WIAA releases proposed amendments for January vote

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced 10 proposed amendments Dec. 21 that will be discussed and finalized by the WIAA Representative Assembly during the virtual Winter Coalition, Jan. 25.

The proposed amendments were submitted by either the WIAA Executive Board or a school during the past year. Once the amendments are finalized, a forum will become available through the WIAA’s website for an informed discussion in addition to a public forum to gather feedback from people outside of the membership.

Voting for the amendments will take place between April 29 and May 7, according to a statement released by the WIAA. The Representative Assembly is made up of a 53 members, including 18 middle level members and 35 from the high school level. A 60% “yes” vote is required to adopt the amendments.

The proposed amendments include the following:

• Flag football, 7-on-7 football and sand volleyball will be considered as separate and distinct from interscholastic sports.

• A student will not be varsity-eligible if he or she transfers to a school after participating in a non-school team if one or more of the high school coaches or affiliated persons with the new school were involved, including training, weight training and conditioning.

• Updated language will be added to the WIAA handbook concerning appeals of eligibility regarding gender equity.

• 1B and 2B schools may use eighth-graders from non-WIAA member middle schools.

• With league approval, 1A high schools may use eighth-graders.

• Students receiving preferential treatment or privileges to enable them to participate in non-school athletic activities is not allowed on a regular basis.

• A minimum of one hour in coaches standards will be added to address student mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion education.

• High school basketball teams may participate in 20 games, or 19 plus one tournament for a total of 23 games. A WIAA foundation game or contest against an international touring team will not count toward this total.

• The restriction of 20 days of coaching for summer football will be eliminated.

• A two-day wrestling tournament consisting of brackets larger than 16 participants will count as one of the team’s 16 allowed dates.

Casey McCarthy can be reached at cmccarthy@columbiabasinherald.com.