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By Ray Hamill — The College of the Redwoods athletics department is closing in on a final decision regarding each team and the upcoming sports calendar.

Community college sports are tentatively scheduled to get under way in the new year after the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) recently recommended moving forward with a two-season plan.

There are, however, several obstacles still to overcome, most notably the cost of mandatory COVID-19 testing for all student athletes competing in college sports, as well as roster sizes and whether individual student athletes will opt out, and what other teams in the conference decide on.

The opt out date for student athletes for the early spring sports — basketball, cross country, soccer and women’s volleyball — has been set for Dec. 15 and CR Athletics Director Bob Brown says he expects a final decision on whether they will compete in those sports by that date.

Each individual institution within the CCCAA is responsible for making its own decision on each sports team.

Decisions made by other teams in the Golden Valley Conference will influence whether or not the Corsairs can compete.

The conference ADs are scheduled to meet next week to discuss options and testing requirements.