1.      Basketball continues to be America’s most popular team sport having nearly 40 million  players nationwide

2.      More than 7.5 million 6-11 year olds participate in basketball nationally

3.      Cheerleading continues to grow at nearly a 50% rate each year nationally

4.      Nearly 3.6 million students participate in cheerleading annually

5.      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

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:

 

 

1.      Equipping coaches to minister by providing extensive teaching tools and resources.

2.      Providing opportunities to promote other church ministries to all cheerleaders and their families.

3.      Encouraging each cheerleader with a game-day award following every game.

4.      Maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing cheerleaders to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and spectators to halftime testimonies each game day.

5.      Providing opportunities to see changed hearts and lives among children, family members, and volunteers who experience an Upward ministry.

6.      Maximizing the family schedule by having only one hour of practice and one game each week.

7.      Building toward a harvest time at the Upward Awards Celebration where participants and family members are given an opportunity to respond to the gospel.