Sports
What about sports? Most Indiana schools, except some small private schools, participate in the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and generally it is difficult for a homeschooler to comply with their rules and compete on their local school’s team. Small private schools may allow homeschoolers to compete with them. Public elementary and middle schools sports programs are often run by parent organizations and so homeschoolers can participate in those too. Homeschoolers can develop their own homeschool sports clubs and a number of these exist today. Also, a student who excels in a sport could consider participating on an AAU team in that sport.
Indiana Dept. of Education (IDOE) Memo from IHSAA with its rules regarding student participation in athletic programs of its IHSAA member schools.
Homeschool Sports Network (HSPN) is a national site with information, resources, tournaments and postings available.
Your team might consider a project to get homeschooled girls involved in athletics. If your volleyball club sponsored a "Learn to play Volleyball camp" maybe it would qualify you for a grant from the Women's Sport Foundation. Your team might win a $2500 grant!
We will strive to list current Sports Club info until a current list is available on another site. We need help however. We rely on your team's submission of information to us. If you want to submit current info about your Homeschool Sports Club, please email to: info@IndianaHomeSchooling.org.
Sports Clubs:
Homeschool Unified Sports Teams of Lafayette (HUSTL) organizes competitive basketball, volleyball and soccer programs for home-educated junior high and high school boys and girls in the Greater Lafayette, Ind., area. HUSTL's Tippecanoe Tornados teams play other homeschool and Christian school teams in Indiana and eastern Illinois. A high school baseball program is planned for thisspring, withelementary boys and girls basketballto be addednext winter. For more information about HUSTL and the Tornados, contact Steve Leer, HUSTL athletic director, at (765) 471-4973, by e-mail at tippecanoetornados@gmail.com.
Below are just a few listings of individual teams. There are many more teams in Indiana.
Baseball:
Jr. High through Varsity Home School baseball with the Indianapolis Kings, go to http://www.indykings.org or contact kingsbaseball@mail.com.
Homeschool World Series Association exists to create tournaments and a National Homeschool World Series for homeschool baseball teams across the continental United States.
Basketball:
The Indianapolis Trailblazers girls basketball team practices on the North and East sides of Indianapolis. For more information, contact Katie Jensen at 317-902-6245.
A girls basketball team in Indianapolis. Contact Donna Kafoure at maranatha12@comcast.net.
The HUSTL program noted above for Lafayette area. tippecanoetornados@gmail.com or visit the HUSTL Web site at http://www.hustl.org/.
The Eastside Golden Eagles is a Christ-centered homeschool organization offering boys competitive basketball ages 10-18. U12, U14, U16, and U18 teams. Practices and games are at Post Road Christian Church, 1112 N. Post Road, Indianapolis. Visit www.indygoldeneagles.org, or contact Athletic Director Vernon Murray, vetrac5@aol.com.
The Indianapolis Homeschool Wildcats Sports Club is a Christian homeschool organization offering competitive basketball programs for boys in 4th through 12th grade as well as junior high and varsity cheerleading for girls. Above all, we strive to serve and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Our goal is to instill and demonstrate Christ-like character while developing God-given athletic abilities through discipline, training, and emphasis on teaching fundamental skills in basketball and cheerleading. We compete against other homeschool teams and Christian schools as members of the ICBA and Heartland Conference.Contact info: Jeremy Bialek, 317-698-4384, 2timothy189@gmail.com, http://www.geocities.com/indy_wildcats
Lions Home School Basketball: We practice in Noblesville and play games there and in various places in central Indiana. This is a wonderful, family oriented program for home schooled boys ages junior high through high school. We promote Christ-like attitudes and sportsmanship while playing hard.The team plays/practices in the Noblesville area with away games in the surrounding area. Contact Kempson Jeffrey at kempsonjeffrey@sbcglobal.net .
Living Water Marlins meets at the Sports Wellness Center, 1915 Gladden Rd., Plainfield. Boys and girls, ages 11 through high school are welcome. For more info see: www.eteamz.com/lwm
The Waverly Mustangs JH and JV basketball teams are now accepting registrations for the upcoming season. Complete team information is available at http://www.indymustangs.org/.
Cross Country:
For times, practices, and details and a printable registration form please go to www.personalfeat.com. Any questions can be directed to Coach Tamara Whitten at 317-289-5455. Open to homeschoolers.
Body in Training Cross Country, a competitive Christian cross-country team for youth ages 5-18. http://www.bodyintrainingtrack.com/
Football:
The Lion’s Homeschool Football team is a Christian based homeschool football team that seeks to honor and glorify God while competing in football against public and private schools. Teams consist of a Jr. High team for grades 6th-8th grade and a Junior Varsity team for young men in grades 9th-12th. Weight training/conditioning are held every Friday in the Fishers area for interested young men. Football camp & practices will begin in July and will be held in the Carmel area. Car-pooling possibilities/opportunities can be available for boys coming from all sides of Indy. We have qualified football coaches as well as a team chaplain who not only teach the fundamentals of football but who are also interested in the spiritual development of our players. For more information on our teams, please visit our website, www.lionsfootballclub.com.
The Southside Crimson Knights is a Christian football program located on the south side of Indianapolis for homeschoolers and others who are not educated at schools with football programs. 2010 will be the inaugural season for our middle school team and we expect to add a high school team in 2011. We will play local private and public schools as well as other homeschool teams. For more information please visit our website http://www.crimsonknightsfootball.com/ or contact Coach Ken Snyder at ksnyder@crimsonknightsfootball.com or 765-346-1592.
Elkhart Christian Academy Football program is open to students in grades 9-12 who are home schooled in the area. Please call 574-612-9098 for more information.
Hockey:
Ice Hockey for Homeschoolers: Our practices are held that the Forum in Fishers Ice Rink behind the YMCA on 126th Street. This is a Learn-to-Play program for k-12 students, and experience is not necessary. We teach the unskilled how to skate, stick-handle, and shoot while the more experienced players do more advanced drills. This is a Christ-centered activity where positive encouragement and interaction is expected. Each practice is followed by a brief chapel with all the players. Contact Jeff Fox at foxjeffrey2002@yahoo.com or (317) 385-9864. The Fall session begins on Monday, August 29th. Practices are weekly at 1:00 p.m
Rugby:
For Jr High aged kids that are home schooled and might want to try something different this fall. The team focuses on teamwork, leadership, respect and sportsmanship. This is open for all of Hamilton County, the more kids the better. Contact Greg Stewart, 753-6071, with U15 Hamilton County Rugby.
Soccer:
Southside Thunder: exists to provide an opportunity for home schooled young men and women (6th-12th grade) to compete on a competitive level with like-minded peers in a positive and serious environment against comparable opposition. Additionally, the team is a vehicle to spur the participants toward Christian virtues such as commitment to excellence, selflessness, respect for authority, and an appreciation for unity. Southside Thunder has JV and Varsity squads and is a traveling team that plays matches against other homeschool teams, as well as private schools and church leagues. Practices are held Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:30pm in Greenwood at The Gathering Place fields. Registration is open April 1st - July 1st. Cost is $150 for first athlete, $100 for siblings. Summer Conditioning starts the last week of May. To register and for more information go to http://www.southsidethunder.com/ or contact Elizabeth Beasley: 317-736-0252, elizabeth.ann.beasley@gmail.com .
Southeast Indiana (Batesville area): Contact Ray Weidner, 765-647-1037, or email at Ray.Weidner@Kroger.com.
Lafayette area: Contact Steve Leer, 765-471-4973, or email at tippecanoetornados@gmail.com or visit the HUSTL Web site at http://www.hustl.org/.
Terre Haute area: Contact Dean May, 812-239-3359, or email at deanmay@pianorebuilders.com.
EastIndy Trailblazers: Play home games in Greenfield and practice in New Palestine, Indiana. Has a JV and Varsity co-ed teams, for ages 13-19. They were Varsity State Champions for 2010. Coach Mark Lehman, mlehman@hrtc.net, 317-332-1218.
Your child can also play in recreation leagues or club soccer. Recreation leagues in your community often sponsor club soccer. Check with your local soccer recreation program for more details. Here is a link to Center Grove soccer club which has links to many clubs around the state. http://www.centergrovesoccer.org/links.aspx
Softball:
Join the Lions Varsity Homeschool Softball Club! We will be playing a competitive schedule against area private and public schools. Contact Jon Galwak at (317) 775-0711 or jon.galwak@gmail.com.
Tennis:
Tiger Tennis Home School League - We are training young people to play in matches starting in August 2012 for the fall season. Practices held at private tennis courts in Carmel. For more information please contact Renee Bognar, Head Coach, at krbognar@aol.com.
Track & Field:
Body in Training Track Club is a competitive Christian track & field team for youth ages 5-18 based out of Noblesville. Combining training in event technique with Biblical instruction, we offer opportunity to compete in sprints, long distance, high jump, long jump, shot put, discus, javelin, hurdles and relays. Homeschoolers welcome! For more information, visit our website at www.bodyintrainingtrack.com.
Volleyball:
The HUSTL program noted above for Lafayette area. Contact tippecanoetornados@gmail.com.
Indy Silver Lightning Visit http://www.islvb.com/ or contact Coach Kim Mountain at kmislvb@earthlink.net or 317-439-5612. Teams often travel to Nationals in November.
There are also a lot of volleyball clubs around Indiana that your child could play on and recreation leagues. Inquire at indoor gyms in your area for information about any clubs or leagues that play there.
Wrestling:
Homeschoolers can participate in club sport wrestling.
OTHER RESOURCES
Crosswalk.com Authors of The Guidance Manual for the Christian Homeschool: A Parent's Guide for Preparing Home School Students for College or Career wrote an article for Crosswalk on the “What do we do about sports question?”
