I think the idea of Upward Basketball is mostly great. It's great to have a competitive sport that is supposed to be outside the lines of the bad stuff that goes with such competition like fighting, swearing, and a very un-Christian experience.

However, I have found that Upward wasn't as good in reality as it is presented by those that run it. Parents, coaches, referees, and players still get upset and let the human nature take over. That is unavoidable.

I agree with some of the others here that the reward system is unrealistic. I have had to gives award stars out at the end of games to players that truly did not deserve usually because of a bad attitude or not playing to their potential (usually caused by the bad attitude). I have also had to reward ball hogs that wouldn't pass because I did not, as a coach, have the power to call a timeout and bench a player.

I have also found that as a ministry tool, Upward is basically non-existent. It's not bad for outreach but the little time used for witnessing and such makes it difficult for leading others to Christ. It is, however, good for getting people in the door.

In concept I think that Upward is a good idea. You want kids to have an opportunity to compete in a place that is loving and not hateful. In reality though, Upward does not deliver on its promises entirely.

I would say its not a bad program but I have seen and been involved in betters ones.

Competitive sports, by the way, is no closer to how life works than non-competitive sports. Look at the money markets and ask who got rich, who lost their retirement and/or house and/or job. I saw a documentary on Lyndon Johnson and was surprised how Texans vote, but then remembered what went on in Florida 4 years ago, etc

Upward stops at grade 6 for a reason – it is geared for the younger children. The kids are there to have fun 1st and foremost, and learn some skills and sportsmanship along the way. They do a fantastic job of providing coaches drills and practice outlines, of assessing kids so teams are pretty even, of organizing lineups so even in each game the shifts are pretty close, of providing top quality jerseys and “extras”, of helping ministries solve issues as they come up, of providing devotionals and the Gospel to kids who may never hear it otherwise. Each night each lineup rotates through the players from top to bottom, starting with a different player each week (the lineup order never changes – just where you start on it).

I am surprised at all the negative comments here, but I understand Upward, like a church building or any other program is just a tool to help people meet God and become more like Jesus. Some people just need to leave certain tools alone because they are a danger to themselves or others!

Good times, good times.

Am I misinterpreting your comment or were you offended by the evangelism aspect of upward basketball?

I wish I had been warned in advance that the focus was evangelism, however. We found that out the hard way when all of the sudden it was half time, someone was preaching, and it seemed really really rude to get up and walk out. So instead, I ended up missing part of the game so I could get snacks and make a bathroom run.

I learned how to get saved a lot that year….

On the bright side, my daughter did pick up a lot of the basics, enough to know that she was no good at basketball, anyhow. Now if only origami was a sport.

I’m waiting for Upward Boxing. That’s where you lay hands on the other kid in Jesus name.