The 53 individuals charged with governing athletics throughout the state of Washington recently approved eight amendments, nearly all of which will be effective when the new school year rolls around.
Members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Representative Assembly voted to pass the new guidelines in early May, while rejecting three other proposals.
The Representative Assembly is comprised of 53 school administrators (35 from the high school ranks and 18 from the middle level) from each of the nine WIAA districts. For an amendment to pass, 60 percent approval is needed.
Of the eight amendments that passed, seven will go into effect next school year; the exception is HS #1, which becomes effective with the beginning of the next classification cycle in 2024-25.
PASSED AMENDMENTS
HS #1: Adjusts the enrollment parameters for 3A and 4A schools to balance the number of schools in those classifications. This one sailed through with a 34-1 “yes” vote.
HS #2: Authorizes the WIAA Executive Board to adjust enrollment parameters every four years. This also receive huge support, passing 32-3.
HS #4: This deals with student transfers and defines a “resident public school” and a “school of choice.” According to the text of the amendment, “if a hardship is granted for a student transferring from a school of choice, they may be eligible only at their resident public school.” Another landslide here, passed by a 31-4 margin.
ML/HS #5: This one involves middle school students who transfer to a district where eighth graders are allowed to participate at the high school level. The student will be limited to participating at the sub-varsity level for the remainder of the school year. It passed 43-10.
ML/HS #7: All coaches, whether paid or volunteer, will be required annually to complete the WIAA “general rules” clinic, along with a clinic for the sport being coached. The proposal passed 45-8. Presently, it is only “recommended” that volunteer assistants attend the clinics.
ML #9: Passing unanimously (18-0) was language clarifying that middle-level basketball games may consist of four quarters up to eight minutes each or two individual halves of 20 minutes of running clock time.
HS #10: This one (passes 24-11) allows schools to schedule 18 contests for tennis. The limit has been 16 matches.
ML/HS #11: The exact wording: “League review of the WIAA administrative staff regarding the misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule is no longer required.” The item passed 51-2.
FAILED AMENDMENTS
HS #3: This proposal would have split the WIAA’s 1B classification into two divisions, 1B-1 and 1B-2. The idea was shot down by a 25-10 vote. The 1B classification includes the state’s smallest schools by enrollment; presently, 1B schools can have up to 104 students.
ML/HS #6: “Allows for accommodations to be made for students to participate in non-school athletic activities no more than twice per week.” The verdict here was closer than most, but the proposal fell 32-21.
HS #8: Failing by a 21-14 vote was an amendment dealing with basketball tournaments. The proposal said a tourney consisting of up to four contests played on consecutive days would count as only one game when considering season limits.
