The WIAA unveiled their plans for high school athletics in the state during a Tuesday night press conference.

There will be four seasons beginning Sept. 7 with sports that are considered low-risk like cross country and golf.

Board Executive Director Greg Whitmore says it's a balancing act between health, safety and opportunity.

"We all felt, but I can't say we all know anything for sure, but I don't think there was anyone in the virtual board room that felt we could get the high-risk sport of football played this fall. We're just not in a position and it doesn't look like our state of COVID-19 and everything else was going to allow us to do that."

Football will now start in early March, while the traditional winter sports are scheduled for January and February.

Executive Director Mick Hoffman says their work is also not done.

"Please understand it's an incredibly fluid situation. Where we're at now could change tomorrow. Literally during the meeting we were notified about the possibility of several schools making announcements about online learning. Because this is happening so incredibly fast, we want to make sure we're giving information for schools to plan, but also make sure that everybody understands that when you look at dates, those are definitely written in pencil."

Hoffman also noted that they hope to offer chances for athletics and activities even if learning is remote.

Here's the official press release from WIAA:

RENTON, Wash. – The WIAA Executive Board took action on Tuesday to modify the 2020-21 WIAA sports season calendar in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes will create four WIAA-sanctioned seasons and will also move moderate- and high-risk team sports, originally scheduled for the fall season, to the WIAA Season 3.

The fall sports of cross country, slowpitch softball, as well as alternative seasons for golf and tennis, have been determined to consist of WIAA Season 1 and will each begin practices the week of September 7, a date determined by the Executive Board at a previous meeting. The viability of girls’ swim and dive taking place in WIAA Season 1 is dependent on more information from the Department of Health.

The remaining fall sports of girls’ soccer, 1B/2B boys soccer, volleyball and football will now be scheduled to begin in the early spring of 2021 as part of WIAA Season 3.

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. 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.

Traditional winter sports will all take place in WIAA Season 2 with the expectation to begin in late December or early January. Traditional spring sports will occupy WIAA Season 4 to end the school year.

The supporting document below provides tentative dates of when seasons could potentially start and end, but a final decision has not been determined by the Board.

“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.”

The WIAA Executive Board and planning committees are working under the Return-To-Activity Guidelines supported and co-authored by the National Federation of High Schools, Washington Department of Health and the Governor’s Office, as well as sport-specific guidelines set forth by WIAA committees made up of coaches, athletic directors, students, officials and local health professionals. Those guidelines can be found on the WIAA Website.

WIAA Season 1: Cross Country, Slowpitch Softball, Girls Swim & Dive*, Golf (Alternative Season), Tennis (Alternative Season)

WIAA Season 2: Basketball, Bowling, Boys Swim & Dive, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Wrestling

WIAA Season 3: Volleyball, Girls Soccer, 1B/2B Boys Soccer, Football

WIAA Season 4: Tennis, Fastpitch Softball, Track & Field, Baseball, Golf, Boys Soccer, Dance/Drill

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