Manatee HEAT, Home Educated Activities Teams, Helping Each Athlete Triumph, was organized in 1999.  Completely funded by athletic fees and fundraisers, its purpose is to give home schooled student athletes the opportunity to compete in high school sports sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association without leaving their favorite classroom. 

Athletic Director, Beverly Hartman, took the initiative to get HEAT running when her then 15 year old son, Joel, tried out unsuccessfully for a local high school team.  He played baseball ever since he started home schooling at the age of five, and his goal has always been to play professional baseball, so she told him, "you will play high school baseball".  The Manatee HEAT was formed shortly thereafter, and is now completing its 8th year, offering middle school, junior varsity, and/or varsity competitive sports programs in volleyball, girls and boys basketball,soccer, and baseball..  Sports we have had in the past are golf, wrestling, tennis, and softball.  As long as we have enough player interest in a team and a coach, we do our best to field that team, so let us know if you are willing to coach or you are interested in a sport not currently fielded.