RENTON, WA (December 10, 2025) – The WIAA is excited to share this year’s 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 will take place during Winter Coalition on Monday, January 26th. At that point, amendments will 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 Member 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 a fact finder is appointed, the school will be responsible for all costs including legal fees if additional violations are found. |
| HS #10 | 11.1.0 | Communication arts and leadership eligibility requirements would be the same as they are for athletes. |
| HS #11 | 11.2.2 | Cheer and Dance/Drill participants shall meet the same eligibility requirements as 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 sub-varsity team. |
| HS #15 | 18.4.1.1 | A student transferring from a school of choice would not be required to attend their resident public school if granted a 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 middle level students through the third Saturday in September. |
| HS #18 | 18.8.4 | Would establish the criteria to determine initial eligibility for the winter season. |
| HS #19 | 18.12.2 | Nez Perce 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 | 20.1.3 | Any non-players, coaches or game management individuals that enter the competition space will be suspended for 25 percent of the season. |
| ML/HS #23 | 20.1.4 | Schools have the ability to enhance penalties. |
| ML/HS #24 | 20.1.5 | If a student receives a second ejection in the same sport or in a subsequent sport during the school year, the student will be suspended for four contests and would be suspended for the remainder of the school year on a third ejection during the school year. |
| ML/HS #25 | 23.5.7 | Before the conclusion of their first season 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 NFHS Rules for sub-varsity 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 day as one of their 20 regular season contests. |
| 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 if the losing team is behind by 15 runs after three innings or behind 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. |
| HS #35 | 48.65.0 | Would allow a middle level Wrestling tournament with a six-match limit in a one-day tournament once during the season. |
