Why basketball and cheerleading?

• Basketball continues to be America’s most popular team sport having nearly 40 million players nationwide
  
  
• More than 7.5 million 6-11 year olds participate in basketball nationally
  
  
• Cheerleading continues to grow at nearly a 50% rate each year nationally
  
  
• Nearly 3.6 million students participate in cheerleading annually
  
  
• 1.4 million cheerleaders are in the 6 to 11 year old age group

*source: 2004 Sports Participation in America Report, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association

Why UPWARD Basketball and UPWARD Cheerleading?

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 game day award following every game.
  
  
• Maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing players to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and spectators to halftime testimonies each game day.
  
  
• 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.

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Cheerleading
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