UPWARD

Registration for the 2012-2013 basketball and cheerleading seasons have closed.  

 

Click here for more information about Upward.

 

100 Days of Prayer for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading.

UPWARD Statements

Upward Sports Programs are designed to promote character and self esteem in each child and to ensure that "every child plays, every child learns, and every child is a winner."

Vision Statement
Submitting to God’s authority, Upward desires to change generations globally and recognize that Every Child is a Winner.

Purpose Statements
The purpose of Upward Sports Ministries is to fulfill God’s vision that he planned long ago by promoting:

Salvation: To share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone involved in an Upward ministry.
Character: To help every child grow as Jesus did – spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially.
Self-Esteem: To help every child grow in their understanding and enjoyment of sports.

Mission Statement
Upward is committed to equipping believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with unlimited children through sports ministry.

Opportunities to Serve

We will be starting our fourth season of Upward Basketball and Cheerleading with games beginning on Saturday, January 12 and running until March 2. We partner with Crestwood Presbyterian and St. Marks UMC. This is a fun and exciting way to help introduce young boys and girls to the game of basketball and also teach/introduce them (and some of their families) to the ways of Jesus Christ. In Upward.... Every child is a winner!!

We need your help to carry out this ministry. If you haven’t already volunteered to help in some capacity, please give prayerful consideration to helping with this excellent ministry for the youth in our community and for those families that are not affiliated with any church.

Here are the positions that we need to have staffed:

  • CFLC set-up/take-down on Mondays before and after practice sessions
  • CFLC set-up on Friday afternoons in preparation for Saturday games
  • CFLC take-down on Saturday afternoons following the games that day
  • Devotion Leader - Deliver a short (~ 5 minutes) devotion to the spectators/guests at each halftime (approximately 6 games per Saturday or share with a partner!!!)
  • Logistics - Verify team rosters (names of players/coaches present) and help teams know when and where to go during their visit
  • Announcer - Player/coach/cheerleader introductions at the beginning of each game
  • Scorekeeper - Keep score (flip chart numbers) and record any fouls called
  • Timer - Start and stop the clock (it runs continuously for the 6 minute periods and can be combined with Scorekeeper)
  • 2 Refs per game - You get to wear the "zebra shirts", blow the whistle, and help encourage the players on the floor (it's very rewarding......)

If you would like to participate in this ministry or have any questions, please contact Charlie Simmons (869-8755) or Charles Bennett (564-5650). THANKS!!!!

UPWARD Information

• The early registration cost per child for Basketball is $90; after September 30, the cost is $100.
• The early registration cost per child for Cheerleading is $95; after  September 30, the cost is $105.
• The deadline for registration is October 31 (early registration pricing ends  September 30). 
• An Upward uniform is included in the price for each participant. Basketball players receive a reversible jersey and shorts; cheerleaders receive a mock turtleneck and skirts.

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is for boys and girls from Kindergarten age through sixth grade. The Kindergarten League is an instructional league and is coed, with boys and girls on each team. The teams and leagues for first through sixth grade are gender specific as are the Cheerleading teams.

Each team will have three or four preseason practices. During the season, each team will practice one hour each week on a night and at a time that is consistent throughout the season. Games are for one hour on eight consecutive Saturdays at a time that will vary each week.

Every child is evaluated and attempts are made to create fair and equal teams and fair individual matchups. (Absolute equal matchups are desirable but, of course, not always possible.) Every child plays at least half the game and every child is recognized after each game.

Each player receives an Upward reversible jersey and shorts and an end-of-season award.

Registration for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading starts September 1st through October 31st.