Our Vision: To seek out the "27", because "somewhere in a cave a story about a man needs to be told." Our Mission:To introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports.
Welcome to the First Baptist Wentzville's Upward Sports Ministry! Sports are a great way for children to learn about teamwork, respect for authority and sportsmanship. The sad part is all those things are being lost in today's sporting society. With an Upward Sport, these key essentials are included to create the best sporting experience for every child that participates. Upward Sports are designed to reveal the winner in every child.
The 2012 season will mark the fourth season for Upward Sports here at FBC-W, and we're excited to bring you a sports experience like no other. Two things new this year:
1. We're expanding to include a 7th & 8th grade division this year.
2. We're creating a Special Buddies division, called the Shining Stars. Open to children through age 21 with developmental delays and disabilities, of any ability or mobility, this division will provide a positive and encouraging environment in which to play and learn the sport with a 1:1 adult/child ratio. For a downloadable information sheet Click Here For additional questions, please contact us using the link at top left. In the meantime, enjoy the video below for a glimpse into what our Shining Stars division will look like.
The Refer-a-Friend program is back!!
Save $10 on your registration fee by referring a NEW child to the league. To receive credit for your referral: 1. The child’s family cannot be members of a partnering church;
2. The child cannot have played with our league in the past; and 3. They MUST notify us that they heard about the league through you when they register.
While we encourage you to invite and bring as many of your friends as you can, each participant is limited to two (2) referral credits ($20). Teams are selected through a draft process to keep teams equally matched, and there is no guarantee your referred friends will be on the same team.
Please Note the Following Rules When Requesting a Carpool Link:
Children may request ONE friend to play on their team. That ONE friend must also request the child who is requesting them. If three or more kids are seeking to play together, that request will NOT be honored. For example:
Three players, "A", "B" and "C" all want to play together. If "A" requests "B", then "B" must also request "A". If another player "C" also requests "B", then that will not be honored. The only requests that will be honored are when two players each request to play with each other. If a child requests more than one person, we will seek to honor only the first name listed, provided the first child listed also requested the child requesting him. We will NOT be able to honor more than one carpool request per child, regardless of the children's experience or skill level. We will NOT be able to accept requests for your child to be placed on a specific coach's team. Most of our coaches are coaching their child's team, and we obviously need to honor that. The coach's child may request ONE friend, as described above, but to keep from "stacking" the teams we will not be able to accept requests to be with a particular coach.
Thank you for your patience as we work to serve you. Thank you also for understanding our goal in keeping teams from being loaded with all friends, thereby creating an uncomfortable environment for the 1 or 2 children who would have been placed on that team who don't know all the other kids. Thank you also for understanding that it is our goal to provide a league that exceeds your expectations, while maintaining the principles upon which Upward Sports was founded, one of which is creating evenly-matched teams to bring out the winner in EVERY child.
Registration for the 2012 Basketball & Cheerleading season has closed.
VALUES The Expectation of God Moments - We believe that God is at work all around us. Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Life of Integrity - We believe that how we live is more important than what we say. Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The Discipline of Excellence - We believe in serving that exceeds expectations. Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The Priority of Children - We believe that Every Child Is A Winner. Matthew 18:14 - In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Mirrors Or Windows Music Video Click on the video area below to play video
WHY UPWARD SPORTS BASKETBALL & UPWARD SPORTS CHEERLEADING? Upward Sports Basketball & Upward Sports Cheerleading offer a break from the norm. The primary focus of Upward Sports is to develop the Winner in EVERY child, not just a few. By keeping this goal in mind, we're able to build a league that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in all who participate.
WHAT IS UPWARD SPORTS BASKETBALL? Upward Sports is an evangelistic sports ministry specifically designed for K-5 through sixth-grade boys and girls. Upward Sports Basketball seeks to develop the self-esteem of each participant, while teaching respect for authority, sportsmanship, character, and athletic skills of the sport.
WHAT IS UPWARD SPORTS CHEERLEADING? Upward Sports Cheerleading is an evangelistic sports ministry specifically designed for K-5 through sixth-graders. Upward Sports Cheerleading is designed to be done in conjunction with Upward Sports Basketball. Upward Sports Cheerleading seeks to develop the self-esteem of each participant, while teaching respect for authority, sportsmanship, character, and cheerleading skills.
WHAT MAKES UPWARD SPORTS DIFFERENT? - Training coaches and referees to minister by teaching and encouraging.
- Maximizing the family schedule by allowing for only one hour of practice and a one-hour game each week.
- Using a set substitution system to give all players equal playing time.
- Not keeping score in the K-5 and 1st & 2nd grade divisions.
- Not maintaining league standings in any division.
- Exposing participants to Scripture-based devotions during each practice and sharing devotions with spectators at each game.
- Encouraging each participant with a game-day award following every game.
- Seeking to incorporate participants and their families into a local church after the season is complete.
FAQs For Parents What age group is Upward Sports for and what sports are currently offered? Upward Sports is designed for K-5 through 6th grade children. Current Upward Sports programs include Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, and Cheerleading (in conjunction with Basketball and Flag Football). At this time, First Baptist Church Wentzville is offering Basketball & Cheerleading. God has given us a vision that includes bringing Upward Sports Flag Football and Soccer to the area within the next five years.
How much does it cost for my child to participate in Upward Sports Basketball & Cheerleading? Through the cooperative partnering agreement between FBC-W and FBC-O, the early registration fee for Upward Sports Basketball is $70 and Cheerleading is $75. The early registration deadline is October 23, 2011. After October 23rd, the registration fee increases by $10. The registration deadline is November 12, 2011. To view the league calendar, CLICK HERE To view a list of items each participant receives, CLICK HERE
How much of a time commitment is this on our family? Our Upward Sports league will have a one hour practice on one night during the week starting the first week in January, with games starting a few weeks after the first practice. Games are one hour on Saturdays for 8 weeks. Therefore, the time commitment is two hours per week once games begin. With busy family schedules, this setup is ideal, and we continue to hear that it works great for volunteers, participants, and families.
In other sports leagues, my child did not get to play as much as other children. How is an Upward Sports league different in that regard? Upward Sports trains its church partners to implement a league that ensures all registered children will play. As coaches are trained on the Upward Sports substitution system, they are given parameters for substituting players in and out of the game. The substitution system provides every child the opportunity to be in the starting lineup, requires no child to sit out back-to-back segments, and allows every child to play at least half of the game.
What can I expect from coaches in an Upward Sports league? Upward Sports, FBC-W and FBC-O understand that for most participants and their families, the difference between a good and bad sports league experience is the coach. The role of the coach is to uphold the VALUES OF UPWARD SPORTS. Their success is not determined by wins and losses, but by how they convey the love of Christ to each participant.
Not My Vision Music Video Click on the video area below to play video
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