Helena Frye
Upward Basketball is a basketball programme for children in kindergarten through to 12th grade. The programme is independently run by host churches and is designed to develop a winning attitude in every child, not just a few. The basketball programme is divided into several divisions based on grade, with the lowest division for kindergarteners and the highest for 9th to 12th graders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $100 (Trinity Baptist Church) or $109 (Upward Sports FM) until the end of October, $129 after November 1st (Upward Sports FM) or $155 (Early Bird) until 9/30/24, $170 after (LifePointe Alliance Church) |
| Grades | K-12th grade |
| Age | 6-11 years old |
| Gender | Boys and girls |
| Ball size | 27.0″ basketball for Kindergarten, 28.5″ or standard women’s size basketball for all other leagues |
| Goal height | 8′ for Kindergarten, 1st–3rd Grade Girls and 1st & 2nd Grade Boys League |
| Practice frequency | Once a week |
| Practice duration | One hour |
| Practice day | Sunday, Monday, or Thursday (some age divisions may practice on Tuesday nights) |
| Game frequency | Seven weeks of games |
| Game duration | One hour |
| Game day | Friday evenings and all day Saturday |
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What You'll Learn
Kindergarten leagues
Kindergarten basketball leagues are a great way to introduce children to the fundamentals of basketball and develop their athletic, social, and spiritual skills. Upward Basketball offers kindergarten leagues for boys and girls, typically designed for children in kindergarten or of kindergarten age.
The First Baptist Church of Rochester, for example, offers an Upward Basketball League for children in kindergarten through 6th grade. The league focuses on teaching the basics of basketball and sportsmanship in a fun and exciting atmosphere. Similarly, Sandia Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosts a Winter recreational youth league for players in kindergarten through 8th grade.
For instance, GraceLife's kindergarten league practices consist of 25-minute practice sessions followed by a 5-minute devotion segment and a water break before the games. The games themselves are played in four 4-minute segments, with 1-2 minute breaks in between to facilitate player rotations. This ensures equal playing time for all participants, as players rotate through a predetermined lineup.
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Boys' leagues
The Upward Basketball and Cheerleading programs are independently run by the host church. The Boys Leagues have two divisions: K through 2nd grade and 3rd and 4th grade. The teams are all-boy squads based on the player's current grade, not their age or birthday. The Kindergarten League uses a 27.0" basketball, while the other leagues use a 28.5" or standard women's size basketball. The goal height is set at 8' for Kindergarten, 1st-3rd Grade Girls, and 1st & 2nd Grade Boys League.
The First Baptist Church Forney offers basketball leagues for boys in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Practices are held once a week on Sundays, Mondays, or Thursdays at the First Baptist Fitness Center, with some age divisions practising on Tuesday nights. Games are played on Friday evenings and all day Saturday at the Fitness Center, with coaches providing practice and game schedules once teams are set.
Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, also offers a Kindergarten league designed for all boys and girls in Kindergarten or of Kindergarten age according to the WCPSS requirements. The registration fee for each player is $100, and scholarships are available for families who need assistance.
Upward Basketball and Cheerleading offer a unique approach, focusing on developing a winner in every child rather than just a few. The leagues emphasise unity and community, bringing people together through the sport.
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Girls' leagues
Girls can start playing basketball with Upward from kindergarten age. The kindergarten league is co-ed, with boys and girls playing together. From 1st grade onwards, there are separate boys and girls leagues. The girls' leagues have two divisions: K–2nd grade and 3rd–4th grade. Teams are based on the player's current grade, not their age.
The kindergarten league uses a 27.0″ basketball, while the other leagues use a 28.5″ or standard women's size basketball. The goal height is set at 8' for kindergarten, 1st–3rd grade girls, and 1st–2nd grade boys.
The cost of joining an Upward basketball league is $100 per participant, which includes a jersey, t-shirt, shorts, and an end-of-year award. There is also a cheerleading squad that girls can join for an additional fee of $109 until the end of October, increasing to $129 after November 1st. This includes a cheer top, skort, megaphone, pompoms, and an end-of-year award.
Practices take place once a week on Sundays, Mondays, or Thursdays, with some age divisions practising on Tuesday nights. Games are played on Friday evenings and all day Saturday.
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Cheerleading squads
Upward Basketball is a sports league for children, and it also offers cheerleading squads. The squads practice once during the week and cheer at games on Saturdays. The registration fee for basketball or cheerleading is $109 until the end of October and $129 after November 1st. There is a separate $100 registration fee for each cheerleader.
Upward Basketball and Cheerleading is run by churches, such as Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, and Aberdeen First Baptist Church. The programs are open to everyone, regardless of whether they attend a church or not.
The basketball leagues are divided by age groups, with squads for kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th-6th grade, and 7th-8th grade. The boys' leagues have two divisions: K through 2nd grade, and 3rd and 4th grade. The kindergarten league uses a 27.0″ basketball, while the other leagues use a 28.5″ or standard women’s size basketball. The goal height is set at 8' for kindergarten, 1st-3rd grade girls, and 1st & 2nd-grade boys.
Upward encourages parents to volunteer as coaches for their children's teams. Coaches can choose the night and time for practices, and they are given step-by-step instructions on how to run practices and coach games through an app.
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Registration fees
The registration fees for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading programs vary depending on the host organization and the timing of registration. These programs are independently run by host churches, and each may have slightly different fee structures. Here is a detailed breakdown of the registration fees mentioned in various sources:
Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC:
At Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, the registration fee for both basketball and cheerleading is $100 per player or cheerleader. They accept online registrations with credit cards and checks or cash for Trinity member registrations at the church office. Scholarships are also available for families who need financial assistance.
LifePointe Alliance Church:
The registration fees for LifePointe Alliance Church's Upward Basketball and Cheerleading program vary depending on the timing of registration. Early Bird registration, which ends on September 30, 2024, is $155. After this date, the regular registration fee increases to $170. It is important to note that registration closes on October 11, 2024. This church's program caters to a wide range of grades, with basketball for K4-12th grade and cheerleading for K4-5th grade.
First Baptist Church of Glen Este:
The First Baptist Church of Glen Este offers an early registration cost of $125 per child for Basketball or Cheerleading. After November 9, 2024, the registration fee increases to $150. This church emphasizes that there are no additional court fees, referee fees, uniform fees, or hidden costs. They also mention that practices and games for the K4/K5 division last for 30 minutes each on Saturday mornings.
It is worth noting that the fees mentioned above may change over time, and it is always advisable to refer to the official websites of these organizations for the most up-to-date information regarding registration fees and other important dates. Additionally, some sources mention that Upward Basketball and Cheerleading programs are designed for children in Kindergarten or of Kindergarten age, while others mention grades K4/K5 through higher grades, indicating that the programs cater to a wide range of ages and grades.
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Frequently asked questions
Upward Basketball offers leagues for boys and girls in Kindergarten through 6th grade.
A 27.0″ basketball is used for Kindergarten leagues, while all other leagues use a 28.5″ or standard women’s size basketball.
The registration fee varies depending on the timing and location, but it typically ranges from $100 to $170.
