WIAA Executive Board revises Season 1 sports

RITZVILLE – Greg Whitmore, Lind-Ritzville Athletic Director and WIAA Executive Board member, hosted a teleconference Jan. 6 to answer questions about what new state guidelines mean for athletics in the state and for athletes at local school districts. This is Whitmore’s seventh year on the WIAA board.

Earlier in the day, the WIAA Executive Board voted to amend its season schedule, moving traditional fall sports to WIAA Season 1 while choosing to review Seasons 2 and 3 at its Jan. 19 meeting.

WIAA Season 1 will span seven weeks in length, beginning with pre-competition practices Feb. 1 through March 20. Sports scheduled for that season include cross country, football, golf (alternate), slowpitch softball, girls and 1B/2B boys soccer, tennis (alternate) and volleyball.

The change comes after Gov. Jay Inslee announced the “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan which outlined a new set of guidelines and metrics for the resumption of education-based athletics and activities in Washington. Sports will maintain their previously assigned risk levels; however, the level of participation for each activity will vary in Phase 1 or Phase 2.

“The change in guidelines allow all traditional fall sports to be played in Phase 2 while we still do not have a clear pathway to the high risk indoor activities of basketball, competitive cheer and dance, and wrestling,” WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “With that in mind, moving fall sports to Season 1 will hopefully provide the most opportunities to participate.”

Whitmore said the WIAA does not make the decision if schools can have athletic activities; but the Department of Health puts out mandates and guidelines, and makes recommendations to the governor, who then put it out to the state.

“It’s not a matter of whether or not the WIAA wants sports,” Whitmore said. “If we were in control, we are ready to go.”

He said while there are more questions than answers at this point, the governor appointed a liaison to work with Executive Director Mick Hoffman.

“Mick Hoffman has an open phone line and is talking to him constantly,” Whitmore said.

While the Executive Board will provide a uniform season schedule concluding in regional culminating events, it has granted each WIAA league or district around the state the ability to reschedule seasons to best fit their local communities.

In addition to changing the sports scheduled for WIAA Season 1, the Board voted to extend the open coaching period at each school up until the day before the first season begins at that school.