RENTON – The WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) Executive Board approved a process for determining the status of upcoming WIAA seasons during the 2020-21 school year Nov. 2. The process outlines a timetable for decision making as well as a minimum participation requirement and is based on feedback from athletic directors. The Executive Board determined that, in order for a season to take place, 50% of schools in a WIAA region (by classification) must be eligible to participate in league games as per the COVID metrics in the Department of Health guidelines. Four weeks prior to the upcoming planned season, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 28, staff will send a preliminary update to all schools showing the percentage of eligible schools for sports within the eligible risk category. If a sport is below 50% of schools eligible to compete in any region, staff will provide notice of which season the sport would move to. The WIAA will monitor the eligibility of schools based on the number of cases reported in their county, with a final decision being made three weeks prior to the beginning of the season. If a WIAA Region meets the eligibility requirements for the scheduled sport season but chooses not to participate, that Region will have the flexibility to move the sport to a different season. Two weeks before the season, WIAA regions that meet requirements will determine if they will participate in each sport season as scheduled. If the region meets the requirements, but chooses not to participate, the region directors must indicate the adjusted season. Once a season begins, it should continue to its end without suspending, delaying or restarting. Reardan, Davenport and Harrington fall into Region C, which features WIAA Districts 5-9. Lincoln County schools are in District 5. Cheney and Medical Lake are also in Region C. Medical Lake is in District 5, while Cheney is in District 8.
Each sport will conclude with a WIAA Region culminating event during the final week of its scheduled season. The minimum requirement to hold a regional event is eight participating schools within a single classification of a Region. If a classification cannot meet that requirement, they will have the option to combine with another classification in the Region for the culminating event.
The Executive Board will continue to examine any adjustments to the current WIAA season alignments at its Nov. 17 meeting based upon the revised government guidelines and the latest COVID-19 metrics across the state.
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