Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Upward Basketball of Warsaw was expecting 100 to 200 children to sign up for its program the first year.
They have 295.
"(It's) fabulous," said Upward Basketball of Warsaw boys' commissioner Rick VanCleave Saturday. "When we first started this out, we didn't know what we were getting into but we knew it was a fantastic program. ... We thought we'd have 100 to 150 kids sign up. When we had the evaluation, we had 295 kids. We just thank the Lord for this opportunity."
Upward Basketball is a national nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 children. A basketball league designed to instruct elementary children in the skills of basketball while emphasizing Christian values, the program started in South Carolina several years ago by a youth minister.
Children in grades one through six participate. Upward Basketball of Warsaw is a nonprofit charitable organization, locally organized and operated.
There are 34 teams, with seven to 10 kids on each team, two coaches per team, three commissioners, a director and an advisory board as well as referees. There are games for both boys and girls. Local businesses sponsor the games.
"It's grown overnight, it seems like. We're real pleased with what's going on," VanCleave said.
He said they had a few problems beginning the program, but "we've had a large number of prayer partners help us prepare for this. The prayer partners prayed for 100 days before the program started," and VanCleave said they saw their prayers answered.
In each game, every child receives the same amount of play time. Player rotation is different each game so everyone has a chance to start. The program is open to every elementary child in the Warsaw, Triton, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko school systems, as well as students in local Christian schools.
Scores are not kept for the games for the younger groups. The emphasis is on learning skills, rules and Christianity.
Coaches and referees are trained to be supporters and encouragers of children at all skill levels. Basketball excellence is stressed but the child is more important than the game. No child was cut regardless of skill levels.
Practices began Jan. 4 and are held at Lincoln Elementary and First Baptist Church on Tuesdays and Baker Youth Clubs on Thursdays. Each team practices for one hour a week with devotions at the halfway point.
"Scott Wiley of the Baker Youth Clubs has been very supportive in making this happen and opening their doors up to us," VanCleave said.
Wiley said the Baker Youth Clubs' basketball league was combined with Upward Basketball, which will help both programs.
Games began Jan. 8 and begin at 8 a.m. Saturdays and run every hour thereafter until noon at Harrison Elementary School and Baker Youth Clubs. The program ends for the year on Feb. 26, which is awards night. Games are one hour. At half-time of the games, there is a devotional for friends and family in attendance.
The sponsors have given the program a lot of the support, VanCleave said. "God has just opened doors one after another when we needed money. ... Without that sponsorship, we couldn't have done this at all," he said.
"It's just been real exciting to see the kids light up, playing," VanCleave said. "I'm thankful to be a part of it. The coaches really put their hearts into it. They're real understanding when complications arise. I can't thank the coaches enough for their time, enthusiasm and Christian witness."
