3000 42nd Street NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 (319) 393-7399 - phone (319) 393-0756 - fax

How does Upward Soccer work at Oakland?

For general information about Upward Sports Ministries, check out our page or the Upward home page.

The Soccer registration form is here.

Upward Soccer is a fun and dynamic league focused on teaching basic soccer skills and developing the individual player through coaching, continual encouragement, and small sided fast-paced games.  Character and integrity are the cornerstones of every Upward sports league.

A list of important dates is here. Registration forms are available through the Oakland office at 393-7399 or upward@oaklandnaz.org. You can also download the 2009 Fall Soccer League registration form in PDF format. Coach and referee application forms are coming soon.

Curious about why we changed to Fall Soccer? Here's what our League Director has to say:

"One thing I wanted to pass along is the reason why we decided a change to a fall league since some parents have already asked.  There are several reasons, but the main ones follow.  We wanted more separation between basketball and soccer so volunteers have more rest in between leagues; it was overwhelming for many basketball participants to essentially roll right into soccer with very little break.  The weather was a factor with the fields being so wet and muddy this past spring; we hope to minimize cancellations due to inclement weather this year with the later start.  We also hope many families will have summer vacations completed by the time practices start at the beginning of August since many schools will start just a couple of weeks after that."

Each Upward participant must attend one player evaluation. Evaluations and uniform sizing take about 30 minutes and allows us to build teams of approximately equal ability. Players should come to the Oakland Ministry Center (lower entrance) anytime from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18; or from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday, June 20.

Evaluations are "drop-in;" you do not need to come for the entire time. We are busiest at the very beginning and end of each session.

Upward teams will practice on weeknights for one hour each week. We try to start the younger players earlier, and no practice will start later than 8:00 p.m. Each team's practice will be the same time and day of the week throughout the season.

Games take one hour, and are played on Saturdays.

We will wrap up the season with an Awards Celebration on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

 Upward features:

·        A rotation system providing equal playing time for all players.

·        A rotation plan for starting the games - everyone gets to start in a game.

·        Affirmation for players to recognize ability and improvement in games skills, sportsmanship, and Christlike attitudes.

·        Training for coaches and referees.

What do Players Receive?

Additional Equipment:

Children must also wear shin guards (not provided by or through Upward) in order to participate in all games and practices.  This is for the player’s safety.  Shin guards can be found at most general merchandise and sports retailers.

Christian Emphasis

There are devotionals for the players at the midpoint of each practice including Bible memory verses. Each player will receive a New Testament with his or her jersey. There are devotionals for spectators at halftime during games.

Key Dates for Upward Soccer at Oakland