Players & Parents:  It is important that you read and prayerfully consider the policies explained below before signing your registration form for any Victors sport.  Please note:  your signature indicates that you have read and are in agreement with all Victors policies.

Victors Homeschool Sports was created to provide home-educated student athletes the opportunity to play competitive sports.  We support and advocate home education for the glory of Jesus Christ as an excellent educational choice throughout the high school years.  Victors hopes to meet a need for students who would like to play competitive sports while continuing on the homeschooling journey with their family.  Victors is run completely by volunteer homeschooling parents.  Each existing sport was started by parents who had a child interested in that particular sport.  The Victors organization is committed to working together as families in discipling our young people for Christ, and in using competitive sports to build character and integrity.

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-19, Mark 12:29, John 1:4).

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20-23), and is true God and true Man (John 1:1, 14).

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, and only infallible, authoritative Word of God, which exercises final and ultimate authority in faith and life, over the individual, the Church, and human reason.

We believe that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), that he sinned and thereby incurred not only the physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God (Genesis 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12); that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and are sinners in thought, word and deed (Romans 3:10–23).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins to satisfy divine justice (Romans 5:9), was buried and bodily rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (I Corinthians 15:1-4). We believe that He died as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified by grace alone through faith, on the basis of His shed blood (John 3:16, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 7:25). We believe that those so justified are eternally preserved through the present ministries of our risen, ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit (John 10:27-29, Hebrews 7:25).

We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of, and indwelt by, the Holy Spirit and, thereby, become the children of God (John 3:3, 14:16-17). We believe that regenerate man must walk in dependence upon the Holy Spirit in order to please God (Galatians 5:16).

We believe in “that blessed hope” -- the personal return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 14:1-3, I Thessalonians 4:13-18), and in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the just, and the everlasting punishment of the unjust (I Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelations 20:11-15).

We believe that the Church, composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, is the Body and Bride of Christ. We believe that Christ is head of the Body, the Church (Ephesians 1:22-5:22); that all believers are baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having thus become members of one another, we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:3).

In order to participate on a Victors sports team, student athletes must meet the following eligibility criteria.
Note: Questions or issues concerning individual player eligibility, requests for exceptions to the eligibility rules or for rulings thereof, should be submitted in writing to the Victors Board of Directors at the email address above. The Board shall review the matter and, knowing that families must make plans, render a decision in writing and in a timely manner to the requesting party. Though exceptions to eligibility rules will be unusual, Victors reserves the right to make such exceptions if it deems, in its sole discretion, that doing so is beneficial or necessary for the advancement of the purposes of the Victors organization.

1. Are homeschool students under the definition of homeschooling in Section 2 of the MSAHA website since the day after Labor Day of the current academic year. “Homeschooling” is defined to mean that a student’s education is parent-directed. As such, the parents shall be involved in their child’s education by assuming the role of principal or headmaster, thereby (1) setting the date and requirements for high school graduation; (2) selecting and approving course materials and study schedules; and (3) selecting tutors, correspondence courses, videos, computer courses and similar resources for their child’s education. A player that attends a private, public, charter, or university-model school full-time is not considered homeschooled. For part-time students at these types of schools, the student must maintain at least 51% of his/her education from classes that meet the homeschooling definition. (See the MSAHA website for more details)

2. Live at home with their legal guardian.

3. Have competed no more than 4 years in high school athletics after entering the 9th athletic grade. This means that a student is eligible for four (4) consecutive years upon entering the 9th grade, regardless of when they began to participate (that is, a freshman will have four years of eligibility; a sophomore, three years; a junior, two years; and a senior, one year).

4. Have not been expelled from a public or private school.

5. Meet the following academic requirements:
a. The athlete is in good academic standing and under the direction of his parents is taking at least four (4) major academic subjects.
b. The athlete accumulated four (4) major academic subjects the previous academic year and may include courses taken in summer school which shall be considered as an extension of the school year. This establishes academic eligibility for the entire year.
c. An athlete who failed to accumulate four (4) major academic subjects the previous academic year is ineligible for the fall semester but may establish eligibility for the spring semester by passing four (4) major academic subjects during the first semester of that same academic year.

6. Are in good standing with respect to character and behavior according to the player’s parents, coaches, other team leaders, and according to criminal laws applicable to their place of residence

7. Have not participated on another MSAHA homeschool team during the academic school year of the contest or in the year prior unless:
a. A team fails to submit its roster or the coach is not certain that the team will be able to timely submit a roster to participate in MSAHA events (in such case a player must notify the MSAHA Administrator, who shall confirm the circumstances, but may try out with another team and transfer pending MSAHA approval);
b. A change of residence has been made by the player’s family and another team is closer; or
c. A new team has been created consisting of a new sponsoring organization, name, coaches and team roster. In such case, players from any team are free to transfer to the new team until the first Team Roster is submitted to MSAHA the year the team participates in its first MSAHA event.

8. Are not a high school graduate.

9. Have not participated in athletics above the high school level. This does not mean that a student cannot attend sports camps that are held on college campuses and often instructed by college coaches and/or professional players and coaches.

10. Have standing as an amateur. For a student-athlete to lose his amateur standing, he must enter competition for a money guarantee or share of gate receipts, accept a purse of money, teach or coach an athletic sport for money, accept excessive travel expenses or in excess of actual expenses, sign a contract to play professional athletics, or compete under a false name.

11. Provide the following documents to the organization athletic director or team coach prior to any interscholastic competition in that sport.
a. Registration Form (includes academic standing from previous year and a list of current classes)
b. Legal proof of birth
c. Current Medical Examination Form (not more than 365 days old)( Effective Jan. 1st, 2017)
d. Completed and properly signed Parental Permission Form (not more than 365 days old)

Acknowledging that none of us are perfect, and that all of us are in need of forgiveness, our hearts' desire in the Victors organization is to love the Lord by glorifying Him in all pursuits, and to love and encourage one another in following Christ.  Therefore, we ask that while attending or participating in a Victors function, all players, coaches, parents, and fans seek to honor the Lord in our dress and in our conduct, including but not limited to the following:
     
     *  No profanity
     *  No booing of players, teams, coaches, umpires, parents, or others.
     *  No abusive or belittling language about or toward players, teams, coaches, umpires, parents.
     *  No disorderly behavior
     *  No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs

Let us consider the many ways and opportunities we can be doers of God's Word (and not hearers only!) in our relationships with each other this year:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God...Matthew 5:9.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity...Colossians 3:12-14.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful...Colossians 3:15.

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down... Proverbs 26:20.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God...  Philippians 2:14-15.

Our desire is to honor Christ in the way we treat one another.  Competitive sports have a way of stirring the human spirit and revealing what is in our hearts, so our prayer is that we would call on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in self-control at all times, and that we would bear good fruit and be found faithful to the Lord.

PLAYERS:  SPECIAL ATTENTION!....  Playing on a competitive sports team is a privilege!  However, it is not a right, nor is it a necessity of life.  Your character and growth in Christ are the most important things.  We care deeply that all of us among the Victors families would support one another in raising up young people for Christ.  Therefore, the Victors organization takes character issues very seriously, whether on or off the court or field.  This covers many areas of life, including honor to parents, respect toward coaches and teammates, honesty, good sportsmanship, integrity in all of life, diligence in your academic work and other responsibilities, just to name a few! In order to enjoy the privilege of playing on a Victors team, and having a Victors uniform, please understand that questionable on-going character issues will be addressed for the good of the student, the student's peers, the family, and ultimately for the honor of Christ.  Please be sure to read all of the Policies page so there is no question as to what is expected.

Please remember that all of our coaches are graciously volunteering many hours of their time to coach.  Their efforts require tremendous sacrifices of time, energy, and sometimes even income and vacation time away from work.  It is a rewarding position, but also a very difficult and demanding one that requires constant decision-making, and much of God's grace.  Also, our board members are working behind the scenes year round, continually communicating and making decisions.  Let us be quick to encourage our coaches and board members, and pray for them.  Parents & players:  please pray specifically throughout the year for your team's coach, and for your Victors board members.

The Victors teams are intended to be competitive.  Our coaches make every effort to help all players improve their skills through team practices, and by encouraging individual practice and drills at home.  Although our coaches seek to give all players playing time, we strive to be able to compete well against our opponents, and win as many games as we are able, to the best of our team's ability.  Therefore, playing time for each player will vary, and no player is guaranteed a certain amount of playing time.  Playing time per player is at the coach's discretion.

We encourage at least one parent of each player to attend as many away games as possible.  We do not travel to away games in the same way that many of the schools travel (a coach driving a bus loaded with players).  Victors is completely run by volunteer parents, and the more parents we have traveling to away games, the safer it is for everyone.  Parents:  If you are not able to travel to a particular game, please make arrangements ahead of time for your child's transportation, considering the following, for safety reasons:  All drivers carrying Victors athletes must be at least 21 years of age. The only exceptions would be that a Victors athlete can, with parental approval, drive himself/herself along with family members only, or be driven by an older sibling that may be under 21. If your child drives his or her sibling(s) to or from a Victors sponsored event, Victors leadership will assume that the parent(s) of the siblings have approved of that driving arrangement.  Please do not send your child to a carpool/caravan meeting place without knowing who they will be riding with.  

For the protection of our young people, each female player will need to travel either with her family or with her female teammates and an approved driver.  Also, each male player will need to travel either with his family or with his male teammates and an approved driver.  In other words, no mixing of girls and boys teams while traveling!  We have had great cooperation with this in the past, and many grateful families.        

For overnight trips (V Basketball Tip-off tournament, Baseball World Series, etc.), at least one parent from each family is strongly encouraged to travel with us.  If you as a parent are unable to attend an overnight trip, please make arrangements for your child to stay with another family, and for another parent to be responsible for your child for the duration of the trip.  (We do not have very many overnight trips!)  Please see our website schedules for away game locations. 

It is encouraged that Victors practices be attended by the team that is practicing and their immediate family members only.  In other words, practices are not intended to be open to everyone.  The practice session times will be better used to the fullest by the coaches and the athletes without the distraction of additional people.  Victors practice sessions are often shorter and occur less often than our competitors' practice times, so making the best use of our time is important.

Recognizing that Sunday is the Lord's Day, the Victors organization encourages all team practices to take place on one or more of the other six days of the week.

Players are encouraged to attend all practices.  Coaches depend on reliable attendance in order to plan and prepare effective practices.  Please notify the coach in advance if you are unable to attend.  Coaches reserve the right to limit a player's playing time if practice attendance is a problem.

Players, please come to practice with an attitude of humility, and with a teachable and coachable spirit, ready to learn and cooperate with the coach's practice plan.  Since our practice sessions are relatively short, staying focused is important.

The Victors program seeks to keep its season fees as low as possible for all sports.  No one in the Victors organization receives payment for his/her services, with the exception of a scholarship gift for the few college student assistants who have helped in the past.   Registration fees cover expenses such as uniforms, facilities, referees, umpires, insurance, etc.  We encourage all players to seek out sponsors in order to cover some of these costs.  Simply print out a sponsor letter on the Sponsors page of our website or click this link.  After becoming familiar with these forms, the student athlete and his/her parent can seek out a sponsor(s).  As you seek sponsors, begin with those in your community that you already do business with.  The Victors program will feature sponsors on our website and provide links to sponsor websites, in accordance with sponsor levels selected.  We will also display sponsor names on our home game banners. Sponsors should make checks payable to "Victors Homeschool Sports."

Victors welcomes volunteers like you!  If Victors has touched your family's life, consider how you might help us continue to make this program possible. Some Victors sports require parents to sign up for areas of service, since many jobs must be fulfilled in order for games to occur.  These may include working in admissions, concessions, score clock, set-up, clean-up, among many other jobs.

We are so glad that you are a part of the Victors team!  The leaders of Victors are praying for you and your personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

As a Victors player, we challenge you to make a commitment to be a loyal team member, ready to help your team in any way you can.  Discipline yourself to work with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men (Colossians 3:23), and this will carry over into all of your life as a young person growing in the grace of Christ.  On a side note, be grateful for your parents, thank them often, and be a help to them around the house.  Speak kindly to your siblings; be diligent in your chores and academic work; walk in integrity.  Seek to serve, and not to be served.  Following Christ starts at home in the family!  

If you have already asked the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, then we encourage you to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).  Commit your youth to Him, and walk in His ways.  You will never regret it!

Remember what our Lord Jesus Christ said are the two greatest commandments:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself  (read Mark 12:28-31).  Don't forget to do what Jesus said is the most important thing (see Luke 10:38-42)...sit at the Lord's feet by reading His Word and praying to Him everyday.  Do this and you will never lose your way.  Give your heart fully to Christ, and you will find abundant life!  The Lord loves you and considers you precious enough to die for.  There is no greater love than that!  (see John 15:13).  There is nothing more important than these things.

In you have never accepted God's free gift of salvation and do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then we have GOOD NEWS for you!  Your sins can be forgiven, and you can have eternal life with Him in heaven forever, because He paid the necessary price when He died on the cross.  He was raised to life, that we might have life.  If you desire to receive this gift of eternal life, repent and confess your sins to the Lord, invite Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord of your life, and you will be a new creation!  If you wish to do this, then do not hesitate to let us know, so that we can rejoice with you and encourage you in your new walk with Christ.

May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be upon the Victors this year, for the praise and glory of Christ!

.............GO VICTORS!!!!!!!