Sports are a great way for children to learn about teamwork, respect for authority and sportsmanship. The sad part is all those things are being lost in today's sporting society. With an Upward sport, these key essentials are included to create the best sporting experience for every child that participates. Upward is designed to reveal the winner in every child. Every child plays. Every child learns.Every child IS a Winner!

Upward is a fun, reliable, passionate and encouraging sports experience for boys and girls, 4 years old through sixth grade. Upward provides first class, organized and detailed sports programming in basketball and cheerleading. Unique aspects of Upward include an evaluation system that promotes equal and competitive teams as well as a substitution system which allows for equal playing time for all participants. Through Upward, children are exposed to quality coaching and sport development. Upward emphasizes character and integrity instead of a "win at all costs" mentality associated with today's sports world. The mission of Upward is to introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports. With this mission in mind, Upward has been blessed with tremendous growth over the last ten years nationwide. This growth has taken Upward to almost every state and over forty countries.

First Church of the Nazarene brought Upward Basketball and Cheerleading to San Angelo four years ago and had now has almost 200 children participate! We have been able to reach children in the community through this awesome experience! Anyone can be involved so come be apart!

Registration begins in September and ends in early November. Practices begin in December and Games begin in January. We distribute registration forms through the San Angelo Independent School District,other area schools,the Home School Association and other areas in San Angelo.

For more information about Upward you can go to http://www.upward.org. For more information about Basketball & Cheerleading here in San Angelo, contact the League Director, Brad Griffin at (325) 234-7730 or e-mail at upward@safcn.org.