RENTON, WA (February 3, 2026) – The WIAA is excited to share the finalized proposed amendments to the WIAA Handbook, all of which were submitted by 5+ member schools or the WIAA Executive Board. Discussions around the language and content of each proposed amendment by the WIAA Representative Assembly took place during Winter Coalition on Monday, January 26th. At that point, amendments were be finalized for a vote in April.
VOTING TIMELINE
The WIAA Representative Assembly will vote on the proposed amendments from April 8-17, 2026.
ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
The Representative Assembly is comprised of 53 (35 high school, 18 middle level) school administrators from each of the six WIAA districts. The Representative Assembly votes on the proposed amendments, and the voting delegates are typically proxy voters, aligning their vote with the opinions of their league and WIAA District.
For an amendment to pass, 60 percent approval is needed from voting members of the Assembly. A total of 32 votes are needed for a middle-level/high-school amendment to pass, while 21 votes are needed for a high school amendment to pass and 11 votes are needed for a middle-level amendment to pass.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
| AMENDMENT | RULE | SUMMARY |
| ML/HS #1 | 3.6.0 | Member school fees will increase in 2027-28 by ten percent |
| ML/HS #2 | 3.6.0 | Beginning 2028-29 member fees would increase by five percent in any year immediately following an auditor’s review establishing back-to-back years of a negative net income |
| HS#3 | 4.1.3 | Would change the counting months to determine classifications from January 1 through May 1, and three times the October 1 count |
| HS #4 | 4.2.2 | Would change the way that alternative education students are counted for classification purposes |
| ML/HS #5* | 4.2.3 | Would eliminate the socioeconomic factor as an automatic deduction in determining a school’s classification *If #5 passes, #26 would be moot. |
| HS #6 | 4.2.6 | Private high schools with an enrollment of 90 or more would be required to opt up to the next classification |
| ML/HS #7 | 7.1.0 | Amendments must meet state law by the Winter Coalition. Advisory votes could be taken if the amendment does not meet state law on that date. |
| ML/HS #8 | 7.7.0 | Would limit the Executive Board’s authority to assess penalties or sanctions |
| ML/HS #9 | 8.12.9 | If fact finder is appointed, school will be responsible for all costs including legal fees if additional violations are found |
| ML/HS #10 | 11.1.0 | Communication arts and leadership eligibility requirements would be the same as for athletes with the exception of a physical examination. |
| HS #11 | 11.2.2 | Cheer and dance/drill participants shall meet the same eligibility requirements as for athletes (including transfer) |
| HS #12 | 17.5.2 | Leagues/WIAA Districts/WIAA could sponsor an all-league/WIAA District/State contest within eight days following the completion of the state championship in that sport |
| HS #13 | 17.5.8 | Would allow a coach a postseason meeting with each athlete on the team to be held within one month following the end of that team’s season |
| ML/HS #14 | 17.12.3 | If a school has only one squad in a sport, the school must declare if the squad will be the varsity team or a subvarsity team. |
| HS #15 | 18.4.1.1 | A private school student could transfer to another private school without having to prove a double hardship. |
| HS #16 | 18.7.0 | Would clarify eligibility status of students participating in Running Start |
| ML #17 | 18.8.6.3.B | Would establish a probation period for ML students through Saturday of the third week of school |
| HS #18 | 18.8.6.4 | Would establish the criteria to determine initial eligibility for the winter season |
| HS #19 | 18.12.2 | Native American students who transfer from a reservation school to a contiguous public school would be varsity eligible |
| HS #20 | 18.12.4.3 | F-1 Visa students would be eligible during the initial first level offered by that school |
| ML/HS #21 | 18.16.0 | ADVISORY VOTE ONLY: Amendment would not be implemented under current State Law. Participation in girls’ sports would be limited to biological females |
| ML/HS #22 | 20.1.5 | Any individual who is not a rostered player, coach or authorized game personnel who enters the competition space and engages in a verbal or physical altercation will be suspended for a minimum of 25% of the season. |
| ML/HS #23 | 20.1.8 | ADVISORY VOTE ONLY: Amendment would not be implemented under current State Law. Schools have the ability to enhance penalties |
| ML/HS #24 | 20.1.9 | If an individual receives a second ejection in the same sport or in a subsequent sport during the school year, the individual will be suspended for 40% of the season; for a third ejection during the school year, the individual would be suspended for one full calendar year from the date of the third ejection |
| ML/HS #25 | 23.5.7 | Before the conclusion of their second year of coaching, a coach must complete two designated NFHS coaches education classes |
| HS #26* | 25.1.6.3 | Average monthly enrollment would be used to determine allocations *If #5 passes, #26 would be moot. |
| HS #27 | 31.1.0 | Leagues could modify WIAA-approved playing rules for subvarsity contests |
| HS #28 | 39.2.0 | Would increase the running clock time for varsity girls flag football to thirty-minute halves |
| ML/HS #29 | 42.3.5 | Any soccer player with a second disqualification due to receiving two yellow cards in a season will be suspended for the following match |
| HS #30 | 43.3.0 | Would allow softball teams to play in one two-day tournament or two one-day tournaments and count each tournament as one of their 20 regular season contests. |
| ML/HS #31 | 43.4.1 | Would allow an on-deck fastpitch or slowpitch batter to warm up in either batting circle |
| HS #32 | 43.4.1 | Fastpitch games would end of the losing team is behind by 15 runs after three innings, 12 runs after four innings, or by ten or more runs after five innings |
| HS #33 | 47.2.0 | Volleyball jamboree limit would be three sets |
| HS #34 | 48.4.0 | Would increase the individual wrestling match limit from 45 to 51 |
| ML #35 | 48.65.0 | Would allow a ML wresting tournament with a six-match limit in a one-day tournament once during the season |
