Thinking of organized sports usually brings to mind the local school’s football or basketball teams. But for homeschooled youngsters, there is no local school. However, thanks to the Texas Home Educator’s Sports Association (THESA), there are organized sports.
THESA offers home-schooled students in the Dallas/Fort Worth area the opportunity to participate in numerous sports. For girls, THESA offers cheer, volleyball, basketball, softball, and tennis. For boys, football, basketball, baseball, and tennis are available.
Focusing on combining the physical, spiritual, and emotional development of student-athletes in junior and senior high school levels, THESA promotes “Godly character development” along with improving students’ athletic abilities.
Athletes must try out to make the team and then compete against private and public school groups and other homeschool organizations. Tournaments are held at the state and national level, where sportsmanship and athletic skills for the THESA Riders are showcased. Rider athletes have the same opportunities as other athletes who compete for “traditional” schools, except their competitors are all homeschooled.
Fees are charged to participate, but THESA also accepts donations to keep the costs down and assist families with athletic scholarships.
THESA was founded in 2002 after a few families wanted to have athletics for their homeschooled children while maintaining their beliefs in homeschooling their children instead of attending public or private educational establishments.