The Northeast Oklahoma Association of Homeschools (N.O.A.H.) is a homeschool organization in the Tulsa metropolitan area in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The organization's specific objective is providing athletic and educational services to the homeschooling community. N.O.A.H. seeks to maintain a high standard of character, competition, and safety for all participants. Acceptance is open to homeschool students who wish to participate, as well as athletes in schools which do not offer a sports opportunity. The team colors are royal blue, white, and black, and the mascot is the Jaguar.
History
In 1998, the Northeast Oklahoma Association of Homeschools (N.O.A.H.) was founded and has become an umbrella organization for a plethora of sports.
On March 8, 1998, 17 families assembled to form N.O.A.H. N.O.A.H. is a 501(c)3 organization that was created to provide homeschool students with the opportunity to develop athletic abilities while building character in a distinctly Christian environment.
A board of nine directors conducts the business of governing and managing the organization.
The athletic program began in October of 1998 with three varsity, two junior high, and four elementary basketball teams, and a cheerleading squad. N.O.A.H. regularly competes against teams from public and private schools,
as well as other homeschool organizations.
Expansion
The expansion of N.O.A.H. athletic programs began with the addition of high school golf in 2000. Elementary flag football was added in the fall of 2001 and was followed by elementary baseball in 2003. The baseball program expanded to junior high in 2004 and varsity in 2005. Soccer began in 2004 with an elementary girls’ team and expanded to varsity girls and boys in 2005. Girls’ volleyball has competed in the past and is expected to return again.
One of the most publicized additions to the organization was Tackle Football. The junior high team began competition in 2004, followed by junior varsity in 2005, and the first ever eleven-man homeschool varsity football team in 2006. The varsity football team competed against a variety of opponents, including public schools as large as class 6A (Oklahoma's largest).
Tennis and Ultimate Frisbee were further additions, and N.O.A.H. fielded its first high school girls’ fast-pitch Softball team for the summer of 2007.
N.O.A.H. has served several hundred homeschool athletes and welcomes all homeschool students who wish to participate in its programs. NOAH continues to develop opportunities for home-schooled athletes as well as assisting other communities in providing athletic opportunities for homeschools.
