FAQ

What is the club’s history?

Hornets Soccer Club has served the West Michigan homeschool community for over 25 years. We have always been a volunteer not-for-profit organization. At the varsity level the Hornets are always among the top homeschool teams in the state, and make a strong showing at the national tournament. The club has won the state tournament multiple times and the national tournament once.

Who can play for the Hornets?

We are a homeschool soccer club. Players must be homeschooled at least 51 percent of the time, or attend a school that does not offer school soccer. Players may not be graduated from high school. Rules for participation in state and national tournaments may vary slightly. *Special circumstances may be considered on a case by case basis by the leadership board.

Who are the coaches?

Our coaches have various levels of experience and have all been involved in soccer for many years. Some have played and coached soccer at the college and club level while others have been coaches for other soccer club organizations. Coaches are often assisted by a parent (or two) and they receive a small stipend, but they serve primarily because they love the program and want to invest in young lives. All of our coaches go through a required state background check.

What teams do we play?

We play other homeschool teams as well as private and charter school teams.

What is the level of play?

The Hornets teams are very competitive against the schools we play. Many of our players play throughout the year on rec and club teams.

What are the dates of the season?

The season runs from August through October. It begins in late July or early August, with 2 days of Team Placement followed by regular training days.

How much does it cost?

2026 Club fees are $300 for Junior High, $375 for Junior Varsity and $425 for varsity. These fees include all tournament fees as well with the exception of the Varsity national tournament which has a cost of $50. Uniforms are an addition of $95 (required for new players only or those who need a new size). We try to keep costs as low as we can for families and will find creative ways to provide scholarships or payment plans when appropriate.

What are the payment and registration deadlines?

The registration deadline for our Summer Camp is June 4th to be able to assure the arrival of t-shirts. Payment must be made by the first day of camp. Day of registrations are also permitted but we cannot guarantee a t-shirt.

Tryouts for our teams will occur on July 20th and 21st of 2026 so registrations for fall tryouts must be received by July 20th at noon. Late registrations may be considered if there is space on our teams. Payment for fall registrations will not be accepted until after teams are determined and payments and/or a payment plan is due on the parent information night which occurs at the beginning of the season.

Does Hornets Soccer Club participate in public school partnerships?

Several public school districts in the area offer funding to homeschool families for non-core classes. Hornets Soccer Club does not participate as a “community education provider” under these programs. This public funding comes with increasing regulations that inhibit our ability to integrate our Christian faith into all parts of our soccer program.

What is the time commitment?

The boys’ season runs from August through October. Practices are 3 nights a week—Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights for a couple of hours each night. Most games are held during the week, with one or two tournaments on the weekend.

How many games does each team play?

The 4 teams have separate schedules and usually play 16 to 18 games at the High School level and approximately 12 games at the Junior High level. Each team also participates in at least one tournament. The varsity team plays in at least two multi-day tournaments.

Where do we practice?

Our primary practice and game field is at Fairway Christian Reformed Church, 1165 44th Ave, Jenison, MI 49428. Our secondary field for the 2024-25 year and this upcoming year we expect to be at Lamar Park at 2561 Porter, Wyoming, MI. 49519.

How is carpooling handled?

Early each season families figure out who lives nearby, and make arrangements to help each other. Ride sharing to practices, games, and tournaments is a very normal part of the Hornets culture, serving to reduce costs and build relationships.

How much travel is involved?

We play throughout West Michigan and to some farther away locations such as Lansing, Howell, and Kalamazoo. The varsity and junior varsity teams travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for a early season tournament and to Lansing, Michigan, for a state tournament. Varsity travels for a national tournament which has typically been in Tennessee. Because our players live all over West Michigan, carpooling is a very helpful option for families.

What about weather?

We play games in any weather except when lightning is a threat. On rare occasions a game will be cancelled if the field is so wet it would be significantly damaged. We use a text notification system to let parents know of cancellations even if they are already on the way to a game.

What is the commitment level for parents?

Hornets Soccer Club is a parent-led volunteer organization. There are a variety of ways to help – both one-time commitments and ongoing duties. Parents can indicate what area of volunteering most interests them during the registration process. A list of some of our volunteer jobs is found here.

How are team communications handled?

We use the TeamSnap mobile app and website to manage our calendar and team communications. Send us an email to get into the loop.