Homeschooling, sports a winning combination
You can count on the homeschool community to lay off bragging about winning geography bees and chess tournaments for a while. We have a new hero, and his name might be more familiar to sports fans than spelling bee fans.
This past weekend, Tim Tebow, homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade, won the Heisman Trophy. The question many sports fans are asking is whether this true sophomore will score another trophy in his time left at the University of Florida.
As a homeschooled student, Tebow’s options in sports were somewhat limited, but his family was committed to making sure he had an opportunity to follow his dream. In his home state of Florida, he was allowed to compete on a high school team in his county of residence, and so he did. Tebow, by all accounts, did well.
When families transition from homeschooling to a traditional public school, often it is so that their children can participate in a specific program offered through a public school. Even though homeschool groups often provide extracurricular activities, the level of competition may not be as intense as it would be at a traditional public school. Some kids want more.
Following a child’s lead is a common element among homeschool families. In Tebow’s case, playing football meant that Tebow and his mother lived in an apartment near the school while the rest of the family lived on the family farm nearby. While that was allowed in Florida, it probably would not be allowed in California.
In California, students are classified as public or private school students. Homeschool, as a category, does not exist in state law. Families who teach their children entirely independently of a public school system either enroll in a private school on independent study or file an affidavit with the school. In effect, this establishes that homeschool as a private school.
Eligibility for participation in team sports is determined on a state-by-state basis. In California, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is the organization that sets the rules for eligibility and inclusion in team sports. The CIF requires that athletes be part of a CIF-member school in order to compete. In California, students who are schooled under a private school affidavit can’t even sign up to warm the bench.
Still, many families, and coaches in search of good players, are willing to compromise. David Chiono, athletic director at Marysville High School, says that the school requires a student to be a registered student at MHS to participate in its athletic program.
MHS will allow a student on an independent study program to play team sports as long as the student takes at least two core classes on campus and meets grade and attendance requirements expected of all athletes. Additional classes can be taken on an independent study basis to allow the student to continue most of his education at home if the family wants to continue homeschooling in those areas.
Once a student decides to play college ball, the playing field levels out. Homeschoolers, private schoolers and public schoolers all have the same requirements to prepare for college-level sports. Potential players register with the NCAA Clearinghouse to confirm eligibility and start shopping for a college of choice.
Allowing homeschoolers to participate in public high school programs can be controversial. When Tebow started playing football at school, there were concerns about his status as a homeschool kid. Helping his team win a few games eased the furor. Now that he’s a successful college sophomore, I don’t think anyone is asking Tim Tebow what he will do without a “real” high school diploma.
Rose Godfrey is a speech pathologist and homeschooling mom in Hallwood. Her homeschool blog can be found on the Appeal-Democrat Web site at www.appealdemocrat.com.
