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Youth basketball season tips off at Old North
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Players from both teams attempted to grab a rebound during a recent Upward game at Old North Church.
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Players like up before the game to make sure they know which player they will be guarding during the game. The league includes teams from PreK up to sixth grade. Games start at 9 a.m. with the last set of contests beginning at 6 p.m.
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The Upward sports program also includes cheerleading squads during its Saturday games at Old North Church.
By EMILY GIANETTI
Basketball season isn’t just for middle and high school athletes.
Old North Church and Kirkmere Elementary School in Canfield hosted season-opening competition of its Upward basketball league Jan. 26, with more than 600 youth ages preschool to sixth grade playing on one of more than 65 teams.
“They have a blast,” said Rick Cruz, who coaches his son, Dominic’s K-1 team. “There’s six quarters [periods] and we rotate kids so they all get equal playing time. They all get a chance to shoot.”
Upward is a faith-based basketball league and Upward Sports is a national faith-based sports league that has half a million families signed up to play. Ryan Farr, a pastor at Old North, is in charge of the Upward program at the church. There is a prayer session before each game.
So many people joined for the 2013 season that the local league had to open up a second venue for the teams to use.
“Last year, we were able to keep all the games at Old North,” said Cruz. “This year we had to move some of them out to Kirkmere. The league has really grown.”
Even Dominic weighed in on his Upward experience.
“I did good,” he said. “It was lots of fun and the best part for me was shooting.”
Each season, any child from the area can sign up to be on an Upward team in early winter. Each child is then evaluated and put on a team based on skill level. Kids from each different skill levels are mixed together to create an equal playing field. All games are on Saturdays.
For Cruz, the best part is being able to spend the time with his son, the sort of family experience Upward emphasizes.
“It’s finally being able to coach Dominic’s team,” he said. “Last year, I was on a different shift at work, and it’s just exciting for me to be able to coach him.”