What is the Upward Sports experience like for your family?
Written by Joel Flaugher | Market Research at Upward Sports
You should notice a difference from your first contact with an Upward Sports league. League directors through churches in your community are equipped to offer your family a first-class, organized, and detailed experience.
Here are five key things you should find when your family participates in an Upward Sports program.
1. Improving and Having Fun
Improving and having fun go hand in hand. While players learn the fundamentals and grow in skill, they also have fun doing it because their coaches spend time preparing for practice and have a practice plan to maximize their time with their team.
2. All Skill Levels Compete
All skill levels compete and are welcome. This includes your first time player or budding all-star. Upward Sports leagues are built on the belief that every kid deserves a place to play, grow in skill, and learn life lessons along the way.
3. Communication is Key
Communication is key in an Upward Sports experience. League directors and coaches are given the right tools to keep parents informed via text and email about what’s coming next and where you are headed for the season. Each unique team also has a dedicated team page that displays their practice and game schedule along with the coaches’ contact information. As a parent you are not left guessing where you need to be and when or who to contact.
4. It's More Than the Sport
It’s more than the sport. An Upward Sports experience includes a weekly practice devotion, helping players grow both in their sport and in life. League directors and coaches genuinely care about each child—not just as a player. Through encouraging word and intentional moments, coaches help kids understand that God loves them and has a purpose for their lives.
5. An Enjoyable Game Day Environment
An enjoyable game day environment is another area where an Upward Sports experience sets itself apart. Coaches and parents are encouraged to follow the “Circle of Affirmation”—not the “Circle of Criticism”—in how they interact with each other and with game day officials. This creates a supportive environment where the focus stays right where it belongs: on the players and their experience.
Whether it’s your child’s first time playing or they’ve been competing for years, the Upward Sports experience is designed with your whole family in mind. From skill development and strong communication to spiritual growth and a game day environment filled with encouragement, every element is built to create something more than just a sports league—it’s a place where families feel connected, supported, and seen.
Through the partnership of local churches, Upward Sports offers leagues in basketball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, cheerleading, baseball/softball, running for adults, and pickleball—all with the goal of making a lasting impact on your family and community.
Is your church ready to create a first-class, organized, and detailed Upward Sports experience? Learn more at https://www.upward.org/church-leaders/
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