Every child is a winner: Local churches host basketball programs

Cheerleaders show off their talents cheering for Upward Basketball teams at Hill Crest Baptist Church. Photo: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star

Through a cloud of smoke, each player races across the basketball court after hearing his name announced over the PA. Clad in purple and yellow uniforms, the team hovers around the coach for last-minute strategy tips for the game. Cheerleaders jump up and down, with pom-poms flying, and pump up the crowd with encouraging cheers. The air is filled with anticipation and excitement for the game.

But it’s no ordinary game: this one declares every child a winner.

It is Upward Basketball.

A ministry of Upward Unlimited, a national youth sports program, Upward Basketball is a partnership between the Unlimited organization and local churches.

Designed to build character, self-esteem and salvation for students from Kindergarten through the sixth grade, Caz McCaslin, a former recreation minister for a non-denominational church, founded the Spartanburg, S.C. based ministry in 1995.

According the Upward Unlimited Web site, more than 800,000 people will take part the organizations’ sports programs this year, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer and camp.

Four local Southern Baptist Convention churches, Grace Baptist, Hill Crest Baptist, Heflin Baptist and Parker Memorial Baptist, sponsor Upward Basketball programs, but partnership is open to all denominations.

Kevin Garrett, youth minister at Parker Memorial, said the church began the program in the 1999-2000 season because it is not geared as a church-growth program. “Upward is a true ministry. This ministry strives to show the love of Christ to every player, parent and guest,” he said.

In its seventh year, Garrett said it is important for the church to view Upward as a gift to the community. “It takes commitment, a bit of a budget and a group of people committed to sharing with others,” he said. “Upward has transcended race and denomination. The league housed at Parker involves leaders, coaches, referees and helpers from many different churches. We are very pleased about this.”

Phillip Morris, pastor of Heflin Baptist, agrees that commitment from the church is essential. In the first season for Upward Basketball at Heflin Baptist, the church had to not only prepare to coordinate the program, but also to find a place to play since they do not have their own gym.

Pastor Phillip Morris said it is worth it all. “Upward is different in that it is uncompromisingly Christian. There is a devotional at each practice, the players and cheerleaders are helped to memorize Scripture, every child gets to play the same amount of time in each game, practices are limited to one hour and one night per week, and games are one day each week,” he said. “The focus is not so much on winning but on developing the child. Even the refs are appreciated and respected!”

The focus on Christ and sportsmanship was a draw for Grace Baptist as well, which will play in a new gym built for the purpose of reaching out to the community. Amy Bennett has co-organized its program with youth minister Chris Terrell and said members of Grace seek to keep to the church mission, “Whatever it takes.”

“We want to reach out the community and share Christ with people. Our intention behind the gym is to bring people from the community into our church,” Bennett said. “Upward brings people in that would normally not come to church, and it gives every child a chance to feel like a winner.”

As it gears up for the fourth season with 237 children participating in basketball and cheerleading, Hill Crest Baptist also embraces the ministry as a way to reach out to the community, share Jesus Christ and not play into the “win at all costs” mentality.

Kim Morgan, Upward organizer at Hill Crest, said, “Winning is good, but having a child just to participate in a sport and to do their very best is, in my opinion, the goal of sports.”

Hill Crest opened the Family Life Center in hopes of bringing people from the community into the church, and Morgan said the wholesome, Christian atmosphere is a reason many parents choose Upward Basketball. “Upward allows all children the opportunity to play, everyone is accepted into Upward, and there is no tryouts,” she said.

Every child in Upward might be a winner, but Bennett admits not every one is an athlete, and this is what makes the program different. She believes that children involved in Upward will end the season feeling like they are worth something.

“We have some kids that are introverted and sat on the sidelines at first practice, and when they saw everyone could play, they got up and out on the court,” Bennett said. “They never would have been picked and played in other sports programs.”

As a pastor, Morris said he sees too much time being spent in practice and too few kids, who invest the same amount of time as other players, being allowed to be in the game. “By the time the child gets to junior high, they are burned out or dropped out because they aren’t good enough,” he said. “Yet so few will ever play college or pro ball.”

Garrett said he sees the same concerns for students but believes it goes beyond sports and that is why one hour of practice and one game per week is important. “I see students who have no time to rest, and it is hard to foster creativity, spiritual growth and relax in today’s environment, ” Garrett said. “Upward has a different set of priorities and goals. A devotional thought is given at every practice and game, there are no playoffs or all-stars, the cheerleaders cheer for all teams on the court, and no scores are kept until third grade, alleviating anxiety in younger players.”

Garrett believes that awards are another way to promote the child, not the score, because decorative stars are given to children after each game and worn on players’ uniforms and cheerleaders’ megaphones. “The white star, or most Christ-like, is the most ultimate reward,” he said. The White Star Award is given at the end of the season to one child in each age division after coaches submit names of players they believe have been exceptionally Christ-like during the games.

All of the children receive a gift featuring the Upward Basketball logo, not a trophy. Last year it was an Upward watch and previous years’ gifts included a backpack and basketball.

Regardless of trophies and gifts, Morris believes the main focus is always on the child. “They know that someone cares about them and that they are a winner no matter what the outcome on the court may be,” he said.