Home Education Sports Resources

A question that gets asked often is “what about sports?”  Many families resist considering homeschooling because they think it will mean that their children will be resigned to the proverbial sidelines, and never enjoy the teamwork, commitment and persistence that can be gained by participating in team sports. The good news is there are MANY opportunities, but it can take a little more effort on the parent’s part. It’s also an excellent way to build your community!

Local Recreation Departments

Local recreation programs can be a wonderful first sports experience for our kids, and give you the opportunity to meet families in your community. Often you will meet homeschoolers as well. One year, our President, Becky’s kids were on a rec soccer team with 6 homeschoolers and 5 public schoolers. She also met their family’s first homeschooling friends when her oldest signed up for a very short-lived stint in T-ball. The kids (and parents) have sustained a close to 20 year friendship! 

Summer Track

Many communities around the state run summer track programs for kids under 14. You can check out this master list of all programs, or inquire at your local rec department or with the coach of the high school track or cross country teams.

Public School Athletics

A common question is whether or not homeschooled kids can participate in public school sports and other extracurriculars. The answer is YES, however what you need to keep in mind is that you do need to follow all policies and procedures that are required for all student athletes at the school. If the entire team is expected to ride the bus to and from games, participate in fundraising, or pre-season conditioning, your child will be too!  There are no exceptions just because your child is not enrolled in the public school. In fact, players will need to follow all school enrollment laws to participate, so keep this in mind. If you are willing to agree to all of that, it can be a very good experience and many parents consider it the best of both worlds. It can also be a nice bridge for kids who were previously in public school but the family decided homeschooling was a better option for the child. Your first contact should be with the coach or athletic director at the school. They should be able to tell you the steps you will need to take.

Private School Athletics

Private schools in Maine are also able to allow local homeschooled teams to join their athletic teams. Parents should reach out directly to the school principal or coach.  

Maine Homeschool Sports Facebook Group

The focus of the social media group is to organize, facilitate, support and further a dynamic & active home education sports community in Maine. Events, pick-up games, and anything that is relevant to organized sports and outdoor fun at the local, regional and state-wide level. Homeschool sports registrations for all the major statewide groups are posted here regularly to keep families across the state apprised of registration and season start dates.

Maine Homeschool Sports League (MHSL)

MHSL was founded in 2021 by Maine Home Education Alliance Vice President Brooke Thompson so that her children could play soccer outside unmasked. In 2.5 years, with the help of dedicated volunteers across the state, MHSL grew to cover nine geographic areas across the state. These sports programs served 1200+ kids throughout the state, representing over 10% of all home educated kids in Maine! The programs included teams for fall and spring soccer, late winter basketball and spring softball. MHSL has now transitioned from a statewide organization to local areas creating their own nonprofits and focusing their energies on growing their immediate communities. Very exciting times to be a sports-loving homeschooler in Maine!

Local Homeschool Sports Programs:

With such a growth in home education, some of the communities in more populated parts of the state have started their own local homeschool sports leagues, similar to what a local rec program might do. Find your team below!

Travel Sports

Travel sports are another option for families, particularly when a child is really into playing their sport competitively at a challenging level. The expenses vary WIDELY, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand once you consider travel and hotel costs. This is usually at the 16U and 18U level. You might be wondering what the 16U/18U means….. basically, kids are grouped by age, with a very hard age cut-off. 16U means 16 and under, based on the cut-off date. Some clubs have teams for 8U all the way up to 18U. Submission of a copy of the birth certificate is always required. There are lots of rules and expectations around the commitment, but it can be a very fun experience for dedicated kids who are passionate about their sport!