FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1). WHATS THE PURPOSE OF WCAA?
2). WHO MAY BE A MEMBER AND WHAT ARE THE AGE RANGES FOR PARTICIPANTS?
3). WHAT ARE SKILLS SESSIONS?
4).  IF MY CHILD DOES NOT ATTEND SKILLS SESSIONS CAN HE/SHE STILL BE ON A TEAM?
5). WILL THERE BE TRY-OUTS FOR TEAMS?
6). WHAT SPORTS WILL BE OFFERED AND WHEN ARE THE SEASONS?
7) WHO WILL WE PLAY?
8) WHERE & WHEN WILL WE PRACTICE?
9). ARE THERE FEES IF MY CHILD PLAYS A SPORT?
10) WHAT IS ASI AND DO I HAVE TO SEND MY CHILD THERE IN ORDER TO BE A MEMBER OF WCAA?
11) WHAT IS INGLES SCRIP AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH WCAA?
12) WHAT IS NCHEAC?
13) WHAT TYPES OF TEAMS ARE BEING FORMED?
14) WHY DOES WCAA HOLD PRACTICES, SKILL SESSIONS, AND GAMES IN ASHEVILLE?

1). WHATS THE PURPOSE OF WCAA?
 
The purpose of the Western Carolina Athletic Association, is to provide a structured environment for home school students to participate in competitive athletic events. 
 
2). WHO MAY BE A MEMBER AND WHAT ARE THE AGE RANGES FOR PARTICIPANTS?
 
Membership status in WCAA is limited to home school students. Sporting competitions will be available for boys and girls. Middle school/Junior High boys and girls teams will be made up of kids who are between the ages of 11 and 14; J.V. and Varsity boys and girls teams will be made up of kids who are between the ages of 13 and 19.
 
3). WHAT ARE SKILLS SESSIONS?
 
Skills sessions are designed to introduce students-athletes to various sports and to provide them with a basic foundation upon which to build in relation to the sport of their choice.
 
4).  IF MY CHILD DOES NOT ATTEND SKILLS SESSIONS CAN HE/SHE STILL BE ON A TEAM?
 
Absolutely, again the sessions are designed to assist the student-athletes with respect to the sport; participation is encouraged in order to begin to build a base of interest.
 
5). WILL THERE BE TRY-OUTS FOR TEAMS?
 
Yes, inasmuch as the events will be competitive in nature, each coach will have the right to screen players for suitability.
 
6). WHAT SPORTS WILL BE OFFERED AND WHEN ARE THE SEASONS?
 
FALL:  MS/HS girls volley ball
             MS/HS boys soccer
             HS/boys and girls cross country
 
WINTER:
            MS/HS girls basketball
            MS/HS boys basketball
 
SPRING:
            MS/HS girls soccer
            MS/HS boys baseball
            MS/HS girls softball
 
*Initial sports, additional sports may be added.

7) WHO WILL WE PLAY?
 
Discussions have been ongoing with local area schools. Typically, these schools have gymnasiums and other facilities. Initial review indicates a positive response and we anticipate 10-15 games. We not only play other homeschool teams, but also local Christian, Private, and Public schools from WNC.
 
 
8) WHERE & WHEN WILL WE PRACTICE?
 
Negotiations are ongoing for a gymnasium facility located in Asheville which can assist in a daily practice time.  Note, practice times will be posted in accordance with the times available within this facility and will be managed by the coaches. However, it is anticipated that the practice sessions will be a minimum of four days per week for the duration of the season.  Note well, inasmuch as MS is a participatory program, practice schedules may be less than every day.
 
9). ARE THERE FEES IF MY CHILD PLAYS A SPORT?
 
Yes. There are annual WCAA family membership fees. Current fees are $5 per student athlete.  Skill Sessions have a $5 fee if the Skills Sessions are held at ASI and athlete is not paying the monthly ASI training fee. No fees for skill sessions held at other locations. Additionally, fees will be charged to play on an established team and will be relative to the sport.
 
 
10) WHAT IS ASI AND DO I HAVE TO SEND MY CHILD THERE IN ORDER TO BE A MEMBER OF WCAA?
 
ASI (Accelerated Sports Institute) is an ally of WCAA; ASI is a training facility dedicated to assisting athletes in achieving performance goals. ASI has training available for WCAA members at a negotiated fee; however participation in ASI training is not mandatory to membership in WCAA.
 
11) WHAT IS INGLES SCRIP AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH WCAA?
 
Ingles Gift Cards are a fundraiser for WCAA. This is an easy way for our organization and our member athletes to earn money with little effort. WCAA purchases Ingles gift cards (called scrip) from Ingles. WCAA members sell theses gift cards to family & friends for the card’s face value. For every $100 sold WCAA keeps $5, or another way to explain it is Ingles makes a 5% donation for each dollar that is sold. With the Ingles gift card you can purchase groceries, gas (with a gift card, gas is three cents off per gallon), prescriptions, postage stamps, movie rentals, deli and even Starbucks.  

A portion of all proceeds will go into the WCAA member account.  This is determined by what the individual member sells.  Example – if a WCAA member sells $100 worth of Ingles gift cards, then that member receives $4 in their personal account and WCAA earns $1.  This is a great way for players to earn money to help off set fees, pay for uniforms and allow WCAA to earn funds also.  

You may contact WCAA Scrip Coordinator, Mrs. Chris Taylor @ 687-3703 or email ccbr4t@mchsi.com to pick up gift cards.

12) WHAT IS NCHEAC?

NCHEAC stands for North Carolinians for Home Education Athletic Conference.  WCAA is a member of NCHEAC and we follow all of the conference guidelines.  

NCHEAC Introduction: NCHE has been involved with homeschool sports since the basketball season of 2000-2001by sponsoring a statewide basketball tournament each year and sending an all-star team to the National Christian Homeschool Athletic Association tournament in Wichita, KS the past 2 years. Due to the success of these endeavors and the need for this to be replicated in other sports, the NCHEAC was established to organize and oversee regular season leagues and post-season tournaments in all of the traditional high school sports, as needed. A committee was appointed by NCHE, and various subcommittees will be appointed as necessary. http://nche.com/region/statewide/archives/cat_ncheac.html

13) WHAT KIND OF ASSOCIATION IS WCAA?

All WCAA sports are demanding and take time, effort, dedication, and perseverance, and instill self-esteem and the value of teamwork. WCAA creates an environment that is fun, educational and competitive in scope. WCAA teaches focus, a strong work ethic, leadership skills, goal setting and the value of education; we strive for every member of WCAA to become a better athlete, person, and, most importantly, Christian.

14) WHY DOES WCAA HOLD PRACTICES, SKILL SESSIONS, AND GAMES IN ASHEVILLE?

WCAA holds practices, skill sessions, and games in Asheville because Asheville is a central location to the five counties where WCAA athletes live. WCAA’s vision is to have homeschool teams in each county in the WNC area and create a local homeschool conference.