More than anyone, high school athletic directors know the impact athletics can have on a student’s academic performance.
And during remote learning, the absence of athletics has compounded students’ struggles.
“Hands down,” La Center athletic director Matt Cooke said. “I could name, right off the top of my head, 10 athletes who need athletics to be the motivated to do well in school.”
But now that a pathway to returning to sports is clearer, some athletic directors are having to tell some students they can’t play because of poor grades.
“Everybody’s goal is to get these kids reconnected, get them out there, get them participating and actually giving them some hope,” Prairie athletic director Jason Castro said. “We feel like there hasn’t been a whole of lot of hope for a while. But the difficult part is none of us want a kid who has flunked all six classes out there participating, as well.”
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association requires that a student have no more than one F in the previous grading period to be eligible for athletics.
“So as long as you’re passing five of six classes, or four of five classes (if a school has a five-period schedule), you’re eligible in the WIAA’s eyes,” executive director Mick Hoffman said. “In theory, you can have five Ds and remain eligible. Now most school districts have much more stringent requirements.”
Cooke said he requested that the La Center School Board drop the district requirement of a 2.0 grade-point average with no Fs, and adopt the WIAA’s guidelines. Other school districts have done the same or modified normal standards in other ways.
The WIAA also shortened the academic probationary period from six weeks to three. Most school districts concluded the fall semester on Friday, meaning a student can begin the three-week probationary period on Monday.
With some sports’ seasons delayed, waiting for the Southwest Region to move to Phase 2, it has created an opportunity for struggling students to get their grades in order potentially before competitions begin.
“I really commend the WIAA on their leadership on that,” Castro said. “They’re acknowledging this is an issue statewide. Everyone’s having issues with this.”
At Heritage, athletic director Erik Gonzalez said his school has tried to take a proactive approach. Some students who have been struggling with remote learning have been allowed to come into the school for limited in-person learning.
“They are not entirely athletes, of course, but we’ve been targeting some athletes,” Gonzalez said. “And we’ve had some of our coaches who are setting up remote study groups, trying to work their kids that way.”
And most importantly, Heritage coaches have been encouraging their athletes to ask for help.
“Our teachers are willing to work with kids as long as they’re willing to reach out, share their struggles,” Gonzalez said. “Don’t come to the conclusion that ‘I’m so far behind and there’s nothing I can do.’ We don’t want them to stop showing up for their Zoom classes, stop doing assignments.”
Gonzalez is hopeful that work will pay off when he reviews athlete eligibility next week. And then hopefully, the focus can return to playing again.
“That’s what we’ve all been waiting for,” he added.
