MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College’s athletic schedule is shifting.

The Northwest Athletic Conference released its return-to-play plan and guidelines last week. Big Bend’s lone fall sport, volleyball, will be moved to a tentative start date of Feb. 27. The NWAC Executive Board devised the new guidelines, which moves fall sports, excluding golf and cross country, to the winter and spring quarters.

Big Bend Athletic Director Mark Poth said the executive board is comprised of representatives from all four regions, including two college presidents, two vice presidents, and, primarily, athletic directors who rotate between the position.

“They have been the ones that have put a lot of the time and research into what’s going on, what different associations are doing, what’s the safest way to return to play,” Poth said.

The NWAC’s return-to-play guidelines are a phase-based approach, with programs required to meet requirements for each phase as they move from individual workouts to full team practice and competition.

Under the new restart schedule, basketball will be the first sport to begin next year for Big Bend, with a tentative start date in January. Volleyball, typically a fall sport, will have the last championship date of the year, currently set for early June 2021.

With the changes in scheduling next season, Poth said it means a busy time for athletics on campus.

“Right now, we’re preparing how we might bring our student-athletes back on campus with the safest environment possible, with guidelines implemented to reduce risk,” Poth said.

While the NWAC has released its return-to-play guidelines, Poth said Big Bend is currently working on devising its own as well. He said the main issue next season will be how counties are doing individually, what phase they’re currently in.

“You’d like to think, in athletics, you have your own destiny in your own hands, but this is one season where we do not have our own destiny in our own hands,” Poth said.

Poth said there could certainly be some “non-traditional” moves taken next season to help deal with some of the guidelines and restrictions in place. He said there’s a good possibility of a lot more regional play, as opposed to trips to other regions of the conference.

“You might see schools playing each other three times instead of two, trying to cut down interregional play where Big Bend is traveling all the way over to Lower Columbia for a match,” Poth said. “Overnight stay is strongly discouraged; trying to avoid that whenever possible.”

Preparing for the season itself is going to look different next year, Poth said. Ultimately, what circumstances look like in January, February and March will determine where athletics can be next year, he said.

“We’re hoping for the best, and preparing for the best,” Poth said. “And we’re trying to have a positive attitude within our athletic department, promoting that with our student-athletes. But, we’re just hopeful that we’re gonna have a great year next year.”

Poth said he’s meeting with Big Bend coaches this week to discuss the big decision of when to bring athletes back on campus. Next year, he said, the college will be almost a “hybrid school,” with most courses online and some labs being held on campus.

While they want to have the safest return plan as possible, Poth said it’s a decision they want to make quickly.

“That’s a decision we need to make as a college in the near future because student-athletes need to prepare for where they’re gonna live, and a lot of things that have to happen between now and September,” Poth said.

Navigating all of the guidelines, plans and courses of action has been hectic and a bit complicated at times, Poth said. He compared the process to like trying to hit a continuously moving target.

“It’s a very dynamic process, and one thing you need to be is patient, and flexible,” he said. “Even with all the changes, I’m really optimistic that we can have a positive experience next year with our athletics.”