Upward Sports
Registration Information
Evaluations and Orientations
- Upward Basketball is open to students K-8th grade.
- Upward Cheerleading is open to girls K-5th grade.
- Basketball & Cheer: The early registration cost per child for basketball is $80 if registered on or before September 30 and $85 if registered after September 30.
- Basketball shorts are included at no additional cost.
Evaluations and Orientations
Everyone playing basketball must attend one basketball evaluation. Upward Cheer does not need to attend an evaluation.
The evaluation nights for K-5 at Sharon Baptist Church are Tuesday, October 17, or Thursday, October, 19, between 6-7:00 pm. Evaluations take roughly 20 minutes to complete.
Practices begin the week of December 4. The first game will be January 13th, the final game on March 2nd, and the End of the Year Awards Celebration will be Sunday, March 3rd at Sharon Baptist Church
General Upward Information
Upward Basketball and Upward Cheerleading offer a break from the norm. The primary focus of Upward is to develop the Winner in EVERY child, not just a few. By keeping this goal in mind, we are able to build a league that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in all who participate through:
- Sportsmanship and competitiveness in proper perspective by not maintaining league standings in any division.
- Maximizing the family schedule by having only one hour of practice and one game each week.
- Equipping coaches and referees to minister by providing extensive teaching tools and resources.
- Providing opportunities to promote other church ministries to all participants and their families.
- Allowing the coach to focus on ministering to children and their families instead of game strategy by having a set substitution system where all players are allowed equal playing time and equal opportunity for improvement.
- Encouraging each player with a gameday award following every game.
- Maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing players to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and spectators to halftime testimonies each gameday.
- Providing opportunities to see changed hearts and lives among children, family members, and volunteers who experience an Upward ministry.
- Building toward a harvest time at Awards Night where participants and parents are given an opportunity to respond to the Gospel.