Athletics During COVID-19

There are still a number of details that need to be worked out: number of games played for each sport, schedules, and what happens if we do not meet the four criteria to start or continue with a sport based on the Governor and the Department of Health’s “Road Map to Recovery” metrics.

• March 1 – April 3
  • Boys Golf
  • Boys Tennis
  • Cross Country
  • Football (Feb. 24 start)
  • Girls Soccer
  • Girls Swim and Dive
  • Slowpitch Softball
  • Volleyball
• April 5 – May 8
  • Boys Basketball
  • Boys Swim
  • Competitive Cheer
  • Competitive Dance
  • Girls Basketball
  • Gymnastics (March 29 start)
  • Wrestling
• May 3 – June 12
  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Boys Soccer
  • Fastpitch
  • Girls Golf
  • Girls Tennis
  • Track

One of the priorities of the league was to prioritize spring sports. KingCo placed the spring season last due to the fact these sports did not have a season in spring of 2020. This will allow as much time as possible for the COVID numbers to come under control.

Please note this is different from the WIAA season order that came out early January. In addition, the Department of Health and Governor’s COVID metrics must still be met. The school district will communicate approval to continue with athletics as the metrics are updated.

In order for play to resume in the Northshore School District, mandatory COVID testing will take place for both students and coaches. The school district is working with testing providers and will have more testing details shortly.

The Northshore sports not addressed by the KingCo league’s proposal and still being discussed:

• Sideline Cheer - TBD
• Unified Bowling and Soccer - TBD
• Waterpolo - TBD
• Lacrosse - TBD
• Rowing (Crew) – TBD

Conditioning opportunities for athletes begins the week of Feb. 15, 2021 with coaches and athletes receiving virtual training on the program expectations, safety requirements and COVID testing processes. All participating athletes and coaches will receive mandatory weekly COVID testing every Wednesday, starting Feb. 10, 2021.

The district is partnering with NW Labs to perform pooled testing in groups of up to 30 people. Pooled testing will take place every Wednesday at student's high school. For a description of the pooled testing process see SOP-Dry-Pooling.

Each person tested needs to have a signed permission form which they will be expected to bring with them to testing. For minors, this form must be signed by their parent or legal guardian.

• English Permission Form

Pooled test results will generally be made available to the district Thursday or Friday. If a batch tests positive, meaning that likely one or more members of that batch are COVID-19 positive, each member will be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

These tests, from Curative, will be scheduled individually and administered at the district Administrative Center. If you are notified by email of a positive batch result the PCR testing day and time will be included. Until the results of this confirmatory test are known, members of a positive pooled batch will be asked to self-quarantine and will be ineligible to participate in conditioning or sports (once seasons are underway).  The Curative test uses an online portal which requires athletes to register directly. The registration portal is still being finalized and the link will be sent to families.

On March 12, Governor Inslee moved COVID-19 restrictions in the state to Phase 3. The Northshore School District has analyzed the new limits of spectators and has made the following changes:

Starting March 18, each student athlete competing in football and girls soccer at Pop Keeney will be issued four (4) tickets per contest. This applies to both home and away teams. For admittance, at least one of the tickets must be presented by an adult and all four ticket holders are expected to sit together. Minors, accompanied and supervised by an adult, are allowed.

Starting Monday, March 22, each student athlete competing in indoor sports (currently only girls volleyball) will be issued two (2) tickets per contest. This applies to both home and away teams. For admittance, at least one of the tickets must be presented by an adult and the two ticket holders are expected to sit together. Minors, accompanied and supervised by an adult, are allowed.

These changes were made with the belief that spectators will be expected to adhere to all COVID-19 safety guidelines and social distancing protocols. Non-compliance with these guidelines may result in spectators being asked to leave the event and/or more restrictive guidelines at future events.