SNOHOMISH COUNTY — High school sports will restart Feb. 22 if all goes well with the coronavirus’s continued downward trajectory.
Wesco league board members approved restarting sports Feb. 22 in a vote taken last week. Games begin March 1.
Up first could be football, boys’ swim, girls soccer, boys’ tennis and cross-country running.
These are fall sports that will be put under shortened seasons of five weeks of competition with just games among league teams plus one opening week of practice.
Competitions will take place as long as the county remains in Phase 2 of the state’s “Roadmap to Recovery.” Spectators will not be allowed by Wesco, but the games can be broadcast and livestreamed, the Wesco regulations state.
Following fall sports, spring sports are scheduled to start practice March 29, and winter sports would start May 3. If a specific sport cannot safely happen when scheduled, the sport will be moved to an alternate season.
There will not be tournaments for high and moderate-risk sports. The state Department of Health is prohibiting tournaments for high and moderate-risk sports, such as football, baseball or soccer, as of its latest guidelines on youth sports published Feb. 1.
The same guidelines state that everybody, including the athletes, would have to wear masks at all times. This includes while playing in the game or match.
Meanwhile, the league body for the Everett Silvertips announced hockey season will start Friday, March 19.
