Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
As one paper advertising Upward Basketball says, "It's not the shoes, it's the souls."
In preperation for its second season in Kosciusko County, Upward Basketball, a youth basketball league that teaches the fundamentals of basketball as well as the Gospel, kicked off the season Monday night with its sponsor banquet.
With the motto, "Every Child a Winner," this youth basketball league will officially get under way Nov. 18 with its evaluation day at the Eisenhower Elementary gym.
Local youth - kids in kindergarten through grade six in the Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Triton school districts as well as local Christian schools - will go from station to station that day testing their fundamentals and will then be placed on teams.
Boys and girls in grades one through six will be separated, not placed on coed teams. This is the first year for the kindergarten league.
"We want to have the best league we can, we're putting Jesus Christ's name on it," league chairman Len Morris said.
Once teams are decided, practice will begin Jan. 29, with the first game being played Feb. 3.
Kindergartners will play on Monday evenings, while those in K-6 will play on Saturdays.
"We want to be a first-class organization and detailed basketball league for kids K-6," Morris said. "We want to teach them the fundamentals of basketball and the values of being a Christian."
A year ago 300 kids participated. This year the goal is 600.
Games will be played at Lakeland Christian Academy, Eisenhower Elementary, Edgewood Middle School and Baker Youth Club.
Morris said the day he is pointing toward right now is Nov. 10 - the early registration cut-off day.
Within the next week, brochures will be distributed at the forementioned schools.
Those who register before Nov. 10 will be charged $45 for the league. After that date the price moves up to $55. A player's registration includes a jersey, an individual award after each game and an award at the end of the season.
Unlike playing in most youth basketball leagues, Upward Basketball participants will get equal playing time. With a pre-determined rotation, players are guaranteed to play at least half of every game.
Players will have a game each week, as well as a one-hour practice.
An awards night has been planned for March 24.
#Headquarterd in South Carolina, Upward Basketball is a 10-year-old nationwide league with 100,000 participants. Indiana also has leagues in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Marion and Evansville.
