Commissioner Mike Liddell announced last Friday that the Big 8 Conference has opted out of fall and winter sports for the 2020-21 academic year.

The conference includes Delta College and Modesto JC. Other schools are American River, Cosumnes River, Diablo Valley, Folsom Lake, Sacramento City, Santa Rosa JC and Sierra. 

Over the summer, the  California Community College Athletic Association cobbled together three alternate schedules and ultimately voted to go with the “Contingency Plan,” shifting all sports to 2021. Traditional fall sports were clumped together with winter sports to form “Spring I.” Included are football, men's/women's basketball, men's women's soccer, men's/women's cross country, men's/women's water polo, women's golf, women's volleyball and wrestling.

“The difficult decision was due to concerns for the health and safety of student athletes and staff dealing with COVID-19,” Liddell said in a statement. 

Spring I practices were set to begin Jan. 18, with competition starting during the first two weeks of February. Spring II practices kick off March 27. Schools have until Feb. 26 to opt in or out. Liddell added that no decision has been made for Spring II, which includes badminton, baseball, beach volleyball, men's golf, softball, swim and dive, tennis, track and field and men's volleyball. 

Earlier this month, Merced College announced it will not be fielding teams for football, men's/women's basketball and men's/women's water polo but will participate in other lower-contact sports. Central Valley Conference rivals Fresno City College opted out of all Spring I sports last week, and Reedley College opted out of all sports except women's golf while simultaneously opting into the Spring II schedule.