NORTHWEST NOTES: Jan. 7, 2021

Cougar men make changes

to basketball schedule

The Pac-12 Conference along with administrations from Washington State, Colorado and Washington announced updates to the men's basketball schedules for all three teams.

The Cougars' game, previously postponed at Colorado, will be played Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. on ESPNU, with the Cougars game at Washington moved to Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. (PAC12/PACWA).

The Cougars' game with Colorado, originally scheduled for Dec. 5, was to be the Cougars first road game of the year, but was postponed due to COVID-19 protocol inside the Cougars' basketball program.

Washington preps to

start practice Feb. 1

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board voted to amend its season schedule on Wednesday, moving traditional fall sports to Season 1 while choosing to review Seasons 2 and 3 at its Jan. 19 meeting.

WIAA Season 1 will span seven weeks in length, beginning with pre-competition practices on Feb. 1 and ending on March 20. The sports scheduled for that season include cross country, football, golf (alternate), slowpitch softball, girls and 1B/2B boys soccer, tennis (alternate) and volleyball.

The change comes after Gov. Jay Inslee announced the “Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery” plan which outlined a new set of guidelines and metrics for the resumption of education-based athletics and activities in Washington. Sports will maintain their previously assigned risk levels; however, the level of participation for each activity will vary in Phase 1 or Phase 2.

“The change in guidelines allow all traditional fall sports to be played in Phase 2 while we still do not have a clear pathway to the high risk indoor activities of basketball, competitive cheer and dance, and wrestling” WIAA Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “With that in mind, moving fall sports to Season 1 will hopefully provide the most opportunities to participate.”