Homeschool program adds at-home PE kits

Saints International Christian Athletic Association has gotten creative with its homeschooling program.

Since being sidelined in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saints International Christian Athletic Association program founder and head coach Rick Andreassen has looked for different ways to help homeschooling families cope.

He created a nationallycertified PE program that children can do at home with all of the equipment included in a kit, along with devotionals, all Christ-centered, characterbuilding games sports and activities. Andreassen trademarked the acronym SPORTS – Supporting, Parents, Organized, Resources, Teaching, Sports.

S.A.I.N.T.S., entering its 24th year, has provided physical education opportunities for home-schooled children just as a student would receive from a traditional school.

The program is geared toward ages 5-18 and runs at many local parks in Broward and Palm Beach counties from August through May.

“We are not active at the parks because of park restrictions so we have created a PE at-home kit,” said Andreassen, who had to furlough over 70 coaches on March 13 due to the pandemic. “This [home kit] program is really to support the children’s emotional state by bringing joy to children through games sports and activities.

“The whole community has rallied and I am grateful to be a part of it,” he said. “The number of homeschool families has gone through the roof because of school restrictions.”

The Saints had an event at the CubeSmart storage facility in Coconut Creek that saw NFL players Tyrus McCloud (Baltimore Ravens) and Michael Basnight (Cincinnati Bengals) along with Desmond Cook, a chaplain with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, donors and supporters turnout in a community effort.

Those in attendance helped pack and distribute PE at-home kits to over 1,000 children throughout South Florida. They will also distribute to foster children and some will go to Freeport in the Bahamas.

Call 954-494-6812, email CoachRick@Saints International.org or visit saintsofflorida.com/ saints-international/.

GARY CURRERI S.A.I.N.T.S. program founder Rick Andreassen, left, coach Michelle Moreno and former NFL player Tyrus McCloud put together home PE kits for homeschoolers recently.