WIAA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY APPROVES 22 AMENDMENTS
RENTON, Wash. (April 20, 2026) – The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Representative Assembly voted to support 22 amendments—effective August 1, 2026—the Association announced Monday, April 20.
“We’re grateful for the extensive time, care, and collaboration our member schools brought to this amendment cycle. It’s the opportunity to be part of creating solutions, and the submission of 35 amendments is demonstration of the membership’s desire to be involved,” Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “This is a result of months of leadership from athletic administrators statewide, and their work has helped shape outcomes that are representative, deliberate, and aligned with the priorities of our schools.”
ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
The Representative Assembly is comprised of 53 school administrators—35 from high schools and 18 from middle-level schools—representing each of the six WIAA districts. The Assembly votes on proposed amendments, with voting delegates typically casting proxy votes aligned with the opinions of their league and WIAA District.
To pass, an amendment requires 60 percent approval from voting members. Specifically, 32 votes are needed for a high school/middle-level amendment to pass, 21 votes for a high school-only amendment, and 11 votes for a middle-level-only amendment.
VOTING RESULTS
A total of 35 amendments were proposed this year. Of those, 22 were approved and will go into effect on August 1, 2026, with the exception of ML/HS #23 as an advisory vote.
Advisory votes were held for ML/HS #21 and ML/HS #23 since both amendments knowingly violate Washington state law. Despite the results, the Association’s message remains consistent: The WIAA remains committed to following Washington state law and will continue to do so moving forward. If state law changes in the future, the WIAA Executive Board holds the authority to revise policies accordingly.
Additionally, two WIAA Executive Board positions were up for vote. Harlan Kredit (Lynden Christian High School, WIAA District 1) and Dwayne Johnson (Cape Flattery School District, WIAA District 3) were re-elected to their seats on the Executive Board.
To read the full language of each passed amendment, click the link below.
MEDIA CONTACT
Sean Bessette, Director of Communications
PASSED AMENDMENTS
| AMENDMENT | RULE | SUMMARY | S | O |
| ML/HS #1 | 3.6.0 | Member school fees will increase in 2027-28 by ten percent | 47 | 6 |
| 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 | 36 | 17 |
| 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 | 33 | 2 |
| HS #4 | 4.2.2 | Would change the way that alternative education students are counted for classification purposes | 24 | 11 |
| HS #5 | 4.2.3 | Would eliminate the socioeconomic factor as an automatic deduction in determining a school’s classification | 27 | 8 |
| 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. | 44 | 9 |
| 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 | 45 | 8 |
| 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 | 32 | 3 |
| HS #15 | 18.4.1.1 | A private school student could transfer to another private school without having to prove a double hardship | 23 | 12 |
| HS #16 | 18.7.0 | Would clarify eligibility status of students participating in Running Start | 27 | 8 |
| ML #17 | 18.8.6.3.B | Would establish a probation period for ML students through Saturday of the third week of school | 14 | 4 |
| HS #18 | 18.8.4 | Would establish the criteria to determine initial eligibility for the winter season | 31 | 4 |
| 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. | 46 | 7 |
| ML/HS #23 | 20.1.4 | ADVISORY VOTE ONLY: Amendment would not be implemented under current State Law. Schools have the ability to enhance penalties | 47 | 6 |
| ML/HS #24 | 20.0.0 | 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 | 40 | 13 |
| ML/HS #27 | 31.1.0.1 | Leagues could modify WIAA-approved playing rules for subvarsity contests | 46 | 7 |
| HS #28 | 39.2.0 | Would increase the running clock time for varsity girls flag football to thirty-minute halves | 31 | 4 |
| 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 | 27 | 8 |
| ML/HS #31 | 43.4.1.6 | Would allow an on-deck fastpitch or slowpitch batter to warm up in either batting circle | 44 | 9 |
| HS #32 | 43.4.1.4 | 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 | 26 | 9 |
| HS #34 | 48.4.0 | Would increase the individual wrestling match limit from 45 to 51 | 31 | 4 |
| 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 | 16 | 2 |
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FAILED AMENDMENTS
| AMENDMENT | RULE | SUMMARY | S | O |
| 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 | 13 | 22 |
| ML/HS #8 | 7.7.0 | Would limit the Executive Board’s authority to assess penalties or sanctions | 12 | 41 |
| 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 | 8 | 45 |
| HS #11 | 11.2.2 | Cheer and dance/drill participants shall meet the same eligibility requirements as for athletes (including transfer) | 13 | 22 |
| 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 | 19 | 16 |
| 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 | 30 | 23 |
| HS #19 | 18.12.2 | Native American students who transfer from a reservation school to a contiguous public school would be varsity eligible | 19 | 16 |
| HS #20 | 18.12.4.3 | F-1 Visa students would be eligible during the initial first level offered by that school | 20 | 15 |
| 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 | 29 | 24 |
| 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 | 7 | 46 |
| HS #26 | 25.1.6.3 | Average monthly enrollment would be used to determine allocations | 17 | 18 |
| 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 | 10 | 25 |
| ML/HS #33 | 47.2.0 | Volleyball jamboree limit would be three sets | 28 | 25 |
