FAQ

Who/what are the HEA Firebirds?

The Home Educators Association (HEA) is a group of volunteers. Our mission is to provide a physically beneficial and spiritually healthy sports environment to Western Wayne and Southern Oakland County youth. This provides an opportunity to develop Christ-like character, team unity and athletic skills as we focus on consistency, determination, dependability and enthusiasm. We believe that God has created within all of us the desire to play and learn. These desires are good and should be fulfilled in a God-honoring way.

What age does my child need to be?

Sports Academy is for young children aged 5 – 12 just learning to play sports and have fun, while the competitive HEA program is for boys and girls aged 8 – 18. If your child is younger than 8 he may still be able to play, just contact Mark Brandel at Mark@heafirebirds.org.

Where are practices and home games held?

Practices and home games for Basketball and Volleyball are held at:

Legacy Church (LC)

45301 West 11 Mile Rd

Novi, MI 48375

Legacy Center (LCB)

9299 Goble Dr.

Brighton, MI 48113

Schoolcraft College (SC)

PE Building

18600 Haggerty Rd.

Livonia, MI 48152

When are practices held?

Practices vary from year to year depending on our coaching staff. Here is a typical schedule:
10U-12U – 2 days per week 1.5 hours
14U-16U – 3 days per week 1.5 hours
18U – 4 days per week 2.0 hours

Practices are Monday – Friday, between 3pm and 9pm. Typically no practices on Wednesday.

When are games held?

Games can vary widely due to scheduling with various opponents. Typically games are on Tuesday and Friday, while tournaments are on Saturday. Here is a typical schedule:
10U-14U – Start times between 4:00 and 6:00pm are typical
16U-18U – Start times between 6:00 and 7:30pm are typical

Please check out the Calendar for updated game information.

What do these acronyms mean?

Ages of teams are designated by B for boys and G for girls and then the age for the players on the team. So Boys 12 and under would be B12. Ages are determined by age on September 1st.

What equipment is needed for practice?

The following equipment is needed for practice:

Basketball: Indoor court shoes Practice shorts Practice jersey Proper size ball (optional)

Volleyball: Indoor court shoes Practice shorts Kneepads

Sports Academy: Baseball glove and hat Basketball Soccerball and shin guards Everything provided for Football and Volleyball

What equipment is needed for games?

The following equipment is needed for games: uniform jersey and uniform shorts (provided), indoor shoes for basketball or volleyball. Game balls will be provided on game days, please leave yours at home.

How much does it cost?

The registration fee for returning players is $100 per athlete for the 2023-2024 season.

The participation fee varies by age and sport. These are example costs from the 23′ seasons.

Girls Volleyball

U12 – $270

U14 – $340

U16 – $360

U18 – $400

Boys Volleyball

Spring Season

High School – $340

Fall Season High School $265

Basketball

G12 – $300

G14 – $350

G18 – $530

B10 – $250

B12 – $300

B14 – $350

B16 – $500

B18 – $600

Teams that go to extra tournaments may have extra fees.

How do I register my son/daughter?

Still need help? Send us an email: contact@heafirebirds.org

How can I help with the program?

This is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run program. You can help by: Coaching, Assistant Coaching, Home game admissions table, Home game concession stand, Home game set-up, Home game clean-up, Home game clock manager, Score keeping for Home and Away games. Help with practices: lead/monitor skills and drills, Replenishing first aid supplies, Uniform manager: check out/check in/repair uniforms. “Team Mom” – The team mom is a contact person (other than the coach) to answer your questions and communicate with regarding team member absences, away game carpooling and a variety of needs. This person helps make sure people know what they need to know…just like a mom, right? One team mom per team would be ideal!