Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
It starts when it is hot and ends when it is cold.
For 2020-21, it will start when it’s cold and end when it’s warm.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced July 21 a four-season sports schedule which moves football to the spring.
The changes, to account for increasing COVID-19 cases, keep cross-country in the fall, and basketball and wrestling in a shortened season beginning after Christmas. Football and volleyball will run from March to early May with a final season for baseball and softball extending to June 27.
All is subject to change.
“If we can get four seasons in, that will really be a feat,” said Mike Morgan, Colfax High School football coach. “I’m eagerly awaiting it. It taps into the very best of all of us, that great human spirit.”
The four-season schedule allows for one week of culminating events/playoffs, except for football, which will have two weeks. Teams must qualify during the regular season. Specific playoff plans are yet to come.
The WIAA executive board noted that each sports season will depend on counties’ current status in coronavirus-safety phases laid out by the governor’s office.
The board was set to create benchmarks Tuesday for what must be met in order for “Season One” (fall) to go forward. If these are not met, the WIAA will move what remains of fall sports to “Season Three.”(the first of the two spring seasons).
“Okay, we have a direction. Guessing bothers everybody,” said Morgan. “We need to trust this process, trust that WIAA is working in the best interest of everyone. They have to look at the whole pie, plus all the pastries, the doughnuts and the day-old bread rack.”
The winter is set to look similar to normal years, with basketball and wrestling season to start in late December or early January, finishing by its traditional first week of March.
Much of each sports season is expected to be league games only.
“Since March, the philosophy of our Association has been to allow students every chance to participate,” said Mick Hoffman, WIAA executive director. “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.”
Hoffman said after the July 21 announcement that state championships may not be held, instead perhaps regional championships.
The executive board and planning committees’ work refers to Return-To-Activity Guidelines supported and co-authored by the National Federation of High Schools, Washington Department of Health and the Governor’s Office, along with sport-specific guidelines from WIAA committees -- made up of coaches, athletic directors, students, officials and local health professionals.
“There’s higher people on the food chain than football coaches, than the WIAA,” said Morgan. “The governors, the national leadership. Just do what you’re supposed to do, follow the rules.”
Morgan is the District 7 representative for the Washington Football Coaches Association -- which has given their input on playoff scenarios to the WIAA board.
“The WIAA is not short on getting advice,” Morgan said. “I trust these guys implicitly.”
In June, with fall looking to proceed as a modified-normal, the Colfax football team got in nine days of camp (no pads) as Whitman County was in Phase Three of virus shutdown/re-opening. Other league teams did not.
In a normal year, the Colfax program holds its two-week Bulldog football camp in June, then goes to a four-day camp at CWU or Boise State, then continues with weight-lifting until the designated start of practices in mid-August.
To Morgan, 56, this will be his first fall without direct involvement in football since he was five years old. Ever since he’s been a player or a coach.
“I might be doing a lot fly-fishing this fall.” he said.
The sports seasonsset for 2020-21 are as follows: cross country and golf (alternative season) Sept. 13 --Nov. 8; basketball and wrestling Jan. 3 -- March 7; football and volleyball March 14 -- May 2; baseball, softball (fast-pitch), track and golf May 2 –June 27.
Each season will have a short-lead up of practices, perhaps with less than the usual 12 required before competition, to minimize overlap. The WIAA executive board has stated its intention to not force kids to choose between sports.
“I want three-sport athletes, all the time,” said Morgan, of his football players. “Perhaps this year we’ll see a four.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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