Upward Basketball
Upward is a unique Christian sports program that promotes character and self esteem in every child. We will offer Basketball and Cheerleading in this, the third season sponsored by Middletown Presbyterian. The program provides equal playing time for all players and every child is a winner with Upward. There is one-hour of practice and one game per week. Registration brochures will be available in September. Sign-up evaluations and orientations are in October (17th—6 to 8:30 PM & 18th—9 AM to 2 PM) and November 8 (9 AM to 2 PM), with practices starting mid-December. Games will be on Saturdays from January through mid-March.
Yes, the players will be boys and girls in kindergarten through eighth grade, but the outreach opportunity is for every one of us in the Middletown Church Family. The program is for families of the community, not just our church kids, and it is not just about the sport!
It takes many volunteers to run this community outreach. Please let us know if you would like to join the excitement. Volunteers are welcome in jobs big or small for basketball, cheerleading or the snack bar. Contact Chriss Benson or Don and Ginny Heilala for more information.
Upward Basketball
2006 - 2008
Upward - a new league where every child is a winner!
Sign up now! Play basketball for fun!
What’s Upward?
By Emily Ditzel Grade 2
I joined a basketball league this past winter. It is called Upward Basketball. This league is new. A local church, Middletown Presbyterian, brought the Upward League to our community. Anyone from kindergarten through 6th grade can join.
In Upward, whether you are an experienced player or not, you get to play in each game. You play against someone of your own shill level. My mom and dad were coaches of my team. Every player gets equal playing time and is awarded for accomplishments. At the end of each game, each player gets a star that can be ironed onto the uniform. Some of the stars given were for best defense, best effort, and good sportsmanship. In Upward, it did not matter how many points were scored, but that everyone has fun while learning how to play basketball.
We got to go to a ‘76ers game, and I got to go onto the court and high-five all of the Sixers when they ran out before the game. After the game, Kevin Ollie from the Sixers spoke to us about his spiritual life. We then were able to go down on the court and shoot baskets. It was fun! I felt like a real basketball player taking a shot. My little brother tried to make a shot, and he almost made it because someone picked him up so he could reach higher.
At the end of the season, we had a celebration night, and a girl was there who did all kinds of tricks with basketballs. For example, she stood on a balance board while dribbling six balls at one time, without falling. At the end of the night, each player got a really cool Upward Basketball bag as a gift from the Upward League. They also drew names to give away cool prizes.
In the fall, the Upward League may have cheerleading, soccer, and flag football.
I definitely want to join Upward again because we did lots of cool stuff. I love Upward Basketball!!!