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The high school sports season has been pushed back, and each of the three seasons has been shortened.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Board voted Tuesday to change the current season schedule for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

The start of season 2 has been delayed to Feb. 1 and each three scheduled seasons will be seven weeks in length.

Season 2, which consists of traditional winter sports, is scheduled to begin with practices on Feb. 1 (Jan. 25 for gymnastics) and end with a regional culminating event on March 20. Season 3, which consists of traditional fall sports is now scheduled to begin on March 15 (March 8 for football) and end on May 1. Season 4, which consists of traditional spring sports, will begin with practices on April 26 and conclude on June 12.

The decision comes in light of surging COVID-19 cases around the state, putting in jeopardy the ability to begin season 2. which was scheduled to begin on Dec. 28.

While the executive board approved the framework for each season, flexibility remains at the local level due to the protocols approved at the Nov. 2 meeting. If less than 50 percent of schools in a classification are able to compete in a sport, in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines, the executive board will make an adjustment to the scheduled season in order to allow the chance for greater participation.

Due to the delay of season 2 the board voted to approve an extension of the open coaching window to Jan. 23. The window allows for coaches in all sports to work with student-athletes in the same fashion as the summer coaching window.

The full WIAA season schedule can be found at https://bit.ly/2INA9fa.