Who sponsors the Home School Saints Basketball Program?

The Home School Saints provide the first-ever varsity and junior varsity team athletic experiences for home educated boys ages 12-18 in New Orleans.  Its teams are directed by Louisiana Home School Sports, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering sports opportunities for home school children.  The vision is to serve the 2,500 home-educated youth in the New Orleans area by providing a positive varsity and junior varsity team sports experience.

 

The Home School Saints are part of the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana.  We will play conference games towards possible play-offs and a final four tournament.  We will also play other small private schools and home school groups both in Louisiana and Mississippi resulting in an 18-game schedule.

 

How much travel is involved?

Practices and home games will be held in the Metro New Orleans area at a gym yet to be determined.  Away games are in locations such as Baton Rouge, Slidell, and Lafayette.

 

What is the time commitment to play on the Home School Saints Basketball team?

Prior to regular season games, practices will be held on Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings, and Saturdays.  Conference games will be played Tuesday and Friday nights.  Other games may be scheduled on Saturdays with possible weekend tournaments.

 

What is the cost to play?

The cost will be $300 which includes a game uniform, shooting shirt for pre-game warm-ups, practice jersey, insurance costs, and other fees.

 

Are there many home school boys playing basketball?

Yes!  In the past ten years, home school basketball teams have rapidly expanded nationally.  Not only have individual teams formed across the country, but whole leagues of home school teams have been created. Atlanta, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Richmond, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Tulsa and Raleigh/Greensboro all have thriving home school basketball teams. Some home school players received Division 1 college scholarships.

 

How are home school families finding out about the Home School Saints?

The Home School Saints sends information to many New Orleans home school groups:  CHEF GNO, CHEF River Parishes, CHEF Northshore, CHEF Crescent City, CHEF Slidell, Grace Home Educators, CHEF St Charles Parish, Westbank Homeschool Organization, Key Home School, and Agnus Dei.  Also, the Home School Saints are part of the National Home School Sports Network. 

 

Who will coach the Homeschool Saints Basketball Program?

Coach Mark McNary will be the head varsity basketball coach.  He taught high school and coached high school basketball for years at both Crescent City Baptist High School and Ridgewood Prep High School.  He is a firm believer in utilizing the teaching of well-disciplined basketball fundamentals to help student athletes excel to their greatest potential and beyond what they even imagined.

 

Why should home school boys consider playing baskeball?

All well-coached and organized team sports afford a great opportunity for young men.  Where else can a young man face adversity both internally and externally and learn to confront it head-on and overcome it with the help of others in an environment much safer than life itself?  We seek to provide an opportunity for young men to grow in both integrity and character necessary for success and endurance in life.

 

When will the season begin and how long will it last?

Tryouts for the Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams for boys age 12–18 will be held for two nights on Monday November 5 and Tuesday November 6.  Practices will begin Saturday, November 9th.  Games will begin towards the end of November and end around the beginning of March.  Click on "Schedule & Results" and then click "Basketball" above to see the schedule.

 

What teams will the Home School Saints play?  

Opponents for the Home School Saints are coming from several sources.  First, the Home School Saints are part of the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana (ACEL) and play teams like Acadiana Homeschool, Breaux Bridge Christian Academy, Harvest Time Christian and Pontchartrain Christian Athletics.  Second, there are some independent home school teams that will play the Home School Saints.  The Saints can also play certain junior varsity teams from area schools.