A New York Times Articles recently profiled a homeschooled young lady who is one of the best girl basketball players in the nation. Her mother coaches her basketball team, the Mavericks. The story also focused on their yearly post-season tournament, the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championship.
The yearly tournament brings together 300 boys and girls from 19 states where the students compete, build friendships, and socialize with other homeschooled basketball players across the nation. While this post-season gathering is quite impressive is the in season accomplishments that matters most. Homeschool basketball teams (as well as other sports) have gone mainstream. Students are being scouted by teams and have received scholarships to big and small schools alike. In fact, former homeschoolers are now making it into the N.C.A.A.
Taber Spani, who the article followed, is currently being pursued by the University of Connecticut and Tennessee.
While not all homeschoolers have access to organizations and teams such as this, homeschoolers are finding ways to compete. Parents, (usually very experienced parents), coach many teams, some teams are coached by paid professionals. If you homeschooled child is looking to compete in athletics, contact your local homeschool association and homeschool newsgroups to find out what is available in your area.
If you are looking to get your homeschooler involved in sports in a larger scale, contact the Homeschool Sportsnet Inc. HSPN will help you find teams in your area where your homeschooler can compete. It will also help you in starting a Homeschool Sports Program. I found two major homeschooled leagues in my area. If you live in or near a major city, you should have not problem finding sports teams for your homeschooled kids.
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Equal Access Laws for Homeschoolers