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UPWARD

Basketball & Cheerleading: Play with Purpose

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

An exciting and fun sports league for youth in 1-6th grades that seeks to develop character in every participant, providing an opportunity for improvement and stressing sportsmanship in every situation, while helping players and families find and follow Jesus.

In addition to having fun, making friends and learning basketball and cheerleading skills, participants spend time at practices focusing on Biblical virtues that they can apply on the court and in all aspects of their lives.

Registration opens Sept 23, 2026, at 7:00 pm | Register early!  The league fills quickly.

Register here for the Winter 2027 Season

An exciting and fun sports league for youth in grades 1-6th that seeks to develop character in every participant, providing an opportunity for improvement and stressing sportsmanship in every situation, while helping players and families find and follow Jesus.

League Details

Registration for our 2026 Upward season is closed. Please contact our Upward Director, Jeff Belmondo, at jeffbelmondo@hotmail.com with any questions or information about the 2027 season.

League Details

Who:  Basketball – 1-6th grade Boys and Girls (2026-27 school year) 1-2nd grade division is coed.

     Cheerleading – 1-6th grade Girls (2026-27 school year)

Where: Highlands Community Church (HCC) gym

When: January 4 to March 13, 2027 (10 weeks)

Fee: $105 per child. Includes:

Basketball – reversible jersey, t-shirt, game snacks and season gift
Cheerleading – cheer top & skort, poms, megaphone, game snacks and season gift

Partial scholarships are available. Contact jeffbelmondo@hotmail.com for an application.

Key Dates

September 23 (7:00 PM): Online registration opens
October 10 or 24: Basketball players skill assessments (required)
Early December – coaches contact parents with team information
January 4: Practices begin
January 16: Jamboree (all teams)
January 22/23: First games
January 30: Picture Day
February 5 and 6: Teacher Appreciation games
March 13 and 14: Last games

Practices and Games

Click below for the season practice & game schedule framework (each participant has 10 practices and 8 games)

📄 2027 Practice and Game Schedule Framework

Frequently Asked Questions

When will my child practice and play games?

  • All teams will have a 1-hour practice on a weeknight each week (Monday- Thursday).

  • The all-league Jamboree will be held Saturday, January 16th.

  • 5-6th grade boys’ basketball teams will play games on Friday evenings beginning January 22rd.

  • All other basketball teams and cheer squads will have games on Saturdays beginning January 23rd.

  • All practices and games will be held in the HCC gym.

  • Coaches will have Jamboree and game schedules at first practices. Participants will be notified of team assignments in early December.

Does my child need to attend practices & games?

Practices and games are key elements of the program. All participants are expected to participate in both.

Can I request a specific practice night?

No – however, if you desire, during registration you will have the opportunity to choose one exclusion night.  We will attempt to honor this exclusion night request.

Can I request a specific coach for my child?

Participants are not allowed to select their coach. They are assigned to teams using registration information, and for players, basketball skill assessments to help create balanced teams.

Can my child request to be on a friend’s team?

If this is your child’s first year in HCC Upward and was invited by a friend, please let us know during the registration process by giving us the friend’s name. We will attempt to place your child with that friend. (Applies to first year Upward players only).

What clothing or equipment does my child need?

  • Basketball players receive a jersey and t-shirt to wear under their jersey. Players may wear shorts of their choosing.  Optional Upward shorts may be purchased during online registration.

  • We provide basketballs. Do not bring personal basketballs to the gym.

  • Cheerleaders receive a cheer top, skort, poms and megaphone. They may wear a white turtleneck shirt under their cheer top.  Optional Upward turtle necks may be purchased during online registration.

  • All participants should wear non-marking athletic shoes and bring a water bottle to practices & games.

What is the purpose of skill assessments?

All basketball players must attend a 15-minute individual skill assessment on October 10th or 24th.  This involves basic dribbling, shooting and running. It is NOT a test.  The information from the assessments helps build balanced teams.

What is the refund policy?

If your child is registered but subsequently unable to play before their first practice, we will provide a full refund.  No refunds will be made once practices begin the week of January 4th.

Encourage your children to invite a friend!

Upward provides a unique opportunity to reach out to your community and neighborhoods. In previous years, over half of the new participants learned about Upward from a friend. Invite a friend to join in the fun!

You can be part of Upward too!

You don’t have to be athletic to serve in Upward. You just need a heart for serving children and their families, a passion for sharing Christ’s love with them and a desire to see them learn and grow.

Upward volunteer positions include:

  • Coaches and Assistant coaches

  • Referees

  • Prayer Partners

All coaches and referees are required to complete the Highlands Community Church Next Generation clearance process and training prior to serving.

To volunteer or to get more information, please contact Jeff Belmondo, League Director, at jeffbelmondo@hotmail.com .

For more information about Upward Sports go to Home – Upward Sports .

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