Upward Sports
 | This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. (February 2010) |
| Founder | Caz McCaslin |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Christian sports league for youth |
Upward Sports is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of "promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports". Upward Sports partners with churches across the US and Canada to equip them to bring youth sports ministry in their local communities.
Upwards Sports was founded in 1995 by Caz McCaslin to provide children with "skills for the sports arena and values for life." While training children with the athletic skills needed to participate at the next level, Upward Sports stresses biblical values—such as leadership, teamwork, integrity and respect—as much as winning.[1]
Structure
Today, there are over 2,800 Upward sports experiences across the U.S. serving hundreds of thousands of young athletes playing basketball, soccer, cheerleading and flag football. Upward Sports equips local churches that represent various evangelical denominations with everything needed to run their own leagues, including training, playbooks, sports apparel, ministry resources and other online tools.
The main Upward complex is located in Spartanburg, SC and is separated into three buildings. The Corporate offices and the Distribution/Warehouse, and The Star Center, which is its large sports complex featuring six full basketball courts, four grass fields and two turf fields that can be used for soccer, football, or rugby. The corporate offices house all the day-to-day business related to managing the company.
Statement of Faith
We Believe…
The Bible to be the inspired, authoritative, Word of God.
That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
That for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal punishment.
In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Historical highlights
Timeline
1986 – Caz McCaslin developed a basketball program that incorporated athletic skills and values for success on and off the court—including sportsmanship, teamwork, integrity and respect for authority
1994 – McCaslin's church reached the maximum number of athletes that could participate by outpacing the gymnasium's capacity (despite a renovation); a waiting list was created
1995 – Launched first nationwide season of Upward Sports when seven churches hosted Upward Basketball Leagues with several hundred players
1998 - Began developing soccer at First Baptist Cleveland Tennessee as a possible addition to Upward Sports offerings. The first Upward Soccer leagues were conducted at First Baptist Cleveland for 2 years before Upward Sports offered soccer as an option for its expanding sports ministry.
2000 – Expanded to include soccer and basketball cheerleading
2003 – The 1,000th church hosted an Upward Sports League
2005 – Added flag football and flag football cheerleading. Launched first Upward Sports international league in Cape Town, South Africa
2006 – More than 400,000 children participated in Upward Sports for the first time. Launched the first Upward Sports League in Canada
2007 – International expansion continued as a league launched in Ukraine
2007 – Military scholarship instituted for children of military men and women deployed overseas[2]
2008 – First South American league launched in Brazil
2009 – Some 2,600 churches worldwide host Upward Sports Leagues with 520,000 children and 480,000 volunteers, coaches and referees in 46 states and four countries (Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Ukraine)
2015 - LeBron James endorses the organization via Instagram
2020 - Kevin Drake named Executive Director of Upward Sports
See also
John Guidon, a local legend, broke all Upward Basketball records during the fall of 2003-2004
References
- ^ McCaslin, Caz and Bobb Biehl. Every Child Is a Winner. B&H Publishers, 2002, p. 1-6.
- ^ Bennett, Michelle (November 1, 2010). "Military Kids 'Have a Ball' on Upward Sports". Upward Sports. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
Further reading
- "Upward Sports: everyone is a winner at faith-based basketball camp". AnnArbor.com.
- "New River Baptist Association offers sports ministry". jdnews.com. [dead link]
- "Upward Sports teaches Christian values through basketball, cheerleading". Lodi News-Sentinel.
- "Upward Sports welcomes crowds to $20M complex". GoUpstate.com. [dead link]
- "Basketball program teaches kids skills, positivity". The Medina County Gazette.
- Capital Gazette (2 March 2015). "Glen Burnie East: Upward Sports at takes a swing at baseball for first time since 2011". capitalgazette.com.
- "Upward Sports breaks ground on complex off Highway 29". GoUpstate.com. [dead link]
- "Q&A: Get to know Auburn's Upward Basketball - Auburn Journal". auburnjournal.com. [dead link]
- "Sports league teaches kids about God, jumping higher". Tri-County Times.
- "Upward Sports Program proves popular". Columbia Basin Herald. [dead link]
- Savannah Morning News - At Upward Basketball and Cheerleading every child is a winner [dead link]
- Lancaster Eagle Gazette - Upward and onward: Christian-based sports program promotes positive reinforcement [dead link]
- Cabarrus News - Christian League Leads Kids Upward [dead link]