About the Upward Sports Program

This mission is not about sports, it is about:

Salvation: To share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone involved in an Upward Ministry, How?

We use a ball or  Pom-Poms as the tool to bring groups together to share the news of Jesus Christ.

  The State of Children’s Sports

What are children saying about organized sports?

·        37% wished no parents watched them play.

·        41% indicated that they’ve awakened in the middle of the night worrying about a game.

·        69% indicated they preferred a coach who puts more. Priority on fun than winning.

·        71% it wouldn’t matter if no score were kept.

·        74% said they had seen out of control parents at their game.

·        75% have dropped out of organized sports by age 13.

The top ten reasons children have dropped out of organized sports

                                    Boys:

·        I was no longer interested

·        It was no longer fun

·        The sport took too much time

·        The coach played favorites

·        The coach was a poor teacher

·        I was tired of playing.

·        There was too much emphasis on winning.

·        I wanted to participate in other non-sports activities.

·        I need more time to study.

·        There was too much pressure.

Girls:

·        I was no longer interested.

·        It was no longer fun.

·        I needed more time to study.

·        There was too much pressure.

·        The coach was a poor teacher.

·        I wanted to participate in other non-sport activities.

·        The sport took too much time.

·        The coach played favorites.

·        I was tired of playing

·        Games /practices were scheduled when I couldn’t attend.

“75% of Americans watch, read about, or participate in sports once a week and 98% do once a month.  If that is where the people are, if that is what the people are doing, it seems prudent for the church to determine how best to utilize that cultural interest for the sake of declaring Christ.”

EVERY CHILD IS A WINNER!

Young kids rank their top three reasons for playing competitive sports as:

1.      Having fun

2.      Learning new skills

3.      Making friends

******Winning falls below the top ten!

Parent’s top three reasons for their children’s involvement in competitive sports are:

1.      Being challenged

2.      Learning to compete

3.      Winning

Probability of accepting Christ:

·        Between the ages of 5 and 13 is 32%

·        Between the ages of 14 to 18 is 4%

·        Beyond 19 years of age is 6%

     C  Can YOU spare 5 minutes a week to share the  message of Jesus Christ with children and their families?

·        Pisgah ARP’s Upward Sports Ministry needs YOU!!!! 

·        Why not join the Prayer Team?  

·        How about coaching Boys or Girls Basketball or Cheerleading Squads? 

·        Would you like to Referee? 

·        Have loads of fun being a Ball Boy, Ball Girl, Game Announcer, Scorekeeper, Greeter, Photographer, Videographer, First Aid Helper, Devotion Leader, Team  Parent/Grandparent, Food & Beverage Helper! 

·        Training is Included!

·        Sign Up Posters are located outside the gym doors inside the FLOC.

Prayer Team: If you can’t attend during the regularly scheduled events, or even if you can, consider joining the prayer team! A prayer pin is provided to each of the 100 members on this team. We pray for guidance, wisdom for the directors, coaches and referees, the willingness of our congregation, parents and grandparents to commit to this outreach, and safety for the participants. 

Team Coach:   Using materials and training provided for Basketball and Cheerleading, the coach is the spiritual leader for up to ten 1st to 6th grade boys or girls. The time commitment is just one hour of practice and one game per week during the 8-week season plus the awards celebration.

Referee: Using materials and training with rules specific to Upward Basketball, the referee is the floor general during games.  Each game requires two officials. They encourage the circle of affirmation with coaches, spectators and players. The teams, cheerleaders, and the coaches gather together at center court, as referee starts each game with prayer. After prayer, the referee reviews the rules of the game with the players and coaches and identifies any specifics they will be focusing on. A general understanding of the rules of the game is prerequisite for this position.

Half-Time Devotions: During the half-time break of each game, teams retreat for basketball strategy and the devotion leader shares devotion or a testimony with the spectators in the stands.  A three to five minute message is appropriate.

Game Day Participants: Includes Score Keepers keep score on flip charts during games, Announcers for player and cheerleader introductions, Greeters   keep a watch over the facilities, answer questions or direct guests concerning Pisgah Church or ARP doctrine, First Aid  Certified Care Givers for unexpected accidents, Food and Beverage Helpers tend the Snack counter, Special Effects and Music Operators  between games and during player introductions manage the fog machines and play bumper music, Photographers & Videographers, handle picture day and year end video production,  Ball boys/girls  help manage game and change goal heights between games  EVALUATION DAY includes all of the above!                                                                                               

Using Ever Changing Ways to Share a Never Changing Message!               

Please contact Mark Lowe for any further information.

Mark Lowe – Cell number      (704) 868-8048

Upward Sports Ministry   www.upward.com