WIAA announces plan for sports seasons

RENTON–The tweeting of referees’ whistles and the crunch and grunt of a well-executed tackle will be absent from the gridiron this fall…but prep football players will get to play a seven-week season in March and April, 2021, according to a tentative plan released by the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association last week. Four modified sports seasons, to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic, are being planned. Additional details will be announced July 28.

Fall sports (Season 1) will be cross country, slow-pitch softball, golf and tennis (girls swim and dive an alternative season). There will be no athletics during December, and Season 2 will consist of basketball, bowling, boys swim and dive, gymnastics, cheerleading and wrestling, beginning January 4. The third season runs from March 1 to May 2 and includes volleyball, football, and girls and 1B/2B boys soccer. Starting April 26, Season 4 will include tennis, fast-pitch softball, track and field, baseball, golf, 1A-4A boys soccer, and dance/drill.

Each season runs seven weeks with one week at the end for tournaments.

Fall practices will begin September 7.

“The [WIAA] Board recognizes that participation in any fall sports will depend on county progression through the phases laid out in Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan over the coming weeks,” the news release indicated. “The Executive Board will create benchmarks on July 28 to be met in order for WIAA Season 1 to take place. If the benchmarks are not met, the Board will plan to move the remainder of fall sports to WIAA Season 3.”

“Since March, the philosophy of our Association has been to allow students every chance to participate,” said WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman. “We’ve asked our Executive Board and planning committees to be as creative as possible in allowing for those opportunities. These are tough and unprecedented decisions to make, but it has been inspiring to see so many people around the state come together to work on behalf of students.”