Upward Basketball & Cheer

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

  • More than 7.5 million 6-11 year old children 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:  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.

2023-2024 League Information
We offer leagues for boys and girls in Kindergarten through Grade 6. The leagues are divided as follows:
  • Kindergarten (co-ed)
  • 1st-2nd Grade Boys and 1st-2nd Grade Girls
  • 3rd-4th Grade Boys and 3-4th Grade Girls
  • 5th-6th Grade Boys and 5th-6th Grade Girls

Cheerleading is for girls in Kindergarten through 6th grade.

2023-2024 REGISTRATION

Every player and cheerleader must be registered ONLINE before attending evaluations.  No new registrations will be accepted at evaluations.

Registration will open October 1 - November 11, 2023. Leagues fill up quickly so register early!

Price is $100 per participant which includes jersey, t-shirt, shorts, and an end of year award for basketball players and cheer top, skort, megaphone, pompoms, and an end of year award for cheerleaders.

EVALUATIONS & ORIENTATIONS

Evaluations will be grouped by age.  
It is mandatory that each player and cheerleader attend one evaluation designated for their specific age group in order to play. 

Basketball players should wear tennis shoes. Cheerleaders may attend any of the scheduled dates.

Kindergarten-4th Grade Evaluations:
Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:00-8:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 11, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

5th and 6th Grade Evaluations:
Monday, Nov. 6, 7:00-8:30 pm
Saturday, Nov. 11, 1:00-2:30 pm

PRACTICE / GAME SCHEDULES

Practices - Your child will practice once a week on either Sunday, Monday, or Thursday at the First Baptist Fitness Center, 1003 College Street. Practices will begin in early December.

Games - We will have seven weeks of games beginning Jan. 12. Games are played on Friday evenings and all day Saturday at the First Baptist Fitness Center.

Coaches will provide practice and game schedules once teams are set.

end of year celebration

Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Worship Center for all players, cheerleaders, coaches and parents. 

Contact Information

For information specific to your team, contact your child's head coach (once assigned).

If you are interested in assisting a team or serving as a referee, please contact Greg below.

STAFF

For more information regarding the league or First Baptist, contact Greg Childress, Sports and Recreation Minister at or call 972.564.3357.