Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
RENTON — Winter high school sports statewide will be pushed back a month to Feb. 1, after a vote last week by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive board.
It also shortened each of the 2020-21 seasons to seven weeks.
In the new schedule, winter will conclude with a regionals event March 20. “Fall” sports run March 15 (a week earlier for football) to May 1. Spring sports start practices April 26, the season ending June 12.
All is subject to change. The WIAA’s Nov. 17 decision -- part of a five-hour virtual meeting -- comes in light of surging COVID-19 cases around the state, jeopardizing the safety of re-starting sports in December.
“This helps out a lot of schools that are not even in a hybrid situation yet,” WIAA board member and longtime Oakesdale teacher, coach and athletic director Ken Lindgren said. “Two-and-a-half more months might get a handle on it, and more of an understanding of this craziness that’s going on.”
The board also voted to approve an extension of the Open Coaching Window to Jan. 23. This allows coaches in all sports to work with students in the same fashion as the summer coaching window.
The opportunity is now closed, however, for four weeks, in accordance with new restrictions set by the governor’s office.
“We can’t get in until he reopens,” Lindgren said, noting the board is set to meet again Dec. 15.
“We’re looking at what other states are doing,” Lindgren said. “Idaho, Utah, Michigan starting with masks on in wrestling... How hard our staff and the board are working to hold on to that possibility to have these seasons played.”
While the board set the 2020-21 seasons’ framework, local flexibility remains limited due to protocols decided Nov. 2.
If less than 50% of schools in a classification are cleared to compete in a sport, in accordance with state Department of Health Guidelines, the WIAA will adjust the scheduled season to allow a chance for greater participation.
For now, the kids wait. “They’re holding on that there’s going to be something,” Lindgren said.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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