCLA teams additional time to evaluate any potential future move.
“We have a large portion of our membership that hasn’t played in nearly two years and hasn’t been able to collect dues,” said MCLA president Ken Lovic. “It’s just not the right time to saddle them with additional costs. With the exciting and high-paced brand of lacrosse that our teams play, we feel like we can make a rare break with the NCAA rules in this case and still remain consistent with the collegiate game.”
The MCLA board has consulted with the National Intercollegiate Lacrosse Officials Association (NILOA) and this decision will not put any undue burden on officials in any region.
The 2022 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance will use the 80-second shot clock. Nationals, which will feature two 16-team tournaments in Division I and II, will be held at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, Texas, from May 9-14.