Thursday, March 28, 2024

WIAA announces 2020-21 sports seasons

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RENTON – High school sports for the 2020-21 season will have a different look courtesy of a pandemic-modified calendar unveiled by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) on July 21.
The new format features four WIAA-sanctioned seasons that will group the moderate- and high-risk fall sports of football, 1B/2B boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, and volleyball into the spring 2021 season (3).
Here is how the modified schedule looks at of August 1. All dates are tentative:
● WIAA Season 1: Sept. 7 - Nov. 8 – cross country, softball, girls swim and dive, golf (alternate season), tennis (alternate season).
Cross country, softball, as well as alternative seasons for golf and tennis will begin practices the week of Sept. 7, a WIAA media release said adding that the viability of girls’ swim and dive is dependent on more information from the Department of Health.
● WIAA Season 2: Dec. 28 – Feb. 28 – basketball, bowling, boys’ swim and dive, gymnastics, cheerleading, wrestling. 
Traditional winter sports will remain in Season 2 with the expectation for those to begin in late December or early January.
● WIAA Season 3: March 1 - May 2 – volleyball, girls’ soccer, 1B/2B boys’ soccer, football.
● WIAA Season 4: May 2 – June 27 – tennis, softball, track and field, baseball, golf, boys’ soccer, dance/drill.
Traditional spring sports will complete Season 4 through the end of the school year.
The 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,” said the WIAA release.
The WIAA board set benchmarks on July 28 to be met in order for Season 1 to take place. Should those benchmarks not be met, the board will plan to move the remainder of fall sports to 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 se so many people around the state come together to work on behalf of students.”
The board and planning committees are working the Return-To-Activity Guidelines co-authored by the National Federation of High Schools, Washington Department of Health, and the Governor’s office along with sport-specific guidelines proposed by committees comprised of coaches, athletic directors, officials, students and local health professionals. The guidelines can be viewed online at wiaa.com.
 

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