How high school leagues across Washington are planning COVID-condensed 2021 season schedules (latest updates)

After a glimmer of return-to-play hope, high school athletic administrators across the state of Washington are planning for what a condensed schedule will look like if sports return in winter and spring 2021.

After a glimmer of return-to-play hope, high school athletic administrators across the state of Washington are planning for what a condensed schedule will look like if sports return in winter and spring 2021.

The WIAA released a revised schedule last week that put traditional fall sports first in line with practices set to start as early as Feb. 1, but will allow leagues across the state to opt-out to make their own schedules.

Gov. Jay Inslee's two-phased Healthy Washington plan, which went into effect Jan. 11, allows for most high school sports to resume competition in regions that reach Phase 2.

In order to move to Phase 2, regions must show a 10 percent decrease trend in COVID-19 case rates, 10 percent decrease in hospitalizations, a test positive rate lower than 10 percent and an intensive care unit occupancy rate under 90 percent. Each of the state's eight regions, which were divided up based on the location of surrounding health care systems, are currently in Phase 1. Each region's status is reassessed on Fridays by the state department of health.

The WIAA Executive Board completed its season structuring on Tuesday, placing spring sports second behind fall sports, followed by winter sports last.

Here is the latest on what each league has decided:

(Editor's note: This story will be updated as leagues make decisions)

WIAA calendar

(Link to the official WIAA schedule)

Season 1 (Feb. 1-March 21): Cross country, football, slowpitch softball, girls and 1B/2B boys soccer, girls swim and dive, volleyball, golf, tennis.

Season 2 (March 15-May 2): Baseball, softball, golf, boys soccer, tennis and track and field.

Season 3 (April 26-June 13): Basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance/drill, gymnastics, wrestling and boys swim and dive.

League decisions by district

DISTRICT 1

2A/3A/4A Wesco: Opt-out

Feb. 15 start for football, Feb. 22 remaining fall sports and boys tenns — six-week season, ending April 2. March 29 start for spring sports, plus girls tennis and golf - six-week season ending May 8. May 3 start for winter sports - six-week season ending June 12.

Lost for 2021: Oak Harbor and Mount Vernon (to NWC)

Northwest Conference: Opt-out

Feb. 1 start for football, girls swimming and cross country. Feb. 8 start for girls soccer and volleyball - seven-week season ending March 21. March 22 start for spring sports, plus golf and girls tennis — seven-week season ending May 9. May 10 start for winter sports, plus boys tennis — seven-week season ending June 20.

New members for 2021: Mount Vernon and Oak Harbor

North Sound Conference

2021 season planning not immediately known.

Northwest 1A/2B

2021 season planning not immediately known.

Northwest 1B

2021 season planning not immediately known.

DISTRICT 2

2A/3A/4A KingCo: Opt-out

Feb. 24 start for football, March 1 remaining fall sports and boys golf and boys tennis — six-week season ending April 3. April 5 remaining winter sports - six-week season ending May 8. May 3 start for spring sports and girls golf and girls tennis - six-week season ending June 12.

3A Metro League: Opt-out

Going to two seasons with practice starting Feb. 22. First season goes to April 17. Second season is April 19 to June 12, according to a letter sent to member schools by Metro League Director Pat McCarthy.

Season 1 (Feb. 22-April 17): Football, girls soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, girls swim/dive, slowpitch, bowling, XC, golf

Season 2 (April 19-June 12): Basketball, boys soccer, boys swim/dive, baseball, softball, track and field, wrestling, tennis.

1A Emerald City

2021 season planning not immediately known.

SeaTac 1B

2021 season planning not immediately known.

DISTRICT 3

4A South Puget Sound League: Opt-out

Feb. 1 start for football, Feb. 8 remaining fall sports and golf — six-week season, ending March 20. March 22 start for spring sports, plus boys swimming and girls tennis - six-week season ending May 1. May 3 start for winter sports, plus boys tennis - six-week season ending June 12.

New members for 2021: Peninsula and Gig Harbor

3A and 4A North Puget Sound Leagues: Opt-out

The league announced a three-season schedule with traditional fall sports — Season 1 — starting March 1 and the first season ending April 17, Tahoma athletic director Tony Davis confirmed. Football will be the first sports to start practice, while the rest of fall sports will begin March 8.

Season 1 (March 1/8-April 17): Football, volleyball, cross country, girls soccer

Season 2 (April 12-May 22): Baseball, softball, track and field, boys soccer, girls tennis and boys swim and dive.

Season 3 (May 17-June 26): Basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, boys tennis, bowling and water polo. Gymnastics starts May 10.

3A Pierce County League: Opt-out

Feb. 1 start for football, Feb. 8 remaining fall sports and golf — six-week season, ending March 20. March 22 start for spring sports, plus boys swimming and girls tennis - six-week season ending May 1. May 3 start for winter sports, plus boys tennis - six-week season ending June 12.

3A South Sound Conference: Opt-out

Feb. 1 start for all fall sports and boys tenns — seven-week season ending March 20. March 15 start for spring sports, plus girls tennis and boys and girls golf - six-week season ending May 1. April 26 start for winter sports, plus boys tennis - six-week season ending June 12.

Lost for 2021: Gig Harbor and Peninsula.

Gained for 2021: Olympia

2A South Puget Sound League: Opt-out

Feb. 10 start for football, Feb. 15 remaining fall sports and boys and girls golf — six-week season, ending March 27. March 29 start for spring sports, plus girls tennis - six-week season ending May 8. May 3 start for winter sports, plus boys tennis - six-week season ending June 12.

2A Olympic League

Feb. 1 start for traditional fall sports. The league will play at least five football games, six cross-country meets, 11 soccer matches, 13 volleyball matches and eight swim meets in a seven-week first season, according to Dwayne Johnson, Port Angeles athletic director. The league will temporarily add several local teams for the year.

Gained for 2021: Shelton (3A SSC), Central Kitsap (3A SSC), South Kitsap (4A SPSL) and Bainbridge (Metro League).

1A Nisqually League

Season schedule is pending approval from superintendents and has not been released yet, per Annie Wright athletic director Mike Finch.

1B North Olympic League

2021 season planning not immediately known.

DISTRICT 4

According to District 4 co-Director Tim Trimble, the bulk of the leagues in the district are following the WIAA format. This includes the 2A Greater St. Helens League, 1A and 2A Evergreen Conferences, 1A Trico League, Central 2B, Pacific 2B and 1B Columbia Valley.

The 3A/4A GSHL announced how it will phase in sports in accordance with the state's metrics:

3A/4A Greater St. Helens League

The 3A/4A GSHL is condensing its calendar into two seasons, overlaying the spring and winter sports seasons on top of one another. Low risk outdoor sports cross country, boys golf and tennis began their seasons on Feb. 1. The Columbian reported the condensed second season will be longer in an effort to repay spring sports for its canceled 2020 season.

Season 1 (Feb. 1/15-April 2): cross country, boys golf, volleyball, girls soccer, football

Season 2/3 (April 12-June 11): Spring sports — Baseball, fastpitch softball, track and field, girls golf, boys soccer. Winter sports — basketball, bowling, swim and dive, wrestling, gymnastics.

DISTRICT 5

2A Central Washington Athletic Conference: Following WIAA template

The conference will try a three-season calendar with a seven week first season that mirrors the WIAA with traditional fall sports starting Feb. 1 and running through March 20, as reported by The Yakima Herald-Republic. No plans have been made for the second and third seasons. Ephrata will join the multi-classification North Central league and Othello will compete in the 2A Greater Spokane League.

1A South Central Athletic Conference: Opt-out

the league plans to start a three-season, six-week season schedule on Feb. 8, with some notable school absences. Spring sports will go in the season season, with March 22 through May 1. Winter sports, the third season, are set to take place May 3 through June 12. Royal and Wahluke will leave the SCAC to be in a combined, multi-classification regionally-specific North Central League.

2B Eastern Washington Athletic Conference

2021 season planning not immediately known.

1B Greater Columbia Gorge

2021 season planning not immediately known.

DISTRICT 6

4A Columbia Basin Big 9: Opt-out

The league split into two because its geographical makeup is split between two of the state's designated regions. Davis, Eisenhower, Sunnyside and West Valley will start a six-week fall season in mid-February, with football beginning Feb. 17 and the remaining traditional fall sports starting Feb. 22, stretching to April 3.

Moses Lake, Wenatchee and Eastmont join a multi-classification North Central League (see schedule below).

1A Caribou Trail: Opt-out

Joined the North Central League with schools from 1B, 2B, 2A and 4A as well. The League will play three seasons — traditional fall sports, then spring sports, followed by winter — starting Feb. 22.

Season 2 (April 5-May 15): Cross country, football, girls soccer, girls swim and dive, volleyball and slowpitch.

Season 3 (May 17-June 19): Basketball, wrestling, girls bowling, cheer, dance and drill and boys swim and dive.

Central Washington B (1B/2B): Opt-out

Joined the North Central League with schools from 1A, 2A and 4A as well. The League will play three seasons — traditional fall sports, then spring sports, followed by winter — starting Feb. 22.

Season 2 (April 5-May 15): Cross country, football, girls soccer, girls swim and dive, volleyball and slowpitch.

Season 3 (May 17-June 19): Basketball, wrestling, girls bowling, cheer, dance and drill and boys swim and dive.

DISTRICT 7

Northeast 1A/Northeast 2B/Northeast 1B: Opt-out

The Northeast A League submitted an opt-out request to the WIAA last week, deciding on a localized schedule, according to District 7 Commissioner Joe Richer. The Colville Statesman-Examiner reported the first season is set to begin March 1 with traditional fall sports. Here are the dates:

Season 1 (Mar. 1-April 10): Football, volleyball, cross country, girls soccer.

Season 2 (April 5-May 15): Baseball, softball, track and field, golf, tennis, boys soccer.

Season 3 (May 10-June 19): Basketball, wrestling.

The Northeast 2B and 1B leagues plan to opt out as well, but have not officially submitted requests to the WIAA yet.

DISTRICT 8

4A Mid Columbia Conference: Following WIAA template

Practices across all traditional fall sports will be rolling next week, in line with the WIAA template. Cross country had its meets set for Saturday, Feb. 13 canceled due to winter weather. The season has been extended one week through March 27.

2A/3A/4A Greater Spokane League: Revised WIAA template

In a year with a new league re-alignment, more changes are coming with the addition of Othello for in the 2A GSL for the year from the 2A CWAC. Football games are set to start on Feb. 27. Cross country is set to begin meets March 6. Volleyball has started practice with competitions starting next week.

Season 1 (Feb. 15-April 11): Girls soccer, cross country, football, volleyball

Season 2 (April 5-May 15): Baseball, softball, track and field, boys soccer, golf, tennis

Season 3 (May 10-June 19): Basketball, wrestling, boys swim and dive, gymnastics (will start a week earlier — May 3).

DISTRICT 9

Southeast 1B/Southeast 2B: Following WIAA template

Both leagues plan on sticking with the WIAA's season structure, not opting for a localized schedule, District Director Don Wilkins said Thursday. The leagues have not yet met to finalize that decision.

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More links:

WIAA 'OPTIMISTIC' AFTER MEETING WITH STATE OFFICIALS

WASHINGTON’S COVID-19 DASHBOARD

SBLIVE WASHINGTON PODCAST