Upward teaches more than just sports

Not every basketball team is led in prayer by the referee before each game, but Upward is not a typical basketball league.

"The idea is to spread the gospel using basketball as the tool," said coach and co-director Tom Hommel. "We try and teach the children respect for referees and coaches as well as some basketball skills. It's a Christ-centered basketball program," he added.

Their biggest fundraiser, the "Tournament of Coaches," will be held Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. in the Libby Middle school.

Kids obtain pledges, either per point or a one-time pledge. There are also two or three churches in town that donate to the program, as well as individual donations.

"It's a great program," said Hommel. "It's been a real good source for teaching. We get quite a bit of support from parents and grandparents."

Tomorrow, Feb. 22, is their last game of season, which will begin at 8 a.m. and go until 3 p.m at the LMS.

More than 200 kids, ranging from 1st - 6th graders , make up the 26 basketball teams that participated this year in Libby, along with the 42 cheerleaders who comprised four cheerleading squads.

They practice once a week and play Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. in gyms donated by Asa Wood Elementary school, Libby Middle School, and Kootenai Valley Christian school.

Along with practice, the kids have devotion time during halftime, when they go over scripture.

"The idea is to help them develop their relationships and become better ball players too," said Hommel.

Upward started in 1999 with 76,587 nationwide basketball players, adding 3,705 cheerleaders in 2000, when basketball grew to 98,059.

As of 2006, the numbers had grown to 320,884 basketball players and 47,138 Cheerleaders.

The program "promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in every child," according to Upward's website at www.upward.org .

"It's a structured, formatted program that we follow," said Myresa Boulware, who has been with the Libby chapter from its beginning five years ago.

"The pastor at my church was involved in a program back in Missouri, so he told me about it and I talked it up with a few other people and half a dozen of us went to a training in Spokane," she said.

The Libby chapter is unique, due to its interdenominational aspect, according to Boulware.

"There is more of a community involvement," she said. "Most of the time the program involves one church, but since we're a small town, it's several churches and coaches from different churches - even non-church coaches."

According to Boulware, the program is all-volunteer and funded by donations, which cover the cost of operating the league.

"We only charge half of what it costs us," she said, noting they pay Upward the difference for the enrollment fee, which covers a uniform, a bible, a music CD, a kit and awards.

The awards ceremony for the "Tournament of Coaches" will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, after the tournament at LMS.

"There is no admission," said Hommel of the tournament - and games in general. "We would love to have more people come to watch."