NCAA officials are encouraging men’s lacrosse teams to experiment with two versions of a 60-second shot clock in fall exhibitions.

Though this is not a rule-change year for NCAA men’s lacrosse, the rules committee announced Aug. 14 it had asked teams to experiment with a visible 60-second shot clock. Teams would continue to have 30 seconds to clear the ball and enter the attack area. The NCAA uses experimental rules to gather data for future discussions at the committee level.

On Thursday, Tom Abbott, national coordinator of officiating, and Willie Scroggs, secretary-rules editor of the committee, issued a memo to college coaches offering two options for shot clock operators. The first option initiates the 60-second shot clock immediately when a team gains possession. The second option allows officials to manage the 30-second clearing count (20-second beeper and 10-second hand count) and signal the start of the 60-second shot clock once the team enters the attack area —essentially allowing up to 90 seconds for a full-field possession.

In both options, the shot clock always will be reset to 60 seconds after a valid shot, which is defined as a shot taken from above goal line extended that hits the goalie or pipe.

In addition to a shot clock, the NCAA also is considering shortening the substitution box and allowing offensive players to leave their feet for scoring attempts around the crease.