DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE HOMESCHOOLED?
Yes. Part of our club's mission is to provide a competitive soccer experience for homeschool students who may not have access to other opportunities.
We adhere to the following definitions of homeschooled:
- Indiana Homeschool FAQ Sheet provided by the Indiana DOE, which refers to Indiana Code IC-20-33-2-12, to define homeschool. Which states that a homeschooled student's education is nonpublic, nonaccredited, and not otherwise approved by the state board. doe homeschool-faq.pdf indiana code.pdf
- The National Homeschool Tournament states that "players shall be homeschool students, with the majority of their education managed by their parents/guardians." nhsc_rules_of_the_game.pdf
WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A TRAILBLAZER?
We offer Boys 19U, Girls 19U, Coed 14U, and Coed 12U. The maximum age is no older than 19 by the last day of the National tournament. The minimum as is at least 8 years old by the last day of the State tournament. Please see registration information for more details, as these dates change from year to year.
IS PREVIOUS SOCCER EXPERIENCE NECESSARY?
No. Previous soccer experience is definitely valuable, especially for Varsity team players, but it's not a requirement for any of our teams.
All players, regardless of experience, are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the FREE individual Training Challenges that are delivered by e-mail every week starting in June.
WHEN DOES THE SEASON BEGIN AND END?
The season typically begins mid-July and ends after the National Tournament at the end of October. Please note only the Boys 19U and Girls 19U teams attend the National Tournament. All other teams are finished at the State Tournament, which is early October. We wrap things up with an awards ceremony in early November.
WHAT TEAMS DO THE TRAILBAZERS PLAY?
We primarily play other homeschool teams.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?Our practices are on Tuesdays, & Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. There is an optional Monday practice for Boys 19U and Girls 19U from 6-8pm. Games are typically scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
There will be some travel involved along with a few over night stays. We play teams from around the state, which are located in the following areas: Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Middletown, Tippecanoe, and Zionsville. To help minimize travel, we try to balance the number of home and away games, along with playing a few double header games.
The State tournament my require an over night stay, which is dependent upon who is hosting. The National tournament is typically held in Murfreesboro, TN.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
We work hard to help players afford to play on the team. We diligently look for ways to save money so that we can keep our player fees as low as possible. Our club is ran 100% by parent volunteers. The player fees go toward paying for field fees, referees, player insurance, equipment, tournament fees, and club administration. There is a separate fee for uniforms, which are player owned. Along with personal player soccer equipment.
Ways To Save:
- Player Owned Uniforms: Players are encouraged to take care of their uniforms, in hopes that they can be used for several years. Reusing uniforms is easier to do for the older players as they are not growing as much. However, for our younger players, we encourage families to pass down or sell the outgrown uniforms to another player, if the uniforms are still in good condition.
- 50/50 Sponsorships: We encourage players to seek sponsorships from local business to help offset the cost of fees. The player will receive 50% of the money they collect and can then apply this to their player fees. The club will receive the other 50% to help with ongoing club costs.
Other Costs:
These expenses are not included in the player or uniform fees.
- Travel and meal expenses
- Out-of-town tournament accommodations
- National Tournament registration fee (approximately $20 per player)
- Club spirit wear (optional)
- Player and team pictures (optional)
WHAT OTHER SOCCER GEAR IS NEEDED?
All players will need to provide their own cleats, shin guards, compression shorts, ball, and water bottle. Extra shorts and socks are also recommend for use during practices. Please see a detailed list under the Soccer Gear Guidelines tab.
IS THERE A CHRISTIAN CONPONENT TO BECOMING A TRAILBLAZER?
Our mission is to promote Christian character through competitive soccer. Competitive soccer requires training and discipline, pushing players to test their physical, mental, and emotional limits. We view the soccer field as a unique venue for uncovering our responses to such tests and then shaping them in ways that honor God, edify our teammates, and reflect good stewardship of the time and talents given to each of us.
The Trailblazers coaches and board members are Christians. There is a time of devotion and prayer at the end of each practice. But it is not necessary that a child or family that participates in the Trailblazers program be Christian. We expect player and parent conduct that is in keeping with moral values, such as honesty, integrity, self-control, and respect, and it is necessary for participants to be in alignment with these values.