Welcome Upward Parents!
As a parent, you play a very important role in building the self-esteem and character of not only your child, but of every child in this league. Players will look to their parents, coaches, and referees as models for sportsmanship, respect for authority, and positive attitudes. Through your positive participation in this league, you can provide a lasting effect in these children that will live well beyond the end of the season.
Because our culture has created a “win at all cost” mentality, the most points, the most championships, or the most trophies generally define a winner. However, Upward defines winning as learning and/or teaching lessons in the game of life.
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Why does Upward have programs for K-6th grade only?
Research shows that the probability of children ages 5-13 accepting Christ is 1 in 3 (32%). After age 13, the likelihood a child will make a decision for Christ drops to 4%. Beyond 19 years of age, 6%. For these reasons, Upward creates programs and curriculum and products for the younger age group as a means to maximize the opportunity for sharing Christ.
What are children saying and not saying about why they play sports?
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 10.
Why do most parents want their children to play sports?
Parents’ top three reasons are:
1. To be challenged
2. Learn to compete
3. To Win
-Competitive Sports for Kids by Bonnie Rosenstock
What you can do to ensure a meaningful experience for your child:
- Make sure the child arrives on time to practices and games.
- During practices and games, support the coach by allowing him or her to give any instruction or feedback to the team. Directions from multiple sources can cause confusion to the players.
- After each practice, ask your child about the practice, devotion and Scripture that was shared with him/her.
- Look for positive actions that took place during practices and games that you can praise your child for.
- Cheer for both teams. This helps create an environment in which every child is supported.
- Support the volunteer referee with positive comments only. They are giving their time to your child.
- After the game, join your child’s team and cheer for each player as game-day stars are distributed.
About Practices
- You will be contacted prior to each season with information about your child’s coach and practice night.
- There will be a one-hour practice per week.
- Your child’s player items will be distributed by the coach at one of the first practices.
- During each practice, a coach will deliver a short devotion to the players.
- Children will have the opportunity to learn Scripture verses together, and will be rewarded for their participation.
About Games
- Every team will play one game a week. Each game lasts about one hour.
- Following each game, teams and parents gather together as each player is awarded a star. Cheer for each player as stars are distributed.
- The blue star represents Best Effort.
- The gold star represents Best Sportsmanship.
- The gray star represents Best Offense.
- The red star represents Best Defense.
- The white star represents Christlikeness.
Rules Unique to Upward
You will receive a detailed set of rules unique to Upward in the Parent’s Guide to Upward Soccer, which will be distributed with your child’s player items.
Game Format
Unique elements of Upward league format:
- Referees lead both teams in prayer at midfield before every game.
- Scores are kept only in our 3rd – 6th grade divisions, but no division standings are maintained. Such standings add unnecessary pressure and intensity.
Unique to Flag Football
- No child will sit out more than one possession at a time.
- Every child will play offense and defense in each game.
- Every child will start on either offense or defense in each game.
- This is a non-contact league. Any intentional contact will be penalized.
- Each team will have six players on the field at a time.
Unique to Soccer
- All fouls will result in an indirect kick in all divisions, except 5th and 6th grade division, where both direct and indirect kicks will be used.
- No penalty kicks, yellow cards, or red cards are used in Upward Soccer.
Substitutions
Upward’s substitution system is designed to provide every player equal opportunity for improvement. The substitution system ensures that no child will sit out more than one segment at a time, every child will have the opportunity to start a game, and playing time for all players is virtually even over the course of the season.
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