Sports and Extracurricular Activities

The fact that homeschooling has only been legal in Tennessee for 34 years
surprises some of us. Several areas of organized school activities have
proved difficult for families’ participation. As the home-centered education
movement has progressed, we have new opportunities for homeschooling
students’ sports and activities. These opportunities hold significant benefits
to homeschoolers for physical enrichment and potentially financial benefit
through college scholarships. In 2013, State Representative Roger Kane of
Tennessee drafted and successfully passed a new law enabling
homeschooled students to have equal rights to tryout for Tennessee
Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) sanctioned sports.
Understanding and utilizing this law is important for several reasons:
beneficial resources are available for our homeschooled students,
participation in sports is a determining factor for families deciding to
homeschool, and participation in TSSAA sports potentially opens doors for
college scholarships.

Some of the beneficial assets for our students participating in sports are
physical endurance, social maturity, team-mindset development, and
character growth. Developing these qualities will be resourceful for
achieving our students’ goals.

The Basics of Participation

The TSSAA was established in 1925 as a non-profit organization managed
by volunteers and has become the authority for member schools
throughout the state of Tennessee. Revisions to Article II, Section 25
(Home School Rule) state homeschool students are eligible to try out for
public and private school sports while remaining enrolled with an umbrella
school (Category IV Church-related School). Those students are also
required to register through their local education agency (LEA) or school
board. This rule only applies to TSSAA member schools. Ninety percent of
Tennessee High Schools and fifty-five percent of Tennessee Middle
Schools are TSSAA members. Participation in sports that are not TSSAA
member schools are at the discretion of each individual school. Don’t
hesitate to reach out to your zoned school if they are not members of
TSSAA to check on the possibility of your student participating in a sport or
extra-curricular activity.

TSSAA eligibility requirements are clearly explained and what you would
expect for a homeschool student. Registration with your zoned LEA by
August 1 and written notification to the principal and coach of the sport by
August 15 are important deadlines. Establishing a pattern of
communication with your zoned public school can only help with your
process of participation. Our attitudes of support and service can alleviate
mindsets the school might have if they have not had experience
implementing this TSSAA rule. The coach of your desired sport can be an
advocate for your student for optional pre-tryout practice sessions.

Under the TSSAA rule, all sanctioned or sponsored sports (TSSAA
Handbook, pg. 9 – Sponsored Sports), including baseball, girls’ softball,
basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, tennis, track and field,
unified track and field, girls’ volleyball, soccer, and wrestling are open for
eligible middle school and high school homeschool students to try out for
play. Girls’ and boys’ lacrosse will be added as a sanctioned TSSAA sport
in the 2021-22 school year. Any member school that does not permit a
homeschool student to try out for a team is subject to losing its TSSAA
membership status.

Many questions arise concerning extracurricular activities. The TSSAA rule
does not apply to any extracurricular activities and on-campus events like
cheerleading, band, color guard, debate team, science club, and school
dances. The sanctioned sports fall under this rule but member schools still
have the option to decide in what extracurricular and on-campus events
homeschool students may participate. One school in a county may allow a
homeschool student to march in the band, while another in the same
county or the next county over will not allow it. Each school has the right to
decide a student’s participation in extracurricular and on-campus events
but not regarding sanctioned sports. Again, if your zoned school is not a
member of TSSAA, then you need to contact them directly to inquire about
participation in either sports and extracurricular activities.

Concerning the private schools in your area, take note of the requirements
for your child to play on private school TSSAA member teams (TSSAA
Handbook, pg. 24).

“A home school student participating at a private school must pay full tuition
and abide by all financial aid rules. For the purpose of this rule, “full tuition”
is defined as the same amount paid by all other students enrolled and in
regular attendance at the school.” ~ TSSAA Handbook

The same restrictions that apply to their public school and private school
students apply to homeschool students. When playing for a TSSAA
member team, homeschoolers are subject to eligibility and academic
requirements and transfer rules (ex: redshirting).
For college sports, if you have questions about the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) or the National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA), please contact Tricia Fulton at
tricia.fulton@cumberlandchristianacad.org.

©2020 Cumberland Christian Academy. Article by Tricia Fulton. All rights
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