Sports – Page 2 – Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Unique homeschool soccer opportunity

Received this via email and Amy said she would love to have this shared with a broader audience. Please contact her directly for more information.

As many know, I am the founder of the Homeschool Youth Soccer League
(HYSL). I have been approached by a gentleman from Chicago Fire, the
professional soccer league right here in Chicago (
http://www.chicago-fire.com/) about a wonderful opportunity for the soccer
enthusiasts among us. This offer, I putting out to not only the HYSLeague
members, but to the homeschooling community at large because I am certain
that there are several of us out there who would love to participate in
this wonderful opportunity.

Wednesday, October 3rd Chicago Fire celebrate their 15th year anniversary.
With many activities, and a game that evening, they have offered to sell
tickets to a large group of us at a discounted price. If we have at least
100 people interested purchasing tickets at $14 per person, we would also
be given the opportunity to play on their field before the game! They are
also offering a parking pre-purchase price of $12 (over reg. $15). The time
I was given was 3:00pm for this date, but will verify because I see the
game is at 7p. (It could be that we are invited by 3pm to the festivities
going on that day, and will have our pre-game play on the field during this
3-7pm slot.)

I’m just, first, putting feelers out there to see if we can even come close
to 100 people. If this seems to be something of interest, and we would have
100 to take advantage of this opportunity, then I would move forward to
finalize plans with Chicago Fire.

If you think your family would like to participate, could you please email
me asap: mommy@nakitababy.com and let me know how many tickets you’d
purchase for this event?

Open swim for homeschoolers

We have really enjoyed the gym and swim classes we have taken at the Centre, and here is an opportunity for all homeschoolers to enjoy some swim time during their break from the regular gym and swim classes.
Times and fees are listed below, and contact information for further information as well.

Home School Drop-In Swim

Home school families – come down to The Centre for
swimming on the following Thursdays when our regular
program is not running during the holidays. The cost per
child is $2.75 and $3.25 for adults. Times will be from
1:00pm—3:00pm each day.

Thursday, December 1
Thursday, December 8
Thursday, December 15
Thursday, January 5
Thursday, January 12

Contact Brett Lind at 847-531-7017 for more information.

The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120

Gym and Swim

Gym and Swim classes are enrolling around the Chicagoland area in preparation for the upcoming semester.

Please share if you know of one that is not listed here:

Naperville: YMCA

Meets on Fridays from 1-3:15

Age: 6-16
In the pool, children will be split up according to age and ability level which can range from beginner to competitive. We will cover the five components of YMCA swim lessons, which are personal safety, personal growth, water sports & games, and rescue to give your children a well-rounded aquatic lesson.

In the gym, children will be split up according to age. The younger group will be given a more traditional gym class that will teach the fundamentals of basketball, soccer and other group sports. The older group will be more focused on fitness, stationary cycling and group fitness.

Session: 11SEP (Sep 6-Oct 22) 1 day a week for 7 weeks

Session: 11OCT* (Oct 23-Dec 17) 1 day a week for 7 weeks

Elgin: The Centre

These classes are available Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 1-3. They have been known to fill up, so register soon!

If you’re home schooled, come out to The Centre and have some fun!! Our Gym and Swim program features a one hour swim lesson and a one hour physical education class each week. A variety of sports including basketball, soccer, and floor hockey will be played in our gym and kids will get some free time to swim in our awesome Adventure Island at the end of their swim lesson. The program is for all home schooled 5-15 year olds, and there are sessions offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Children may be registered for multiple sessions. Each session is ten weeks long, the first beginning on Tuesday, September 13. Come to The Centre to register today!! $54/R $64/NR

The Centre Front Desk is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, please call Brett Lind, Youth and Teen Coordinator, at 847-531-7017.

I know there used to be one in Schaumburg, but could not find any current info on it, but I did come across this about homeschool programs at Spring Valley.

There’s got to be more gym and swim classes, but that’s all I can come up with right now. If you know of one or participate in one, please share!

Martial Arts in Elgin

Last week was birthday week in our house. And, as much as I love planning parties, I don’t mind a break now and then. So, I was thrilled that one of my daughters requested to have her party hosted at a martial arts facility to which she had earned a free party.

Before I share about our wonderful experience let me give you a peak into the behind the scenes activity. I called and set up a time for the party and a couple days later received a phone call from the gentleman that would lead the class during the party. He asked, “Do you homeschool?” Of course, I told him we did. To which he responded that he had been homeschooled through high school. That got me excited right off the bat. But, that was only the beginning.

Kim’s Black Belt Academy hosted a well organized party. They took care of the RSVPs, followed up with people we had not heard back from and kept me in the loop every step of the way.

They made the cupcakes and lemonade, and filled the pinata. They kept the kids happy and moving for an hour and a half and even gave me the list of gifts and givers.

So, from the party stand point this was a great place to go. All the girls had a great time and they learned some new skills. Most of them had little or no martial arts experience, so this was a first for them. They all did a great job giving it a good effort and the instructors really helped them do their best and feel comfortable.

Oh, and they even video taped the party and sent out the video via email. How great is that?

I wanted to share about this not just so you would know about a great party place, but because they would like to start a martial arts class geared toward homeschoolers. After the quality experience we had with everyone there I was happy to share about this opportunity.

If you are wondering if this could be for you they even have a free trial option. You can set up a time to have a private lesson and get comfortable before you actually join a class.

They make an intentional effort to teach more than physical fitness. Kyuki-do focuses on character development as well. On their website they say this:

At our academy, we use the martial arts as a vehicle to develop the following traits in a child:
– Self-Esteem
– Self Discipline
– Focus and Concentration
– Confidence
– Physical Fitness
– Leadership
– Courtesy and Respect
– Positive Attitude
– Enthusiasm
– Teamwork
– Goal Setting
– Self-Control
– Better Listening

Many of these came up in just the short time that we enjoyed our party there. A series of classes would just deepen the growth in these areas. If you are looking for something fresh to add to your physical education for the upcoming school year I would encourage you to check out Kim’s Black Belt Academy. They have two locations, one in downtown Elgin and the other on the west side of the city, both with the same focus of building confident kids.

Homeschooling rock climb

Info from Vertical Endeavors:

Vertical Endeavors offers Homeschool Days to homeschool students and families! Indoor rock climbing is a great way to introduce your students to a unique experience in a controlled, professional environment. Vertical Endeavors offers a variety of experiential education opportunities where students can broaden their horizons, try a new activity, and step out of their comfort zones. The benefits of indoor rock climbing include promoting mental and physical health, improving self-esteem and self-confidence, encouraging teamwork and leadership, and developing problem-solving and goal-setting skills. 2011 Homeschool Schedule July 13 August 17 September 21 October 19 November 16 December 21 Rates/Times $10/person 1-3 p.m. Includes harness NOTE: Registration is on a first come first service basis. Sessions often fill fast, so sign up early. 100 maximum participants. Ages 4 and up. Contact us to sign up: 630-836-0122. Both students and parents are encouraged to sign up for a Basic Safety Lesson but it is not required to participate in Homeschool Days. This introductory lesson covers knot tying, belaying, rope management skills, the use of technical equipment, and climbing commands. An emphasis is placed on the skills needed to climb and belay in a controlled environment. Although belay skills can be learned by any individual who is ready to learn them, please keep in mind that you must be 14 or older to test out to belay at Vertical Endeavors. Every participant, including climbers, chaperones, and spectators must complete a Vertical Endeavors Liability Waiver. Please double check each waiver to make sure it is complete. Anyone without a fully completed waiver will not be allowed to participate.



Location: 28141 Diehl Road, Warrenville, IL Telephone 630.836.0122 Fax 630.836.0132

Review — Fitness 4 Homeschool

Mom, what are we doing for PE today?

Ummm, oh yeah, that.

It’s on the schedule, but sometimes turns into unplanned active time rather than a formal teaching time. We do calisthenics, practice basketball skills, or run around the walking trails at the park by our house. So, while we don’t generally miss PE (it is required), we don’t always have a good plan for it either.

Until now. I got a new follower on Twitter one day and had to check out this Family Time Fitness company. They offer a PE curriculum geared toward homeschoolers. It comes complete with warm ups, cool downs, and fun activities to go in the middle. Each class took us about a half hour to complete, but your family might take slightly longer or shorter than that depending on the age and focus of your kids. It was just right for our school day.

Product: Fitness 4 Homeschool

Details: A complete PE curriculum especially for kids in K-8. This one year program will give you activities for 5 days a week for 52 weeks.

Price: $77 (not much more than you would pay for one child’s PE class for the year at many co-ops!)

What I loved . . .

Beyond a PE class. More than just filling a class requirement, this program is about being healthy and active. That’s why it doesn’t fit in a neat 180 day school year. Fitness is for life and this program helps you toward that end.
Builds on basics. Arm circles, leg lifts, calf raises. Fitness isn’t really complicated, but coming up with a plan can be time consuming. They have done that for you. Took lots of familiar activities and exercises and added in some fresh ideas to make it sparkle, and packaged it up in an easy to use format for everyone to follow along with. PE planning with this product takes a few seconds of clicking each day rather than a half hour or more to plan the week.
Made for in house. While you could definitely enjoy these activities with another family they are designed to be done in house. We have our own little one room school house, but even if you homeschool one child, most of these activities could be done together without a larger group.
Video demos. We all hear those instructors saying to make sure you do it the right way so you don’t strain anything. With short and to the point videos that you access online, you can all see what it should look like. The demonstrations have an adult and children performing the various actions.
Great for an age mix. We used this with a kindergartener, an 8th grader and a few sprinkled in between. They all were able to participate at their levels and really enjoyed the activities. In watching it I was thinking it was geared a little young for my 8th grader, but he did not complain one bit and especially appreciated that we actually had a more planned PE everyday rather than getting pushed off or made more informal because it was unplanned.
Can be reused, or stretched over a couple years. In the summer we tend to be more active, so our formal PE tapers off a bit. If that is the case in your house you could easily stretch this over two years. And, many of the lessons could be repeated without boredom for even longer. You have permanent access to the videos so this is a great one time purchase that can establish your PE plans until high school!
Excellent exercise. I love these classes. I work up a light sweat while doing the activities along with my kids. Again, nothing complicated, but just some simple activities that require me to get up out of the “teacher’s chair” and get moving with them. It is definitely helping me get and stay in shape in this season where homeschooling consumes my days.

Some considerations . . .

Do need some room. We run out of room in our school room for these, so it is really better to head outside if the weather is tolerable. Allow yourself plenty of room to swing those arms without smacking file cabinets or children. You can watch the videos inside and then head outside to actually perform them.
Might want to supplement with team sports or other group activities. What this program does not do is teach your kids basketball skills or soccer drills. I think this is also an important part of the PE program, so we try to balance our time and make room for team sports here and there throughout the year. And, they say they have something in the works to do that type of thing at home as well. Definitely keep your eye out for more products from this homeschool friendly company.

We definitely needed this product right here, right now. My PE was getting a bit dull and needed more direction. I was so thankful for the videos and planning that were packed in there to keep all of us moving. I definitely believe that a good PE class helps the rest of the day go better as well. In our house anyway, they’ve got to move before they sit.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Family Time Fitness For the purpose of reviewing it. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.

Summer bowling

Great deal for a summer of bowling. You do need to still pay shoe rental, any adult games are not free, and you just get one game per day. However, if you have a Brunswick bowl nearby and your kids enjoy bowling, and you plan to bowl a couple times this summer, it is definitely worth the couple minutes to sign them up.



	Join the Brunswick Bonus Zone and save money while you’re having a good time. Membership is free. As a Brunswick Bonus Zone member, you’ll receive exciting discounts and promotions on all the Brunswick fun, from bowling and food, to games, parties and more. Smoke-free times are available at all locations. Once you’re signed up, we’ll send you an e-mail with your first money saving offer!



	NOTE: We have total respect for your privacy. We won’t share your information with anyone, and you can always unsubscribe with a single click. View the Brunswick Privacy Policy.

Crossroads offers sports just for homeschoolers

If you are looking for homeschool sports this is the place to begin your search. Excellent program and a variety of sports available. Check out all the details on their website Crossroads Christian Youth Center.

TOS Crew Review — Go Trybe

I have my favorites for math, English, history, and science. But, when it comes to PE, every year is different. We like to try different things, but most importantly we like to be active and continue to improve our health each day. I want my kids to be healthy and have fun in the process. GoTrybe has a similar goal and we enjoyed using their tools this past month.

Product: Go Trybe online membership

Details: An online fitness membership for kids to use on their own or with their class to encourage them to get active and take a more hands-on interest in their own physical fitness.

Price: $19.95 for an annual membership (regularly $39.95)

What we loved . . .

Quick to figure out. Login is easy, they even have a free trial to check it out before you buy. As soon as you are in you can click around, create your avatar, plan a workout, or listen to the daily messages.
Not just exercise. While GoTrybe’s main focus is exercise, they offer incentives to improve your health in many other areas as well. Each day the member can earn points for viewing quick videos or reading quick tidbits about nutrition, motivation, and wellness. These generally offer tips and advice on how to stick with your exercise plans, how to pack the most nutrition in your meals, and how to set and stick with goals to improve your health. They use the points to dress their avatar and buy various items.
Lots of variety and choose your own. I really enjoyed the way they made the workouts available. They are not just premade videos that you pick from and follow along with only a few to choose from. You create your own workout by pulling from a pool of exercise videos most about 3-5 minutes in length. Each workout must have a warm up, three cardio sets, a strength one, and then a flexibility video. There are lots to choose from and my kids made many videos that we used on different days. No two were alike.
Kids exercise along, too. Each video is led by an adult, but kids play an important part in the group as well. You can even be in a video if you get in touch with them and are willing to drive to their studios in Tennessee. 😉
Geared to a variety of ages. You choose your age group when signing in and the videos that you have will vary based on your age at sign in. They have targeted them, and we enjoyed the older group although it was definitely challenging for my little ones that were following along with us. They all still got a great bit of exercise.

Some considerations . . .

Modesty. My only real beef with GoTrybe is their choice of clothing and body stance for the older girl avatar, in particular. This is often a problem for me when I consider products that focus on physical fitness. Presumably they want to give you a visual that is physically fit, but it often ends up somewhere between questionable and inappropriate in the modesty department. I would have preferred a more neutral stance and more feminine clothing, but obviously they can’t please everyone, so in this area I fell into the part of everyone that they didn’t please.
Workouts seemed to lack a cool down. We really enjoyed the workouts that we put together and each of my kids took a turn putting one on for us. However, we found that they needed a little more transition from the heart pumping cardio to the muscle building strength clips. We would just pause and walk around the room a few times while our heart rate relaxed a bit.
Nutrition information might not mesh with your slant. Each day the kids have an opportunity to hear a quick little nutrition tip and take a one question quiz on their comprehension. This was an easy way to earn points and my kids learned something in the process. However, there are a variety of approaches to healthy eating in our society today (whole foods, vegan, Nourishing Traditions, etc.) and again they cannot please everybody. For the most part they did a good job of remaining general (eat lots of fresh, whole foods), but if this is an area that you feel strongly about in your home you might want to use these as discussion starters rather than lessons for your kids to swallow.
Offers forum and chat features. Social media will always open the door to inappropriate conversation. Just be careful who your kids friend, or have them avoid that part of the program all together. They will not miss out on anything if they don’t get all the shoutouts like, “Make an avatar” ” r u a boy or girl?” etc. Really meaningful stuff right there. 😉

GoTrybe set out to create a motivational site for kids to get fit, to realize the importance of diet and exercise in our society that continues to struggle with obesity and weight related medical issues. I think they did a good job of making this kid-friendly and interactive. This web based program gets you out of your chair and improving your health from the first day you log in. Definitely worth the less than $20 to enable your kids to plan your PE for you.

For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Go Trybe as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.

Homeschool Football!

Just crossed paths with a coach from this football team. I have heard lots of great things about this organization and this team in particular. If you are looking for some activity for a teenage boy, you will want to check this out. It is based at Crossroads in Big Rock, but they hope to have practice in the Naperville or Aurora area. I know people are coming from all over for this, so if you are interested, get in touch with them. If you are looking for some training and physical conditioning, or an actual team sport, this will be of interest to you: