Homeschool sports in Bryan–College Station

Team sports

Aggieland Homeschool Athletics (the Panthers) is a Christian nonprofit built by homeschool parents, with basketball from 10U to 18U, volleyball from junior high through varsity, cross country and track & field for middle and high school, and baseball. Teams play homeschool, private-school and public-school opponents. BVCHEA’s Brazos Valley Mustangs have run since 1991 for grades 6–12 — football, volleyball, cheer, baseball and softball, competing in TAIAO.

• Team Aggieland Homeschool Athletics A Christian nonprofit built by homeschool parents for homeschool students in Bryan–College Station and nearby towns — the Panthers. Competitive, not recreational: basketball (10U–18U), volleyball (junior high through varsity), cross country and track & field (middle and high school) and baseball, each with regular practices, games or meets, tournaments and some travel. Each sport is listed separately here with its own ages and registration window. The site also keeps a useful directory of local homeschool resources — requirements, curriculum, co-ops, clubs, mentors and college transition — worth a look even if you never sign up for a team. Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates. Ages 8–18 Bryan
• Team Baseball — Aggieland Homeschool Athletics Organized team baseball for homeschool athletes, with seasonal registration. Ages and divisions vary by season. Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates.
• Team Basketball, 10U–18U — Aggieland Homeschool Athletics AHA's largest program: boys' and girls' teams in 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions, elementary through high school. Regular practices, games and tournaments against homeschool, private-school and public-school teams. Competitive; expect a real weekly commitment and some travel. Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates. Ages 8–18
• Team Brazos 4-H Archery Club, ages 8–18 The Brazos County 4-H archery project: youth from 3rd grade (age 8) through 18 learn target archery with 4-H-certified coaches and can compete for the county in 3D, field, clout and other events, up to the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports State Games. Recurve and compound divisions. Weekends From $25 a child Ages 8–18 Bryan
• Team Brazos County 4-H Sportsman's Club (shotgun), ages 8–18 The Brazos County 4-H shotgun project, the first 4-H shotgun program in the country (1976). Volunteer coaches under certified 4-H instructors teach safe shotgun handling and skeet, trap, sporting clays and bunker trap at the club's own Boswell-Porter range near Caldwell, for beginners and competitors alike. Weekends Requires Brazos County 4-H enrollment (about $25–$30 a year); ask the club about range fees and shells. Ages 8–18 Nearby
• Team BVCHEA — Brazos Valley Mustangs The athletics arm of the Brazos Valley Christian Home Educators Association, running since 1991 and volunteer-led. Football, volleyball, cheer, baseball and softball for grades 6–12, with basketball and track in collaboration with Cornerstone; golf and boys' volleyball are also mentioned. Competes in TAIAO. Open to students whose school does not offer the sport. From $30 a family Ages 11–18
• Team Cross Country, middle & high school — Aggieland Homeschool Athletics Competitive distance running for middle- and high-school homeschool athletes — AHA is explicit that this is competitive rather than recreational. Regular practices and meets against other schools and homeschool programs. Weekends Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates. Ages 11–18
• Team Track & Field, middle & high school — Aggieland Homeschool Athletics Spring track and field for middle- and high-school homeschool athletes: team practices and track meets through the season. Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates. Ages 11–18
• Team Volleyball, junior high–varsity — Aggieland Homeschool Athletics Girls' volleyball from junior high through varsity, plus boys' volleyball. Regular practices, games and tournaments — AHA hosts tournaments of its own. Competitive; tryouts follow spring training. Registration fee per sport; see the site for the season's rates. Ages 11–18

When registration opens

Each sport runs on its own calendar, and the windows are short — a few weeks, sometimes with early, regular and late periods. Check the organization’s site before the season, not during it. Aggieland Homeschool Athletics in a typical year:

• January–early February. Track & field, for the spring season.
• April–May. Volleyball, followed by spring training and tryouts for the fall.
• June. Cross country, for the fall season.
• July–October. Basketball, the largest program. Summer programs and camps have their own spring deadlines.
• Varies. Baseball registration depends on the season.

The Mustangs charge a $30 per-family registration each year plus a fee per sport, and require a sports physical (good for two years); email [email protected] for the current list of sports and practice times.

Before you sign up

The commitment varies a lot by sport and age group, so ask about the specific team rather than the organization:

• Practices. How many a week, on which days, and where — venues move with gym availability.
• Games and meets. Saturdays are common for competitions, and cross country practices on Saturdays when there is no meet.
• Tournaments and travel. Basketball and volleyball both travel; ask how far and how often.
• Fees, tryouts and physicals. Per-sport fees on top of any registration; tryouts for some teams; a physical for the Mustangs.
• Organizational requirements. Both organizations are Christian. AHA’s registration includes a Statement of Faith, player and parent pledges and codes of conduct; it states that its programs are open regardless of a family’s beliefs, with those requirements applying to everyone. Read the current documents before you register.

Classes during the school day

For families who want movement without a season: gyms and studios that run a class in the daytime specifically for homeschoolers.

• Class Homeschool Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (ages 7+) — Brazos Valley MMA Brazilian jiu-jitsu for homeschool kids during the school day at BVMMA, in Post Oak Mall. Beginners and kids with some training train together; ages 7 and up, or 6 with a parent on the mat. Practical self-defense, fitness and discipline. 60 minutes. Weekday daytime Ages 7+ College Station
• Class Homeschool Jiu-Jitsu, ages 6–9 — Gracie Barra South College Brazilian jiu-jitsu for homeschool kids during the school day: the Little Champions 2 (ages 6–9) class on the Monday and Wednesday morning schedule. 55 minutes. Weekday daytime Ages 6–9 College Station
• Tutor Infant survival swim (ISR), ages 6 months–6 years — H2O Survival Swim School Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) lessons that teach babies and young children to roll to their back and float, and older toddlers to swim-float-swim, if they fall into water. One-on-one, ten minutes a day, in a heated pool in east Bryan with a certified ISR instructor. Weekday daytime From $125 a child Bryan

Dance sits under Arts rather than Sports — the beginner ballet class at Alexandra’s Dance School has a Friday-morning session for ages 2–6.

Also worth knowing

Aggieland Homeschool Athletics keeps a directory of local homeschool resources — Texas requirements, curriculum, co-ops, clubs, mentors and college transition — that is useful whether or not you ever sign up for a team. For everything with a ball or a track, see all sports classes & groups; for the basics of homeschooling here, start with Homeschool 101.