Upward Sports
Discovering Jesus through sports
Play with a Purpose
For more than 20 years, Upward Sports has been committed to promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports. Sports help break down barriers between people and allow us all to enter into rich, meaningful relationships with God and each other, regardless of our backgrounds or where we are in life. Upward does just that by focusing on sports as part of a bigger picture that nurtures the whole person–mind, body, and spirit–for the singular purpose of discovering Jesus.

Upward Sports has been a pivotal ministry of The Methodist Church of Blanchard, and as we start our 16th year here, we’re more excited than ever to grow the program in our community as we help grow a love for the Gospel in our participants. Our Upward Basketball /Cheerleading and Volleyball Programs bring together families and participants from communities all over the Tricity area, including Blanchard, Newcastle, Tuttle, Bridge Creek, Washington, and more. And, because we hold all of our activities here at the Methodist Church, our teams are a vibrant and dynamic mix of kids from different schools, different families, and different skill levels, all in healthy competition with each other in the pursuit of a deeper connection with the Gospel, instead of in competition against each other for a trophy.

Kids love to play and participate in their community, and the Upward Basketball /Cheerleading and Volleyball Programs at The Methodist Church of Blanchard are great opportunities to introduce the kids in our communities to sports, Jesus, and each other in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment. Contact one of our program directors today for more information on how you can get involved.
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 upward basketball & cheerleading

Sign-ups for the 2024-2025 season will open September 2nd
$110 per player/cheerleader (registration & uniform)
Registration is open for participants K-7
Games & Practices
Season is 7 games, 10-12 practices

First practice: Week of Nov. 18th 
1x 1-hour practice a week (M, T, or TH)

Games: Jan. 11th - Feb. 22nd
1 x 1-hour game a week (Saturdays)
Teams play around the same time every week

All activities held at the Christian Life Center (CLC) behind the Methodist Church of Blanchard

Assessments & Uniform Sizing:
Teams are structured to equalize talent, maximize playing time for all players, and foster a positive environment of low-pressure, healthy competition. This is achieved via pre-season assessments and evaluations of all players (players only need to attend one). These are NOT tryouts. Every child who completes registration will be placed on a team and they will play.

Evaluations/Assessments and Uniform Sizing Dates for 2024-25 Season (your player or cheerleader only needs to attend one):

Monday, October 21st, 6-8 pm*
Last names A - M
Grades K-3-- 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Grades 4-7-- 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, October 22nd, 6-8 pm*
Last names N-Z
Grades K- 3 --6:00 -7:00 pm
Grades 4-7 -- 7:00-8:00 pm


Held at Christian Life Center (CLC) behind the Methodist Church of Blanchard.
*Individual evaluations do not take the entire 2 hours. Depending on the number of people, individuals are usually done in about 30 minutes or so. Only need to attend one session.
Sign Up to Play or Cheer
Sign up to coach
sign up to ref
sign up to help

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

**Sign-ups for the 2024-2025 season will open in August**
$110 per player/cheerleader (registration & uniform)

2025 Upward Coed Volleyball Season 

Sign-ups for the 2025 season will open on January 7th, 2025
$110 per player/cheerleader (registration, uniform, volleyball & end of season gift)
Open to players grades 4-7

 Upward Coed Volleyball

Games & Practices
Season is 6 games, 7 practices

First practice: Week of Mar. 10th
1x 1-hour practice a week (M or T)

Games: March 29th - May 10th 
1 x 1-hour game a week (Saturdays)
Teams play around the same time every week

All activities held at the Christian Life Center (CLC) behind the Methodist Church of Blanchard

Assessments & Uniform Sizing:
Teams are structured to equalize talent, maximize playing time for all players, and foster a positive environment of low-pressure, healthy competition. This is achieved via pre-season assessments and evaluations of all players (players only need to attend one). These are NOT tryouts. Every child who completes registration will be placed on a team and they will play.

Evaluations/Assessments and Uniform Sizing Dates for 2025 Season:

Monday, Feb. 24th, 6-8 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 25th, 6-8 pm 


Held at Christian Life Center (CLC) behind the Methodist Church of Blanchard.
*Individual evaluations do not take the entire 2 hours. Depending on the number of people, individuals are usually done in about 30 minutes or so. 
Sign Up to Play
Sign up to coach
sign up to ref
sign up to help

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

**Sign-ups for the 2024-2025 season will open in August**
$110 per player/cheerleader (registration & uniform)

Coach for Upward

Coaching for Upward is different from coaching in other leagues. With Upward, your focus can truly be on your team, player development, and fostering a love of the game while sharing the Word of God. There are no team rankings, no tournaments, no season records, and cheerleaders cheer for everyone equally. When you coach for Upward, your team gets a chance to focus on what’s important, and you get a chance to make a lifelong connection with kids you’ll see again every day in your community.

You do not have to have any experience or skill to coach a basketball, cheerleading, or Volleyball team for Upward. We provide you with all the resources you need for practice plans, game management, and parent communication, and you receive any and all support from our officials and program directors, whenever you need it.

If you’re not sure you’re the right kind of person to coach Upward Basketball, Cheerleading, or Volleyball team, then it means you are probably exactly who we’re looking for. At Upward, you aren’t coaching to win championships; you’re coaching to make an impact, and that’s easier than you think.

Contact us today to find out more about coaching.
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volunteer to coach

Referee for Upward

To make Upward Basketball and Volleyball successful, we need referees. Unlike other basketball programs, refereeing for Upward Basketball or Volleyball gives you a chance to have a direct impact on helping kids learn to love the game in a positive, non-competitive, supportive, and stress-free environment. You’ll receive all the training, resources, and support you need for basic officiating while gaining a greater appreciation for the sport.
Refereeing for Upward Basketball and/or Volleyball is great for:
  • Parents or other community members who want to be involved but don’t want the commitment of coaching
  • High school or college-aged athletes who are interested in learning the officiating aspect of sports
  • High school or college-aged students who need volunteer hours or are looking for other ways to be involved in a sport

What you need to referee for Upward Basketball and/or Volleyball:
  • Patience
  • Willingness to learn

What you DON’T need to referee for Upward Basketball or Volleyball:
  • Experience
  • Athletic ability
  • Skill
Whether you’re interested in an introduction to officiating or just want to help kids in our community learn healthy competition, teamwork, and fundamentals, we need you for Upward Basketball and Volleyball. Contact us for more information.
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Volunteer to ref

Helping in Upward

Whether it’s an hour on one Saturday or just an extra pair of hands here and there, a little goes a long way in keeping Upward going, and it doesn’t take committing to the entire season. In addition to coaching and refereeing, we also need help manning the time clock and scoreboards, running the concession stand, and general cleanup. These are all easy, low-pressure, and low-stress tasks almost anyone can do. You’ll receive all the instructions and resources to do them, and they’re completely flexible, so you can decide when helping out fits best in your schedule.

The Upward experience on a Saturday during the season is something special. There is a place for everyone in Upward, and everyone is here for the same reason--to help the kids in our community grow in confidence and in Christ.

Contact us today to find out how you can serve this wonderful community program.
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volunteer to help