When I started in the homeschool sports movement back in the early 90s, summer time was mostly all about family vacations, a break from school work but probably time for an annual summer homeschool picnic. I also remember holding once a week summer pickup / recreation day or general summer camps.

NOT ANY MORE! During the past 3 decades while the homeschool sports movement has matured and grown - leveled off - grown - leveled off and is now once again enjoying a new round of growth, there isn't much time for "Summer" anymore, and family vacations have to be centered around the summer sports activities known as homeschool training camps, try-outs, sign-ups and more! And like homeschool sports, fund-raising NEVER SLEEPS either!

Welcome to July!

FOOTBALL

The fact that we can freely talk about homeschool football as an expected sports is amazing in itself. If you are on a homeschool football team or want to be, then July can be an exciting time for you. By now, you've probably already had some Spring Training but now it's show time: Try-out and SUMMER CAMP. Already in July, many football teams have already posted their fall schedule (see our Gameday Scoreboard and add yours!). At the same time, July is a time for "player call outs" - an annual need for coaches to fill their rosters. Be sure to check out our Team Locator and find a team! As a homeschool coach, I know how excited the football coaches must be as their season will kick-off in just weeks - what a great motivational tool! Hats off to the fund-raising machine that is essential for football, and quite frankly, all homeschool sports.

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CHEER SQUADS

Cheerleading is one of those homeschool sports that is definitely on the rise. We are following some cheer squads that have returned from national competition and are about to OR already having try-outs and camps. With the football season on the horizon you can imagine that the cheerleading squads are soon to get focused on their upcoming season.

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VOLLEYBALL

July is a HUGE month for Volleyball teams! Like so many sports, volleyball is pretty much year-round with opportunites for homeschoolers to join Club teams that seem to play in the so-called "off-season". We follow MANY homeschool volleyball teams and right now the coaching staffs are busy! It's try-out time, summer camp time and finalizing the upcoming volleyball schedule. Be sure to check out our Team Locator and find a team!

For many years now, volleyball has been on those latest sports to really take off and grow. The upcoming East Coast Volleyball Nationals has grown to over 80 teams in just 3 years - including 10 Varsity Boys teams. East Coast Nationals was the first homeschool tournament to include boys teams. The number of Boys Volleyball teams is increasing dramatically. If you like post-season events, you will find no fewer than 6 National Volleyball tournaments just for homeschool volleyball players.

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CROSS COUNTRY

In the EARLY mornings of hot July, you're bound to see a group runners running in parks or maybe on the sidewalks in town. Not that long ago, these were probably students from local schools. BUT NO LONGER! Like their public school counterparts, the homeschool cross country teams are for real and are really busy in July. Right about now, many XC teams and groups are having call-outs, try-outs and hand-outs (of uniforms). It has been fascinating to see how many homeschool cross country groups host their own meets and find meets for their teams. We constantly follow the progress of XC meets and growth. Besides the regular season meets that are all over the country, you will find quite a few end of season national competitions for homeschool runners.

I think one of the nicest trends I've witnessed in the XC growth, is the inclusion of homeschool teams allowed in meets that are held by public and private schools. It was heart breaking back in the late 90s when I would hear from homeschool parents who had their children in meets from public schools, but when they recorded lap time, the officials would whisper "doesn't count". Finally, because of the rise and boost of the investment of these XC runners, it has impacted the increase in popularity of track and field during the spring.

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BASKETBALL

It seems like March Madness just ended when *boom* July is here! By now many teams have probably wrapped up a camp or about to hold one. Many homeschool basketbal teams typically will hold open gym session during the summer and soon will have call-out for teams. Be sure to check out our Team Locator and find a team! All this effort during the summer - especially July - is for self improvement, meeting new families, reinforcing and building a program; all eyes on States and Nationals.

No doubt, homeschool basketball has done the heavy-lifting of representing homeschool sports well for 30 years from pioneers who gave and still give their life's work for it. The 2023 East Coast Basketball Nationals will be offering its 26th annual tournament in mid-March in Gatlinburg, TN. The historic NCHBC Nationals continues in Missouri.

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SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, SOCCER

There are many team sports that keep homeschoolers busy like softball, baseball and soccer. These sports offer opportunities for all four seasons depending on where you live. So by default, July could be regular season, summer tune-up, try-outs or maybe even post-season. Some groups are gearing up for a Fall soccer season or Fall Ball (baseball, softball). Maybe, July offers some families a "breather" from these sports - ah, I doubt it!

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