Want to add a blockbuster non-league opponent? WIAA now gives high schools freedom to schedule extra 'Foundation Game'

“This is really a win-win for the WIAA and the member schools," said WIAA executive director Mick Hoffman.

Mount Si vs. Garfield - a matchup of reigning Class 4A and 3A Washington state boys basketball champions?

Or how about defending 2A volleyball champion Ridgefield traveling to 3A powerhouse Mount Spokane for a non-league match?

That can now happen as part of a WIAA-approved "Foundation Game" for basketball, baseball, soccer, softball and volleyball, which the Washington state high school association's executive board passed in early May - and announced Thursday afternoon.

What does the WIAA get out of it? A fee paid by the host school to hold an extra game that will help cover rising costs or fund some of the association's important programs.

What does the school get out of it? Well, the option for an extra varsity game that it can market to be as marquee as it wants while keeping all of its gate proceeds (but incurring the event costs as well).

“This is really a win-win for the WIAA and the member schools, using a very similar model to what other state associations have had in place for quite some time," said WIAA executive director Mick Hoffman in a released statement. "Coaches and players will have the flexibility to schedule and play in an extra contest while proceeds from the rights fees will help fund (WIAA) costs that directly support student-athletes.”

This is a model that has been utilized in Oregon for years - one that Hoffman researched extensively before the executive board approved the amendment March 5.

"It can be done as a very, very big event," said King's girls basketball coach Dan Taylor, also the president of the Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association.

"It will be fun if coaches put time and energy into it."

What it does is give coaches the option to increase their regular-season maximum of varsity games - meaning soccer would be up to 17 matches, volleyball up to 19 matches, and basketball, baseball, soccer and softball up to 21 games.

Tony Batinovich, the longtime volleyball coach at Puyallup High School, said "depending on your schedule, it might be a squeeze to get in extra games."

"(The concept), I guess, is OK," Batinovich added. "If somebody wants to do it, it is only $100 (game fee)."

Foundation-game fees vary by sport and classification, ranging from $50 to $225.

There are flat fees for largely admission-free baseball and softball - $50 per game, regardless of classifications.

In volleyball and soccer, Class B schools would pay $50; 1A and 2A schools $75; and 3A and 4A schools $100.

Boys and girls basketball incurs the biggest game-fee expense, starting at $175 for 'B' schools, $200 for 1A and 2A schools, and $225 for 3A and 4A schools.

The WIAA projects to earn $100,000 annually in game-fee revenue, which would largely help offset "foundation" expenses, including its annual hall of fame ceremony ($16,000), "Just Play Fair! sportsmanship program ($15,000) and "Leap" community outreach program ($13,000).

The largest expense these fees would cover is district insurance - approximately $50,000.

A "Foundation Games" sign-up form will be available online sometime in the middle of the summer. Only district and building athletic directors will be allowed to schedule the extra game.