RICHARDSON – As home-schooled football players began showing up for practice last month in Richardson, thunder rumbled and rain started to fall.

Some players soaked up the sprinkles while others headed for their team's version of a locker room – the picnic tables at Point North Park.

That's where they set their gear and lace up their cleats each day before practicing with the state's only 11-man home-school football team, a team with no field house, no locker rooms, no practice field lined for football.

 Video: Home School Athletic Association football

  Photos

"We don't even have field goal posts," coach Michael Scott said.

At least not traditional ones. Kicker Josh Morales sharpens his accuracy by kicking between two players with their arms raised.

There are no blocking sleds or tackling dummies, either. And none of the portable water stations used at most high school practices. The Home School Athletic Association players bring their own water jugs and set them under the shade of trees, not far from where a children's playground is being renovated.

It's far from the big-time image of Texas high school football. But it's football, and that's what's important.

"Friday night under the lights is completely different than anything else," senior quarterback Jordan Martin said. "You can't explain it unless you're out there."

Until last season, that wasn't an option. HSAA, which has offered sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball for more than 10 years, couldn't find enough players to field a football team. Expense was part of the problem, because families must pay for equipment, referees, a three-man coaching staff and other fees. The cost to be part of the varsity team this season is $450.

HSAA was created because Texas home-schooled students are ineligible to play for the public school they could attend.

Some states, such as Florida, allow home-schooled athletes to compete for their local public school teams. That's how University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who was home-schooled, became a Parade All-American at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Fla.

HSAA's team would like to compete in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, which until last year allowed home-schooled students to compete for private schools. That "umbrella program" was eliminated, and TAPPS has no plans for admitting HSAA as a member school.

There will be no postseason for the HSAA team. But at least there is a season, because HSAA has found enough private schools and public-school junior varsity teams to build a 10-game schedule.

The first nine games are at the opponent's home field, and the finale is the closest thing HSAA has to a home game. It will play the Northeast Oklahoma Association of Homeschools at Josey Ranch Sports Complex in Carrollton.

Playing for HSAA has been a great experience, said Morales, a senior who's been home-schooled his whole life. He's played other sports, but none compare to football, which he said is more of a culture than a sport.

"A big hit and everyone screams. It's just one of those things," said Morales, who also plays linebacker. "I've always wanted a chance to go out there and try my hand at it."

HSAA's first try wasn't very successful, at least in wins and losses. The team only won one game last season.

This year, HSAA is 4-3.

COURTNEY PERRY / DMN

Head coach Michael Scott's team is 4-3 this season after winning only one game last season.

"There is nothing fun about losing," said Scott, who played cornerback at McMurry University in Abilene and for several Arena Football League teams, including the Dallas Desperados. "People say you've got to be a good sport, and that's true, but I don't know anybody who wants to play 10 games and lose nine of them."

More wins aren't the only addition in the second season. A band of home-schooled students now plays at the games, and the team has a booster club. Each player has matching practice shorts, shirts and equipment bags.

"If you look like a team, you feel like a team and you play like a team," said Deanna Morales, the team's administrator.

The team practices four days a week, and some players travel a long way to get there. Martin is from McKinney and Morales is from Richardson, but HSAA also has players from Lancaster, Mesquite, Farmersville, Highland Village and Van Alstyne.

Not surprisingly, most of them didn't know each other before the first practice.

"I maybe knew two or three of them," said Louis Hockett, a senior center from the Lake Highlands area. "Now I know them all. All my brothers, that's what it's like."

Now the "brothers" want to win more games. The odds are against them, Martin said, but that adds motivation to go out and gain respect.

Their coach also wants to win. But as much as Scott hates to lose, he said the camaraderie of football makes his team a winner.

"With home-schooling, everything is so separated, and they're getting a chance to be a part of something," Scott said. "A lot of them, deep down in their hearts, always wanted to be part of something like this."

HSAA SCHEDULE, RESULTS

HOME SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

• Serves about 250 athletes from the Dallas area, grades 6 through 12

• Takes most of its eligibility rules from the University Interscholastic League and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools

•  Players are eligible to play for four years at the high-school level and become ineligible on September 1 following their 19th birthday