Upward Basketball

"If exercise could be purchased in a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed and beneficial medicine in the nation."

-Robert H. Butler

I was talking to a friend who is a doctor yesterday and we were talking about exercise and the nature of poor health that many Americans subscribe to. She was telling me about patients that she sees with diabetes and what a horrific disease it is - in fact, she said that if she had to list the worst ways to die, diabetes would be #2. I asked her what she would say to parents to prevent their kids from getting diabetes. She said simply: EXERCISE. Turn off the tv and exercise!

Along that note, I also spent several hours yesterday watching basketball games in our local Upward basketball league. If you don't know about Upward, it's an amazing program through First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. It's such a great way for kids to get exercise, learn how to be a team member, and grow spiritually at the same time!

Every week the kids get a memory verse that they are supposed to practice. If they can then remember the verse at the game, they get a star to pin to their uniform.

Every game begins by announcing the players on each team as they run across the court to cheers from the audience. Then the players, coaches, and referees gather in the

center, holding hands, to pray for a fun game, free of injury, and full of good sports. Kids are held to very clear basketball rules, from the 6-year-olds up. Whistles are blown for double dribbling, traveling, fouls, etc. When the whistle is blown, the referee goes to the offending player and explains quickly what they did wrong and what they need to do in the future so that the whistle won't be blown on them again.

At halftime, each team meets in a separate room to regroup, talk, and get a quick rest. Meanwhile, a member of First Baptist or Calvary Baptist Church comes to deliver a short 5-minute message to the audience and then closes in prayer. Kids are also matched up during the entire game with a player from the opposing team that matches their ability level. That is the player that they are assigned to guard. They are not allowed to guard any other player. This method allows success for all kids and keeps double teaming from happening!

After the game is over, teams meet so that coaches can give out awards to players, such as "Best Defense" and "Most Christlike". And all of this happens at EVERY game! It's a brilliant program! What a great way to show kids what it looks like to live the cross in sports!

You might recognize some of the kids in these pictures! The top picture is of Elof, the dribbling master! Don't even try to steal the ball away from that kid. The middle picture is of Joran as he's about to shoot. (Notice how only one silver player is allowed close enough to guard him - he's Joran's assigned match so the other players can't double team.)