For the locals of Alabama, the name of former National Football League (NFL) player Tim Tebow will have a different meaning now that the Alabama House of Representatives just passed a bill called the Tim Tebow Act, which gives home-schooled children the opportunity to participate in public sports teams.
The Tim Tebow Act now requires all public schools within the state to allow home-schooled kids to play on the sports teams of the public school they are in the same zone as, according to AL.com.
Home-schooled students are not guaranteed a spot on athletic teams, however, which means they have to try out first. And should they get accepted, they have to maintain the necessary academic and residency requirements to stay on the team.
The bill would apply for students once they reach the 7th grade.
Tebow himself is a home-schooled kid from Florida, and he became the first one to win a Heisman Memorial Trophy Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding college football player in the United States.
Tebow previously said the award was "really cool," and said during an interview with ESPN Outside the Lines: "A lot of times people have this stereotype of home-schoolers as not very athletic – it's like, go win a spelling bee or something like that – it's an honour for me to be the first one to do that."
Apart from football, Tebow has made a name for himself doing humanitarian works through the Tim Tebow Foundation. Through it, he helps build hospitals in less-fortunate countries, sets up playrooms in hospitals to uplift children facing physical challenges, provides financial assistance to families who open their hearts for adoption, and even throws a special prom night for children with illnesses.
"This foundation and all of our outreach initiatives were primarily created to show God's love to children around the world," Tebow explained, adding that their mission is "to bring Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."
