Upward Sports is a non-profit
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...
organization with the mission of "promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports". Upward Sports partners with churches in the US and Canada to bring youth sports ministry in their local communities. Upwards Sports was founded in 1995 by Caz McCaslin.
Structure
Over 2,800 Upward Sports programs across the US serve hundreds of thousands of young athletes playing recreational basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, cheerleading, flag football, pickleball, and volleyball. Upward Sports equips local churches representing various
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
denominations with training, playbooks, sports apparel, ministry resources, and online player registration systems to run their leagues.
The main Upward offices are in
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in South Carolina, 11th ...
.
History
Timeline
1986 – Caz McCaslin developed a basketball program that incorporated athletic skills and Biblical values
1995 – Launched first nationwide season of Upward Sports; seven churches hosted Upward basketball leagues with several hundred players
2000 – Expanded to include soccer and basketball
cheerleading
Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called cheerleaders) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense Physical exercise, physical activity. It can be performed to motivate s ...
2003 – The 1,000th church hosted an Upward Sports League
2005 – Added flag football and flag football cheerleading. Launched first Upward Sports international league in
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
, South Africa
2006 – More than 400,000 children participated in Upward Sports for the first time. Launched the first Upward Sports League in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
2007 – International expansion continued as a league launched in
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
2007 – Military scholarship instituted for children of
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
men and women deployed overseas
2008 – First South American league launched in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
2009 – Approximately 2,600 churches worldwide host Upward Sports leagues with 520,000 children and 480,000 volunteers, coaches and referees in 46 states and four countries (
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
,
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
)
2015 -
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. ( ; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and ...
endorses the organization via
Instagram
Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
2020 - Kevin Drake named Executive Director of Upward Sports
2021 - Expanded to include volleyball
2025 - Expanded to include pickleball
See also
*
Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action (AIA) is an American sports organization founded in 1966. It is the sports ministry of Cru Ministries, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ.
History
Athletes in Action was started in 1966 by Dave Hannah."Fact Sheet: ...
References
Further reading
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Savannah Morning News' - At Upward Basketball and Cheerleading every child is a winner
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Lancaster Eagle Gazette' - Upward and onward: Christian-based sports program promotes positive reinforcement
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' - Christian League Leads Kids Upward
External links
* {{official website, http://www.Upward.org
Christian sports organizations
Children's sport
Soccer governing bodies in the United States
Youth soccer in the United States
Sports organizations of the United States