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.
- 29.2% of basketball
players also play
soccer.
- Cheerleading
continues to grow at
nearly a 50% rate each
year nationally.
- Nearly 3.6 million
students participate in
cheerleading nationally.
- 1.4 million
cheerleaders are in the
6-11 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
property 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
half-time
testimonies each
game day.
-
Providing
opportunities to see
changed hearts and
lives among
children, family
members, and
volunteers who
experience and
Upward ministry.
-
Building toward a
harvest time at
Awards Night where
participants and
parents are given an
opportunity to
respond to the
Gospel.
