Upward Registered Trademark

Our basketball league includes coed divisions for Kindergarten - 5th grade and our cheer league is for children Kindergarten - 5th grade.


Registration Opens: 08/21/2023

Registration DEADLINE:  10/31/2023

Evaluation/Orientation: 11/13/23 - 11/17/2023

First Practice: Week of 11/27/2023

First Game: 12/09/2023

Last Game: 02/24/2024

Awards Celebration: 02/25/2024

Registration Fee: $70- REGISTER HERE


WANT TO HELP COACH? 

Register or learn more about what it means to be an Upward Coach, see bottom of page.


MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION

Don’t forget to visit our Frequently Asked Questions (down below)


We look forward to our 13th season and we are truly excited about partnering with families across Dyer County to make Upward the best sports and family experience it can be! Upward Basketball & Cheer is a sports program held each year in Jan/Feb for children in Kindergarten - 5th grade who live in the Dyer County area. Our Upward program began in 2010 and runs nearly 100+ children in the league each season. It features separate basketball leagues for each grade, equal playing time, a positive child-focused competitive atmosphere, recognition for all players, and a special Awards Program at the end of the season. For more information about Upward Basketball & Cheer at FUMC Dyersburg, contact Tori Armstrong at (731) 285-6454, and check out our Facebook Page FUMC Dyersburg Upward Sports. For information about the national Upward Unlimited ministry visit their official website at: www.upward.org


Benefits of Choosing Upward Sports

Upward Basketball & Cheer provides a positive sports experience for boys and girls, and makes the most of your family’s time and money.

  • Friendly sports environment where children have fun
  • Teaches fundamentals
  • Unique drafting system creates balanced teams
  • Unique substitution system produces equal playing time
  • Trained coaches and referees that encourage your child
  • Life lessons shared at each practice and at games
  • Quality game-day uniform, other sport-specific gear in a cool player box
  • One-hour practices and one-hour games at excellent community facilities
  • Every child receives an end-of-the-year award at a fun Awards Celebration!
  • Top-notch volunteer coaches and refs that care about children having a fun experience.

    REGISTER NOW

    Click the picture below to Register for 2023-2024 League of Upward Basketball & Cheer!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The information below is designed to help you in the decisions you make regarding joining us this season for Upward Basketball & Cheer.

    • Practices will be once a week for 11 weeks. Practices will be on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Games will be on Saturdays. Game times on Saturday can vary. Practices will start after Thanksgiving, take a break during Winter Break and begin again after the New Year. Full schedule will come after Registration has closed.

    • Practices and Games will be held in the Family Life Center for First United Methodist Church Dyersburg.


    • Yes, we offer cheerleading for girls and boys during the basketball season. Cheer will follow the same schedule and information for Basketball.


    • K & 1st Grade - 8ft

      2nd & 3rd Grade - 9ft

      4th - 5th Grade - 10ft


    • We recommend a 28.5 inch basketball for all players. That is the size for all ages in our Upward League. We have basketballs for all kids to use during practice time here during our season.


    • Uniform Reveal


      Typically, all uniforms are reversible so that teams can be one of two colors. These colors change from season to season. Colors for our next season are: Blue and Red


      Basketball Jersey Sizing Guide

      Cheer Uniform Sizing Guide

      23-24_BKL_Jersey.pdf

      23-24_BCL_Uniform.pdf


    • Practice Weeks (Mon, Thurs, Fri)

      Practices begin the week of November 27, 2023 (pause at for Winter Break), will return week of January 1, 2024 and will run through the week of February 23, 2023.


      Game Saturdays

      Saturdays December 09, 2023 - February 24, 2024 (Pause for Winter Break 12/18/23-12/30/23)


      Season Celebration

      February 25, 2024   |   2:30pm, Family Life Center

    • Please contact Tori Armstrong, Upward League Director, as each situation is handled on a case-by-case basis. We do have scholarships available and scholarship guidelines, but please contact Tori at 731-285-6454 to discuss details.


    • No. We use the valuation scores to balance the teams so one team is not overpowering the others in the division. We believe this promotes the balancing of teams and also kids making new friends.


    • No. As a non-profit league, we work hard to keep our league affordable and competitive in its pricing. The registration fee is the lowest it can go while still covering the costs of running the league.

    • Yes, provided that you complete the necessary steps including passing a criminal background check and attending mandatory coach training (and, of course, based upon availability). We’d love to have you join in! You can sign-up to coach here.

    • If your children are in the same age division (K5, 1st&2nd, and 3rd-5th), they will automatically be placed on the same team. There is no need to request it. Otherwise, they will be placed on different teams in the appropriate division.

    • After the registration deadline, all registrants will be considered to be on a “waiting list” and subject to availability. By the time evaluations roll around, the waiting list is generally long and availability is slim. Whereas we allow you to register at evaluations, the chances are much lower than getting it done on time. Please help us by communicating this to your friends and the community as we do not want anyone left out.

    • Evaluations/Orientation always take place here at the Family Life Center(on Elm St.) of FUMC Dyersburg (100 McGaughey Street). Here you will confirm registration, try on uniforms, watch an orientation video, and then enjoy the evaluation skills and drills. The skills and drills for basketball will be inside the Family Life Center. All cheer orientations will also be held inside.

    • You may visit their main website here(www.upward.org) or you may see more FAQ’s for parents here(https://www.upward.org/parent/).

    • There are no tryouts in Upward Basketball & Cheer. Each child will attend a mandatory evaluation/orientation week (See Key Dates) where basketball players will be guided through a few skills and drills to help identify each child’s skill level. These evaluations, held at our Family Life Center, are designed to create balanced teams and give each player an opportunity to improve their basketball skills. Cheerleaders will go through a brief orientation. Each child will also have the opportunity at evaluations to be fit for jerseys, be measured for height, and handle outstanding balances.

    Upward Coaches & Volunteers

    We enlist a large squad of volunteers to bring our league to life! There is a place for you to serve no matter what your skill set is. It takes hundreds of volunteers, so yes, we would love to have you on our team.


    STEPS TO BECOMING AN UPWARD COACH

    1. Complete the Online Basketball & Cheer Coach Registration HERE
    2. Complete a Safe Sanctuary Training
    3. Attend our coach training (date coming soon)


    WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEO AS YOU CONSIDER SERVING IN OUR SPORTS MINISTRIES.

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