The St. Louis Christian Homeschool Blue Knights organization was established in 2006 with a single basketball team. Since that time, like-minded families and committed volunteers who are passionate about sports have enabled exponential growth to include several programs.

We strive to display Christian character at all times; to train young men and women to love and play competitive sports while honoring God in all that they do; to bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with our attitudes, actions and abilities; and to lead others to Him through our words and deeds.

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” 
–Matthew 5:16

The Blue Knights organization is much more than a group of sports teams. We are sports-loving, God-loving families with the common goal of drawing closer to Christ through high level athletics and the friendships that are built through striving and celebrating together.

How do I register my child to run track with the Blue Knights?
We are excited about the upcoming Blue Knights Track & Field 2025 season. Everyone interested in participating must follow these steps:

1. Please click on the links to read this important message about expectations about the upcoming season.
2. All interested athletes must complete this pre-registration form no later than January 1st.
3. [NEW FOR 2025] Official registration will occur December 1 through January 1 on the BK website. All athletes will initially be placed on a waitlist. We cannot guarantee that everyone who registers will get a spot on the team. No late registrations will be accepted.
4. Athletes will be moved from the waitlist to active roster on January 2.
5. [NEW FOR 2025] Pricing will be $160-220 for high school and $130-190 for middle school. We hope to finalize the exact price by Jan 1. Payments must be made online between Jan 2 and Jan 5. (Increase in price is due to track rental and meet fee increases)

When, where and how long does the team practice?

• NOTE: OUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE DEPENDS ON ACCESS TO A TRACK FACILITY. WE ARE WORKING OUT DETAILS ON THIS. THE DATES AND TIMES BELOW ARE TENTATIVE BUT NOT FINAL.
• [NEW FOR 2025] Tentative practice schedule for 2025: Monday 7-9 am, Wednesday 3-5 pm, and Saturday 8-10 am
• We hope most practices will be at Missouri Baptist University
• Middle School - twice per week (which days TBD)
• High School - three days per week
• Practices start - Monday, February 24th
• You should come to practice in running clothes appropriate for weather and wearing running shoes and ready to start promptly at the stated start time.
• Instructions for “on-your-own” workouts will be given out by the coaches for the days we do not practice. All athletes are expected to complete “on-your-own” workouts on non-practice days

What does it cost to run track with the Blue Knights?

• Fees are subject to change each season. For 2025, high school will be $160-220 and middle school $130-190.  Exact cost will be determined once we have finalized our track facility rental agreement.
• Registration Fee:
  • All players must pay an additional $20 fee that covers insurance, referees, facility fees and other organizational costs.
• Uniforms:
  • We use the same uniforms for both XC and Track.
  • Uniforms are required to be purchased. The approximate cost is $75. Everyone will wear the new style uniforms introduced in 2023.
  • Tights/compression shorts/undershirts are acceptable to wear UNDER the official uniforms. Preferred colors are black and white.
  • [NEW FOR 2025] High schoolers also are required to purchase our new team-issued warmup jacket for $65. These will be complemented by black warmup pants that can be purchased on your own (any brand but must be black) or the official black warmup pants for $60.
  • Middle schoolers do not have official warmups but may purchase Blue Knights spirit hoodies or our old warmup tops.
• Other expenses:
  • Families can expect modest admission fees for some track meets, along with travel costs for attending Homeschool Nationals (hotel, food, gas, etc.).
  • Good running shoes are strongly recommended for all, along with running spikes for high schoolers. Local running stores frequently offer discounts for athletes on track teams if you ask.
  • Athletes registering for Triathlon (MS) and Pentathlon (HS) will be expected to pay for the entry fee to these events (anticipated to be $25).

Are there any discounts for siblings?
No

Are other discounts or scholarships available?
There is a discount for full-time pastors’ families, available during the registration process. Email [email protected] if you would like to inquire about a hardship scholarship application. Such applications need to be submitted before January 1, 2025.

What if I cannot attend some of the practices?
Athletes will need to attend the majority of practices in order to participate in meets. The majority means half plus one of all practices. For example, if we have 8 practices before the first meet, athletes will need to have attended 5 of the practices to participate. If we have 10 practices before the second meet, athletes will need 6 to participate. We encourage all athletes to play a variety of sports from June to mid-March, but believe it is also important to honor the commitment of those choosing track as their primary focus from March to mid-May. We believe this attendance requirement is more equitable for the group and will build better team chemistry. Like the Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) practice protocols, we will count practices from the Blue Knights Basketball teams towards our Track program. We will also consider this waiver for those participating in other winter sports. Please let us know in advance if you are in a winter sport other than Blue Knights Basketball. If you participate in a winter sport other than Blue Knights basketball which coincides with the start of Track practices in March, please email Coach Mark: [email protected]

How old does my child need to be to join the team?
Our track program is for 6th through 12th grade.

MSHSAA eligibility
Players must be homeschooled for 365 consecutive days before they are eligible to participate in MSHSAA games. *Note: Parents should not contact MSHSAA regarding their questions, complaints, or concerns. All questions to MSHSAA need to go through Blue Knights Athletic Director, Rick Tucker, via email at [email protected].

Which track and field events does the track team offer, and which will my child be eligible for?
We attempt to compete in all events offered in MSHSAA meets including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, hurdles, relays, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot-put, discus, javelin, and pole vault (see FAQ below regarding pole vault). Additional events we participate in at Homeschool Nationals include steeple chase and the pentathlon.

Where do I find the calendar for practices and meets?
We are using the GameChanger Team Manager app for the calendar. Complete instructions, including download links for your app store can be found here.

When does the season begin, and how long does it last?
A Parent & Athlete Informational Meeting will be scheduled for mid-January. Official practices will begin Monday, February 24. We anticipate 6 high school meets and 4 middle school meets, including Homeschool Nationals. The season ends with the National Homeschool Track Championship at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO on May 6-8 (Tuesday-Thursday). The end of season awards and picnic will be scheduled in the middle of May (exact date TBD).

When and where will meets be held?
The schedule for 2025 is not set yet. See our 2024 schedule at this link to get a sense for the meets that we typically attend.

Are tryouts required to join the team?
No. All homeschoolers are welcome to join the program regardless of ability–we do ask that athletes are committed to do their best and complete all workouts as directed by our coaches. We seek to provide a program where competitive runners can excel and improve as well as where new runners can learn to love the sport and be part of a team. The high school varsity team is competitive with the best runners selected for events regardless of age/grade. The JV and middle school teams are a mixture of competitive/aspiring varsity runners as well as those using the program to get into running and/or off-season conditioning for other sports. Playing time is not guaranteed–due to participation limitations in meets. Some athletes may not be able to participate in some meets. The size of the team, athlete’s ability, and decisions of the coaches all determine meet participation. All athletes will, however, be able to compete in up to four events at Homeschool Nationals.

What should I do before the season begins?
Athletes should be running before the season begins so that they are in shape once formal team practices begin. Our first meets are only 2-3 weeks after practices start. Please contact one of the coaches for specific suggestions for pre-season training.

Who are the coaches, and how can I get in touch with them?
Coach Bios page
Head Coach: Mark Forbes ([email protected])
Assistant Coach (distance): Jane Criswell
Assistant Coach (sprints): Tijuanna Bryant
Assistant Coach: Eric Anderson
Assistant Coach: Mark Adkisson

What will be expected of me and my child if we decide to participate in a Blue Knights program?
Please read through the Parent Manifesto, Parent Contract and the Athlete Contract found under the Registration Info > Agreements & Forms menu above. Additionally, a parent from each family will be expected to volunteer in some way for the track team. Examples of volunteer positions include: Team Parent, recording attendance, timing an event, helping organize the end-of-year picnic, meet results data entry, etc.

I have more questions about registration. Whom should I contact, and how?
Contact Marla Coumerilh: [email protected]

What is XC Stats and how do I register (High School athletes only)?
XC Stats is the software we use to track athlete performance in both our XC and Track programs. All high school athletes must register as this is our primary means for communication. For those who have used XC Stats before, no additional registration is required. For those new to XC Stats, please follow the instructions here. You can find our team page at https://www.xcstats.com/team_page.php?school_id=1326. NOTE: All HS athletes are expected to report absences for meets and practices using the XC Stats app.

What do I need to know about participating in pole vault (HS only)?

1. Pole vaulting takes specialized training that you would need to get for your athlete outside of the normal track season. This is not something that can be provided for by the Blue Knights coaches. Below is information of a location you can reach out to for training.
2. You would need to get a rental pole for your athlete to compete in the meets that fits your athletes size and weight. We are working to get two starter poles, but we do not have those at this time. These will allow us more options during a meet, however, every pole needs to fit the weight of your athlete and have the length that they need. The pole they compete with must be rated at equal to or more than their own body weight. Rentals can also be obtained from the company below.
3. A parent must be at practices or an arrangement made with the coaches in advance for your athlete to practice pole vault. The athlete cannot walk up to practice and just "try out" the pole vault. They must have parent approval and the parent must talk with the coach in advance.
4. Pole Vault St Louis - We have no partnership with them; they have however, done a demonstration for our group and some of our athletes have trained with them: PoleVaultSTL TRAINING CENTRE; Phone: 314-402-3030; Email: [email protected]; Location: 106 N Cool Springs Rd, O'Fallon, MO 63366
5. If you have any other questions please reach out in advance to the Blue Knights track coaching staff.

What should I do if I have an issue with a coach or with someone within the Blue Knights organization?
Please follow the Conflict Resolution guide found under the Registration Info > Agreements & Forms menu above.

I have more questions. Whom should I contact, and how?
Contact [email protected] with any additional questions that aren’t addressed here.