Upward Basketball Coach Playbook - SquarespacePlaybook.pdf2 Upward Basketball Coach Playbook ......

©2011 Upward Unlimited.

Upward® and Upward Basketball® are registered trademarks of Upward Unlimited.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

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Upward BasketballCoach Playbook

Table of Contents

Upward Basketball Coach Playbook2

INTRODUCTIONIntroduction ........................................................................................ 3

SECTION ONE: PRACTICEPractice Chart ..................................................................................... 6Warm-Up Activities .............................................................................. 7Skills and Drills ................................................................................... 7Offensive Plays ................................................................................. 25Mid-Practice Huddle (Devotions) .................................................... 32

Practice 1 .................................................................................... 33Practice 2 .................................................................................... 35Practice 3 .................................................................................... 38Practice 4 .................................................................................... 41Practice 5 .................................................................................... 44Practice 6 .................................................................................... 47Practice 7 .................................................................................... 49Practice 8 .................................................................................... 52Practice 9 .................................................................................... 55Practice 10 .................................................................................. 58Last Practice Devotion .................................................................. 61

SECTION TWO: GAMESGame Format .................................................................................... 66Rules for Play .................................................................................... 67Substitution Forms ............................................................................ 70Star Distribution Forms ...................................................................... 76

Table of Contents

Upward Basketball Coach Playbook 3

IntroductionWelcome to Upward Basketball! As a coach, you will have an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the players on your team this season. Because your role is so vital to delivering the best sports experience, your league will equip you with all the resources you need as you invest your time and talents in the lives of children and families.

This coach playbook outlines basic skills and drills to use as well as practice devotions for the mid-point of each practice. Your playbook also contains a complete list of rules unique to Upward Basketball as well as your substitution forms and a star distribution form to use on game days.

Be sure to check out the coach resources on MyUpward.org. There you will find the Coach’s Sideline, a weekly practice plan customized for your team’s age group. Each one contains an individual skill focus with corresponding drills, team meeting topics and the appropriate mid-practice huddle devotion.

An additional resource for you is the coach training guide. This guide details the role and responsibilities of an Upward Basketball Coach while teaching the basics of the substitution system. If you did not receive a coach training guide at the coach training conference, please see your coach commissioner or league director.



Section One:Practice

Section One: Practice


Suggested Practice ChartBelow is a suggested practice chart to help you organize your practices. This chart can be used in conjunction with the Coach’s Sidelines or it can be used independently. Either method will help you plan an organized practice.

Practice Practice Focus Team Meeting Rules to Cover Skills & Drills

1· Get to know each other· Evaluate skills· Set practice rules

· Teammate introductions· Discuss practice ground rules· Introduce basic footwork,

dribbling, and shooting skills

· Practice rules· Footwork (see page 8)· Dribbling (see page 11)· Shooting (see page 18)

2

· Continue skill evaluation

· Teach common violations

· Teach basic offensive skills

· Re-introduce players and coaches

· Discuss some common violations

· Traveling· Double dribble· Palming or carrying

the ball

· Footwork (see page 8)· Ball Handling (see page 11)· Dribbling (see page 11)· Shooting (see page 18)

3

· Teach additional violations

· Teach lining up for free throws

· Teach additional offensive skills

· Teach rebounding· Teach defensive skills

· Review traveling double dribble, and palming the ball

· Discuss game format and substitution system

· No double-teaming· No pressing in the

backcourt

· Passing and Receiving (see page 15)

· Defense (see page 23)· Rebounding (see page 21)

4week of

first game

· Teach 3-second violation

· Discuss positions on the court

· Skill development

· Review defensive rules· Games situations and court

spacing

· Three-second violation

· Common fouls· Help defense

· Rebounding (see page 22)· Defense (see page 24)· Scrimmage or more drills

5· Teach offensive

movement· Continue to teach court

spacing

· Discuss practice focus· Review the last game· Review basic rules

· Review all rules as a fun quiz

· Offensive plays (see page 25)

· Areas the need improvement from the game

6-11· Continue skill

development· Analyze game

performances, coach through improvements

· Review the last game and improvements that need to be made

· Discuss practice focus

· Continue to review rules for clear understanding

· Work on both offense and defense

· Areas that need improvement



Warm-Up ActivitiesUse the first five minutes of practice to get the players moving. This can be done by incorporating athletic development exercises like the examples below or by incorporating a drill from an earlier practice.

› Power jumps - With players in a standing position and their arms above their heads, have them jump up and down.

› Feet on fire (running in place) - This drill helps players get their feet moving.

› Jumping jacks - Instruct players to count out loud.

Skills and Drills This section reviews the fundamental skills of basketball, explains why each is important and emphasizes the skill’s basic teaching points. Each skill is followed by a basic drill that reinforces the skill. This drill is acceptable for any age group as it introduces the concept of the skill. For more drills for each skill, as well as complete practice plans, go to MyUpward.org.

Many of the drills described in this playbook require one ball per player. If you are limited in the number of balls you have for practice, you will need to modify the drill by creating lines based on the number of balls you have available.

KEY TO DIAGRAMSPlayer

Player movement without the ball

Dribble

Pass

Shoot

Rebound

Screen

Coach

Sequence

Cone

Use this key for the drills located on pages 9-30.



FOOTWORKProper footwork promotes balance, quickness, and readiness to make something happen on the court. Being proficient at this will improve a player’s performance both offensively and defensively.

Ready Position › Players get into an athletic stance - feet shoulder width apart, arms and

legs bent, and weight shifted slightly forward to the balls fo the feet

Triple Threat Position › Position the basketball in the “shooting pocket” with shooting elbow over

knee

› Provides the player the option to pass, shoot or dribble

Jump Stop › Allows a player to establish a pivot with either foot off a dribble or pass

› Leap/jump should be low to the floor (like sitting in a chair), not a high jump

› Both feet hit floor at the same time – good balance

› Land on floor in triple threat position

Front Pivot and Reverse Pivot › Lift heel, protect ball, stay low, and lead with elbow

› Allows a player to pivot in one or more directions by keeping one foot planted on the ground to move away from defenders, while protecting the basketball



Footwork DrillsFootwork Line Drills (no basketball required) 1. Players form lines on baseline or sideline – two players deep

2. Use cones or mark the court for starting/stopping spots – minimum 3 spots

3. No basketball necessary – players dribble and hold imaginary basketball

4. Players will start/stop on voice command or whistle

5. Players should stop at each spot with jump stop and land in triple threat position

6. Pause between stops/starts to check for proper balance

7. Second player in line starts as the preceding player leaves first spot

Spot #4

Spot #3

Spot #2

Spot #1



Rotate the following footwork line drills: › Jump Stop/Triple Threat

› Jump Stop/Triple Threat/Right Front Pivot

› Jump Stop/Triple Threat/Left Front Pivot

› Jump Stop/Triple Threat/Right Reverse Pivot

› Jump Stop/Triple Threat/Left Reverse Pivot

Have each player raise his or her hand in the air that coincides with the desired pivot direction. This will help each player pivot in the correct direction.

Variation: Add basketballs after your players understand the above concepts. Allow them to practice the above skills after picking up their dribble and receiving passes.

Pivot Drill (no basketball required) › Players should spread out in your practice area – no basketball necessary

› Players start in triple threat position, protecting an imaginary basketball

› Instruct players to establish a pivot foot

› Practice half-turns and front/reverse pivots

› Repeat with opposite foot established as the pivot

Variation: Add basketballs and defenders after your players understand the above concepts. Allow them to practice the above skills after picking up their dribble and receiving passes.



BALL HANDLING AND DRIBBLINGAn adept ball handler and dribbler can make things happen on the court. Mastering these skills can help create open shots, obtain better passing angles, and lead to fewer turnovers. A great offensive player must be able to handle the ball!

› Dribble with fingers, not palms – similar to typing on a keyboard

› Proper body position, with knees bent and body flexed at the waist

› Keep head up – see the court

› Protect the basketball – use your non-dribbling arm as an “arm bar”, meaning sticking it outward with the elbow slightly bent to protect the dribble from defenders reaching in

› Work both hands – be able to go right and left

› When picking up a dribble, end in triple threat position

Basic Dribbling Skills:Control Dribble (Use against defensive pressure) › With body turned to the side, dribble basketball near the back knee

› Keep the dribble low and compact, below the knees

› Non-dribbling arm should be held out in front of the body to protect the ball from defenders – arm bar



Speed Dribble (Use to push the ball up the court and on fast break situations)

› Dribble is pushed out in front of the body but controlled

Retreat Dribble (Use to avoid defensive pressure and to keep dribble alive) › Dribble backwards (hop back) to avoid pressure

› Dribble requires a change in speed and change in direction

› Dribble teaches players not to habitually pick up their dribble when heavy, defensive pressure is applied

Crossover Dribble (Use to break down a defender; good penetration move) › Dribble must be kept low when crossing over from one hand to another,

keeping it away from the defender

› Use head and shoulder fakes to help “sell” the move

› Explode to the basket with speed dribble after the crossover

Spin Dribble (Use to avoid defensive pressure and to dribble by defender) › Pull the basketball through low during the pivot

› Keep the basketball in the same hand until completing the pivot

› Pivot should be low and quick with head up

› Explode to the basket with speed dribble after the whirl pivot



Behind the Back Dribble (Use to break down a defender; good penetration move) › Use head and shoulder fakes to help “sell” the move

› Swing the basketball behind your waist, turning the hips and driving the ball down with a snap of the wrist

› Slap opposite back thigh during the exchange

Ball Handling Drills (team drills)(one basketball per player or divide your team into two groups)

› Ball Slams – With feet shoulder-width apart, have players slap the basketball with fingers spread wide. Players should “slam” the ball by alternating their right and left hands.

› Fingertip Drill – With feet shoulder-width apart, players pass the basketball from hand to hand in front of the body using only the fingertips. Move ball from ankles, to knees, to waist, to chest, to head, and to above head using the fingertips. Encourage players to keep their arms straight.

› Leg Wraps – With feet shoulder width apart players pass the ball around their leg. Can also have them dribble around their leg. Have them go around each leg.

› Body Wraps – Players pass the ball around their head, then around their waist and finally around their knees. Then work their way back up.



Dribbling DrillsDribbling Line Drills (three to five basketballs required)During all dribbling line drills, you should stand in front of the players to teach, encourage, and evaluate each player’s performance.

1. Players form lines on baseline or sideline (two players deep) – one basketball per line

2. Use cones or chairs to represent stopping/starting points or change – of-dribble spots

3. Players will begin the drills in triple threat position

4. Players will start/stop/change dribble on voice command or whistle

5. Pause between stops/starts to check for balance, arm bar, and if head is up

6. At the turnaround point, require jump stops with pivots

7. Work opposite hand on return dribble

8. Players should end drills with a jump stop, giving the basketball to the next player in line

Turnaround Point



Rotate the following dribbling line drills: 1. Speed Dribble

2. Speed Dribble/Control Dribble - on command, stationary control dribble

3. Speed Dribble/Retreat Dribble – on command, two to three dribbles backwards against imaginary defender followed by speed dribble

PASSING AND RECEIVINGPassing and receiving a basketball allows a team to effectively move the ball quickly around the court. A team that has players with strong passing and receiving skills will spread the defense and be hard to guard.

Passing Teaching Points: › Two hands on the basketball, with fingers on the sides of the ball

› Ball in middle of body

› Step toward target

› Push thumbs through ball and snap wrists, creating backspin on the basketball

› Extend arms completely as you follow through toward target

Receiving Teaching Points: › Both hands up in ready position – show a target

› Step toward the ball when passed – meet the pass and get into triple threat position



Basic Passing SkillsTwo-Hand Chest Pass › Basketball is held with two hands

› Passer targets the receiver’s chest area

› Passer steps toward their target with either foot as the ball is thrown

› Snap the thumbs down extending the arms

Two-Hand Bounce Pass › Basketball is held with two hands

› Passer aims for a spot on the floor about two-thirds (a little more than halfway) of the way to the receiver

› Passer targets the receiver’s mid-section from the bounce

Overhead Pass › Basketball is held with two hands above head

› Passer targets the receiver’s chest area



Passing and Receiving DrillsDistance Passing (one basketball for each pair of players)Be sure to incorporate all three basic passes into this drill.

1. Pair up players and have them face each other six to eight feet apart

2. Instruct players to pass the basketball back and forth using a chest pass

3. After several repetitions, have each player take one to two steps backwards and continue passing

4. Continue moving players back until they are passing from a challenging distance

Two Line Passing (two basketballs required)Two pairs of players can perform this drill at one time.

1. Pair up players and have them face each other six to eight feet apart

2. Establish a starting and turnaround point

3. One player in each pair needs a basketball

4. Using defensive slides, players move up and then back down the court

5. While sliding, instruct players to pass the basketball back and forth using a chest pass

6. Players pass the ball immediately upon receiving the ball

pairs 6-8feet apart pairs 6-8

feet apart

Turnaround Point



Variations: Both players running up and down the court, rather than sliding. You may also require the receiver to perform a jump stop upon catching the basketball and immediately passing it to his or her moving partner.

SHOOTINGShooting Teaching Points: › Square up shoulders to the basket

› Ball on fingertips, not palms

› Opposite hand should be lightly placed on side of ball (balance/weak hand)

Practice BEEF principles: › Balance – Learn to prepare for the shot by stopping with the feet set,

knees slightly bent, ready to jump (good triple threat position)

› Elbow - Proper shooting alignment; ball should be directly over the elbow with the wrist cocked

› Eyes - Pick a spot (front of the rim, back of the rim, etc.) and focus on that target as the shot is being attempted

› Follow through - Release the ball smoothly, completely extend the arm, and snap the wrist, which should create good backspin on the basketball

Shooting DrillsLay-Up Steps (no basketball required)Instruct your players to shout “STEP-HOP-SHOOT” when performing this drill. Mirror this drill to practice left-handed lay-ups.

1. Allow players to spread out in your practice area, at least four to five feet apart



2. Players start in triple threat position, holding imaginary basketballs with heads and eyes up on the target

3. On the STEP command, players step with their left foot (right-handed lay-ups)

4. On the HOP command, players raise their right knee and right arm toward the basket (visualize a string connecting a player’s right arm and right leg)

5. On the SHOOT command, players extend their right arm as they shoot an imaginary ball

Wall Shooting (one basketball per player or divide your team into two groups)This is a great drill to keep idle players busy while running a drill on the court that may not involve your entire team.

1. Player stands about four to five feet away from the wall

2. Help the player find a reasonable shooting target on the wall

3. Player assumes triple threat position

4. Player shoots the ball at the target, concentrating on elbow in and full extension

5. Player should finish the shot up on his or her toes with proper follow through, creating good backspin

Variation: If coaching third- through sixth-grade players, allow them to shoot using only their shooting/strong hand.



Two Line Shooting Drills (one or two basketballs required) Players rotate lines after each turn. After several repetitions shooting from one side of the goal, change the designation of both lines and shoot from the other side of the court.

1. Players form two lines opposite the goal in each corner of practice area: a shooting line and a rebounding line (use cones or chairs to mark a starting point)

2. Shooting line: Assume triple threat position, showing ready hands to receive a pass

3. Rebounding line: Players should block out an imaginary defender and rebound the ball above their head.

4. The player from the rebounding line secures the rebound and dribbles to a designated cone, makes a good jump stop landing in triple threat position, and uses proper passing techniques when passing to the next shooter in line

5. Shooter receives the basketball and performs the drill as instructed by a coach

Rotate the following two line shooting drills: › Lay-ups – Stress jumping off

the proper foot and using the backboard (STEP-HOP-SHOOT)

Rebounding Line Shooting Line



› Pull-up Off the Dribble – Set a cone at desired shooting spot (stress good jump stop and use of backboard when shooting from appropriate angle)

REBOUNDINGWhen discussing offensive rebounding, remind players that each shot taken by a teammate is a pass to them! Second chance points (put-backs) can be a big contributor to a team’s offensive production.

Rebounding Teaching Points: › Defensive player stays between the opponent and the basket

› Using a front or reverse pivot, the defensive player pivots and makes contact with the opponent’s body when the ball is shot (“block out”)

› Defensive players should yell “shot” to signal a rebounding opportunity

› Hold the “block out” position momentarily, with the head up and body facing the goal

› Release the “block out” - be hungry for the basketball

› Secure the basketball

› Be strong with the basketball, keeping the ball at chin level with elbows out

Rebounding Line Shooting Line



Rebounding DrillsRebound Outlet Drill – no defender (one basketball required) 1. Facing the basket, players form two lines: one at the corner of the free-

throw line (elbow), the other at the foul line extended (wing)

2. Coach stands at the other elbow with a basketball. Coach throws the ball off the backboard closest to him/her

3. First player in line at elbow catches the rebound with strong hands, elbows out, and ball to the chin. He/she then pivots toward first player in the wing line and throws a two-handed chest pass

4. Player from the wing line passes ball back to the coach

5. Both players swap lines and drill is repeated with second players in each line

Rebound Outlet Drill – with defender (one basketball required) 1. Facing the basket, players form two lines: one at each corner of the free-

throw line

2. Place one player at each wing area to serve as an outlet receiver

3. The player in the front of each line will turn his back toward the basket (defensive player), facing the next player in line (offensive player)

4. When the coach shoots the basketball, the defensive players will yell “shot” and pivot into the offensive players to obtain a good “block out”

5. Offensive players cannot move



6. Once a defender secures the basketball, he or she will pivot and throw a crisp overhead outlet pass to an outlet receiver

7. Players rotate from offense/to defense/to outlet receiver/to back of the line

Variations: › Use one line instead of two

› When the ball is shot, the offense can move and try to score off a missed shot

DEFENSEDefense Teaching Points: › Proper defensive stance

› Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart

› Knees bent, with waist slightly bent forward

› Good balance – ready to move and slide

› Place weight on the inside front of the feet but not on the toes

› Extend arms to the side, slightly bent

› Open hands, so palms face the offensive player

› Ball/you/basket principle: When the offensive player being guarded has the ball, the defensive player should stay between this assigned offensive player with the basketball and the basket

› See the ball at all times

› Sprint down the floor on a change of possession, stopping any fast breaks



Defense DrillsDefensive Slides (no basketball required)Focus on players’ feet sliding (rather than hopping or skipping) and players maintaining a proper defensive stance. Have fun with this drill! Allow players to express enthusiasm and desire by slapping the playing floor and yelling “DEFENSE” on command. Drill should last 20-30 seconds. Allow short rest and repeat as desired.

1. Allow players to spread out in practice area, at least four to five feet apart

2. On command, players yell “DEFENSE” and freeze in the defensive stance

3. On command (either verbal or hand signals), players will slide left, right, up, and back

Zigzag (no basketball required)Focus on players making a drop step each time they turn (rather than crossing their feet) and on players sliding correctly while maintaining a proper defensive stance.

1. Form a line of players at one end of your practice area

2. Set-up cones or chairs in a zigzag pattern, spaced 10-12 feet apart (minimum 3 spots)

3. On command, the first player in line will assume the correct defensive stance and will slide in a zigzag pattern as dictated by the cones or chairs

4. Next player in line starts as the preceding player leaves first spot

5. As each player reaches the final spot, he or she should sprint back to the end of the line



OFFENSIVE PLAYS (3rd-6th Grade Only)The following offensive plays are provided to help your team with floor spacing and floor balance. These plays are intended for third- through sixth-grade teams. However, every team’s talent level will vary.

Reminder: View the Skills and Drills videos on the coach section of MyUpward.org for live demonstrations of the following offensive plays.

Half-Court SetsBox Set – Motion

Scoring Options: 1. Player 5 posting up down on ball-side block

2. Player 4 coming off of low screen

3. Player 3 cutting to the free-throw line

› Players 2, 3, 4, and 5 are in the “box” offensive set (diagram 1)

› Player 1 (point guard) yells “MOTION” or “GO” to start the play (player 1 should keep dribble alive until making a pass)

› Players 4 and 5, who are standing outside the lane area at the free-throw line extended areas, will screen down for players 2 and 3 (diagram 2)

› Before the screens occur, players 2 and 3 will take two to three steps toward the lane area (to set up their defenders) and then make hard V-cuts to their respective wing areas (diagram 2)

diagram 1

diagram 2



› Player 1 will pass the basketball to player 2 or 3 (assume player 2 in this example) who will square up to the basket (diagram 3)

› Player 5, post player on the ball-side of the court, will post up for two seconds (diagram 3)

› After two seconds, player 5 will screen away for opposite post player - player 4 (diagram 3)

› As player 5 turns to screen away for the opposite post player, player 3 will cut toward the free-throw line and player 1 will “fill” his or her spot at the wing (diagram 3)

› If a pass cannot be made to player 4 coming off the low screen or to player 3 on the cut to the lane area, player 3 will move to the top of the key area to receive a pass from player 2 (diagram 4)

› If the pass is made to player 3 at the top of the key area, team will be in the “box” offensive set again (diagram 5)

After posting up for two seconds, player 5

screens away for player 4.

diagram 3

ScoringOption #1

diagram 4

ScoringOption #3

ScoringOption #2

diagram 5



Box Set – (Double Down)Scoring Options: 1. Player 3 coming off of low screen

2. Player 2 coming off the double screen

Procedure: 1. Players 2, 3, 4, and 5 are in the “box”

offensive set

2. Player 1 (point guard) yells “DOUBLE” or “GO” to start the play (player 1 should keep dribble alive until making a pass)

3. Player 1 dribbles to right-side of the goal - can go to right or left (diagram 1)

4. As player 1 dribbles to the wing area (attack zone), player 2 will screen away for player 3 (diagram 1)

5. Player 3 cuts to the ball-side block area hoping to receive a pass from player 1 (diagrams 1 and 2)

6. As player 3 cuts to the ball-side block area, players 4 and 5 will set a double screen in the middle of the lane for player 2 (diagram 2)

7. Player 1 looks for player 2 as he or she curls around the screen for an open jump-shot (diagram 3)

diagram 1

diagram 2

ScoringOption #1

diagram 3

ScoringOption #2



Inbounds Plays Stack (baseline) 1. All four players line-up straight

across from the player throwing in the basketball (diagram 1)

2. When the passer slaps the basketball or yells “break,” the players move simultaneously as follows (diagram 2):

› First player in line breaks to ball-side corner

› Second player in line cuts to opposite block

› Third player in line moves straight down to block area toward the ball

› Fourth player in line takes two to three steps back, serving as a safety valve

Reminder: This play can also be used on the sideline, with players moving in the same pattern as above.

*move on the slap of the ball

diagram 1

*

diagram 2



Box (baseline) › Each player takes a spot outside the lane

area, with the post players (Players 4 and 5) at the block areas and the perimeter players (Players 1 and 2) at the free-throw line extended areas. Player 3 will throw in the basketball (diagram 1).

› When the passer slaps the basketball or yells “break,” the players move as follows:

Box Option #1:

1. Player 5 sets a diagonal screen for Player 1 (diagram 2)

2. Player 1 waits for the screen and moves toward the basketball to the opposite block (diagram 2)

3. If Player 1 does not receive the basketball, he or she continues to the ball-side corner (diagram 3)

4. Player 4 moves up to set a screen on Player 5, who cuts down toward the weak-side block (diagram 3)

5. Player 4 rolls toward the middle of the lane after setting the screen (diagram 4)

6. Player 2 serves as a safety valve (diagram 4)


diagram 1

*

diagram 2

diagram 3



Box Option #2:

1. Players 4 and 5 screen up for Players 1 and 2 (diagram 1)

2. If a pass cannot be made to either 1 or 2, they each move to the closest corner (diagram 2)

3. After setting the screens, Players 4 and 5 should roll back toward the ball (diagram 2)

diagram 4


diagram 1

*

diagram 2



Box Option #3:

1. All four players will take one to two steps toward the closest sideline to set up their defenders (diagram 1)

2. Players 5 and 2 will both cross-screen for Players 4 and 1 on the weak-side (diagram 1)

3. After setting a screen, Player 5 will turn around with ready hands (diagram 2)

4. Player 2 will roll back to ball-side, free-throw line extended area to serve as a safety valve (diagram 2)

Note: All inbounds plays - Players should use fakes and jab steps to set up their defenders and get open. Encourage players coming off a screen to rub shoulders with the screener. As the person throwing in the basketball can pass to any teammate, encourage ready hands.


diagram 1

*

diagram 2



Mid-Practice Huddles (Devotions)The below chart is designed to assist you as your organize and prepare for your devotions known as the mid-practice huddle. It shows the virtues and verses for each group of practices. These will be the focus of your practice devotions.

Practice Number Virtue Verse

Practice 1None (“Get to Know You” time)

None (practice card features TeamUpward.com launch information)

Practice 2-4 Courage

Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIrV)

Practice 5-7 RespectShow proper respect to everyone. 1 Peter 2:17a (NIrV)

Practice 8-10 FaithWe live by believing, not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIrV)

Last practice of the season

Gospel Presentation

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)



Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 1Practice Card Reminder: At the end of this practice, remember to distribute the first practice card to all players entitled “Practice 1.” This card will include valuable information about TeamUpward.com as well as provide a launch code that they will enter to get registered on the site.

INSTRUCTIONS: › Gather the players together and get them to sit in a circle.

› Roll the basketball to a player and have them share their name and the place they would go if they could go anywhere in the world for a week.

› Be sure each player gets a turn to share.

Once everyone has shared their name and where they would like to go, instruct players with the following:

We all have our favorite places to go. But I wonder what you think about a few other places you’d like to go for a week. I want you to give each a “thumbs up” if you like it, or a “thumbs down” if you don’t. Ready?...

› The jungles of Brazil

› The trash dump

› The Swiss Alps

› The Chocolate Factory

› The Moon

› The South Pole

› The Caves of New Zealand



That was fun! Getting to know each other better is something that we’ll do a lot of this season. As a team, we’ll work hard to encourage one another to do our best at practices and games!

As you play games during your Upward Basketball season, you will be rewarded afterward with different colored stars that each means something special. Your actions, attitudes and words on game day will determine what star you will get.

These are the game day stars and what they mean:

› The blue star represents EFFORT: What does it mean to show effort? It means working hard to try your best at all times.

› The gold star represents SPORTSMANSHIP: What does it mean to show sportsmanship? It means treating the people you play with and against the same way you want to be treated. You show respect for yourself, your teammates, opponents, the referees and the coach. You play fair and follow the rules.

› The gray star represents OFFENSE: What should you do when you play offense? The offense is responsible for scoring points. This means doing your best while trying to move the ball forward together as a team to score a basket.

› The red star represents DEFENSE: What should you do when you play defense? The defense is responsible for preventing points from being scored. This requires staying with the player you are guarding and moving your feet to stay in good position to prevent a basket.

› The white star represents CHRISTLIKENESS: What does it mean to be Christlike? Being Christlike means to do your best to imitate Jesus in every way – through words, attitude and actions. It means loving others and following God’s Word in the Bible; choosing God over the temptations in the world around you.



At each practice we will stop to have a Mid-Practice Huddle. We will learn about God and learn a verse from the Bible together. During this time you will have a chance to earn a green star.

› The green star represents SCRIPTURE LEARNING: What is a Scripture? Scriptures are verses from the Bible. How can I learn scripture? At different practices this season I will give you a practice card that has a Scripture verse on it. Memorize it, think about it, and talk about it with others. Come prepared to say it during practice and learn more about it!

Before we get back to practice, I want to tell you all about a great website that has been designed just for you! TeamUpward.com is your place to play cool games and watch fun videos. One of the best things about TeamUpward.com is there are videos where a former NBA player instructs you on how to improve your basketball skills. You really need to check it out. The first practice card I will give you this season will provide all the instructions on how to get on and register to the website.

Our team is going to have a great season! Let’s pray and then get back to practice. (Lead the team in short prayer as you thank God for all the players and a great season ahead.)

Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 2Practice Card Reminder:At the end of this practice, remember to distribute the practice cards entitled “Practice 2.” These cards will contain this week’s verse and virtue as well as the unlock code for TeamUpward.com. This will be the same verse and virtue for Practices 3 and 4.

Virtue & Definition: Courage is being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid.



Bottom Line:When you’re afraid, remember God is with you.

Scripture Verse - Coach, review the verse together as a team“Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIrV)

Introduction:What do you think of when you hear the word courageous? Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia? Superheroes? The lion in The Wizard of Oz? All of those characters have one thing in common. At some point, they were afraid, but even though they were afraid, they did the right thing. They had courage. Courage is being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid. In fact, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Everyone has times when they’re afraid—even adults. I’m afraid of _______. (Insert something you’re afraid of like heights or spiders or open water, etc.) I’ll bet if we went around the circle, we could each think of something we’re afraid of. Our acts of courage may not end up saving the world but every day we’re faced with opportunities to be courageous. Maybe you were afraid of our first practice last week. Maybe you were worried about making new friends or whether or not you would impress us with your awesome skills.

The point is, we all get afraid sometimes and it takes a lot of strength to overcome those fears with courage. But the good news is, we’re not alone. There is Someone who promises to give us the strength to be courageous. I’ll explain what I mean after we have a little fun.

Activity: Supplies: blindfold, 6-8 objects {ball, cones, coach box, chair, etc.}

1. Set up an obstacle course with objects on the court.

2. Select a child with the closest birthday to today to be “it.”



3. Blindfold the selected child and tell him he must walk from one end of the court to the other while blindfolded. If he knocks over a cone, tell him he must start over.

4. Time him to see how long it takes to walk the course from start to finish.

5. When finished, select a second child to be the obstacle course guide. This child will guide the blindfolded child through the course, giving verbal directions only. He or she may not physically guide their partner—words only!

6. Allow several children to go through the obstacle course as time allows.

Was it easier to go through the obstacle course on your own or was it easier when you had a guide to help you?

3RD - 6TH GRADERS ONLY

Interaction Questions 1. Who is the most courageous/brave person you know? (ex. Dad, Mom,

Big Brother)

2. Can you think of a time when you were afraid? What did you do to be brave?

3. Do you think God ever leaves you alone? (No, he is always there for you)

Application:It’s much easier to face something unknown or scary when you know you’re not alone. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you had a big older brother who could go everywhere with you and protect you? Well, there’s Someone even better than a big brother. He’s bigger, stronger and more powerful than anyone or anything. He’s your heavenly Father. And He promises to be with you wherever you go. God is with you when you stand up to a bully. God is with you when you hear a noise from your bed at night. God is with you when you go to your first basketball



practice of the season. And that’s where real courage comes from. So when you’re afraid, remember God is with you. At the end of this practice I will give each of you a practice card for Courage. Use it to review your verse and unlock the Courage door at TeamUpward.com with the secret code.

Prayer: 1. Thank God for helping us face scary things and for always being with us.

2. Ask God to help us have the courage to stand up for what is right.

Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 3COACH: DO NOT DISTRIBUTE PRACTICE CARDS AT THIS PRACTICE


Bottom Line:Remember God is with you when you do the right thing.


Introduction:Last week, we talked about what it means to have courage. Courage is being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid. But being courageous isn’t always easy. Especially when it comes to doing the right thing. And it’s even harder when you’re the only one doing the right thing. What if



your friends don’t want to ask the new kid to play? What if you have an easy opportunity to cheat without getting caught? What if your mom asks you a question and it’s seems easier to lie? Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.” When you’re about to cheat, or even when you’re standing in front of your mom about to open your mouth with the truth or a lie, God is with you. He doesn’t ask you to do the right thing and then leave you all alone to do it. He asks you to do the right thing and then stands with you the whole time, giving you the strength you need to be courageous.

Activity:

1. Have the players sit in a circle facing each other.

2. Now go around the circle and ask each child to give a quick example of how they can do the right thing in the following places (one place per player): (i.e., Classroom: I can do the right thing in the classroom by listening to my teacher instead of talking or laughing with my friends.)

a. In the classroom

b. In the cafeteria

c. On the playground

d. At home

e. At Upward Basketball

f. In the car

g. At a birthday party

h. At a friend’s house




Interaction Questions 1. Why do you think most people don’t want to do the right thing? (ex. Lie

when your mom asks you a question)

2. Can you think of a time when it was hard to do the right thing?

3. How did you feel when you DID do the right thing?

Application:If you really stop to think about it, you have LOTS of opportunities everywhere you go to do the right thing. So why do we still choose to do the wrong thing sometimes? It’s not because we don’t know right from wrong. The problem is that sometimes we don’t have the courage to follow through with the right thing. Maybe you’re afraid your friends will make fun of you if you play with the new kid. Maybe you’re afraid you’ll be grounded if you tell your mom the truth. Maybe you’re afraid that if you don’t cheat you’ll suffer the consequences of making a bad grade on the test you didn’t study for. In each of these situations, it takes courage to do the right thing. But guess what? In each of the situations, and in each of these places we spoke about, God is right there with you. So when you need to gather the courage to do the right thing—even if it seems like you’re the only one doing the right thing—you’re not really alone. Remember that God is always with you. And God will be with you when you do the right thing.

Prayer: › Admit to God that its not always easy to do the right thing.

› Ask God to give us the courage to do the right thing even when no one else is.

› Ask God to help us remember that when we have to make a decision that he is with us.





Bottom Line:Remember God is with you when you speak up for what’s right.


Introduction:Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been in a situation where you see something happen that you know is wrong and feel this nudging like you should speak up and say something? Maybe you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will speak up and let you off the hook. In those situations, it’s really hard to be the one who speaks up, isn’t it? Remember courage means being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid.

We might be afraid of speaking up for another kid who’s getting picked on because we’re afraid the bully will start picking on us instead. Or maybe we’re afraid to tell an adult about the bullying because the other kids will make fun of us. Or it could be something as simple as being afraid of talking to adults or asking people to do something. One teenager, Nicole Muller, knows what that’s like. When she heard that her local food bank was in desperate need of food, she knew the right thing was to give and to ask others to give. My guess is that it took a lot of courage for her to go to her friends and neighbors and ask them for donations, but Nicole knew what she was doing was right. And would you believe



she collected over 40,000 pounds of food from 38 states in one year? Wow! That’s a ton of food! Actually, it’s literally 20 tons of food! Because of Nicole’s courage to do the right thing, food for 31,000 meals was collected—that’s a lot of hungry people who won’t be hungry anymore because of one girl’s courage!

Activity: So today we’re going to practice facing our fear of speaking out by playing a little game called “Speak!”

1. Have the players line up at one end of the court and set the finish line as the half-court line.

2. Tell the players: “I will read a scenario and when you have an idea of what the right thing to do is, yell ‘Speak!’ If you’re the first to yell ‘Speak!’ and your solution is good, you may take five giant steps forward. The first to cross the finish line is the winner!” You may allow multiple people to answer and choose the best response.

a. You walk up on a group of friends planning to pull a mean prank on someone in your class.

b. You see one of your friends grab a bag of chips at lunch without paying for them.

c. One of your friends asks you for an answer during a math test.

d. Your big brother breaks your dad’s favorite mug and blames it on the dog.

e. Two kids cut in line for a ride at an amusement park.

f. Your best friend rolls his eyes at his mom and ignores her request for him to take out the trash.



g. Kids are mixing food into someone’s chocolate milk while she’s away from the lunch table.

h. You hear your friends making fun of another friend’s clothes when he’s not around.

i. Your teacher gives your group’s project 10 more points than your group deserves.

j. During class, you’re passed a note with an ugly picture of a classmate drawn on it.

It was a lot easier to “Speak!” just now when you weren’t the only one, wasn’t it?


Interaction Questions 1. Are you usually the first one to ‘speak’ up?

2. When have you needed to ‘speak’ up?

3. What do you think the difference is between a tattletale and speaking up for what is right? (it doesn’t take courage to be a tattletale – doing the right thing takes courage even when other people may disagree.)

Application:Why do you think it’s so hard to speak up for what’s right when you’re faced with one of these situations in real life? Just like in our game, when you speak up for what’s right, all eyes are on you. All of a sudden you have the spotlight and you’re probably afraid that what you’re saying isn’t the popular thing to say. But guess what? Just like in the game, there are probably lots of other people wishing they had been the ones to speak up first. And even if no one else is around, God promises to be with you and to back you up when you Speak! for what’s right.



Prayer: › Thank God for reminding us that our words are really important.

› Ask Got to help us speak up for what is right.

› Ask God to remind us that he is there even when we are scared of consequences.

› Tell God we want to be brave and courageous enough to speak up no matter the consequences.

Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 5Practice Card Reminder: At the end of this practice, remember to distribute the practice cards entitled “Practice 5.” These cards will contain this week’s verse and virtue as well as the unlock code for TeamUpward.com. This will be the same verse and virtue for Practices 6 and 7.

Virtue & Definition: Respect is showing others they are important by what you say and do.

Bottom Line:Show respect to God because he’s in charge of everything.

Scripture Verse - Coach, review the verse together as a teamShow proper respect to everyone. 1 Peter 2:17a (NIrV)

Introduction:Have you ever heard of the word respect? What does it mean to respect someone? (Pause for answers.) Those are great answers. Let me ask you another question. As your coach, what do you think would happen if one of you


decided to not respect me? What if one of you walked out of practice and said, “That guy has no idea what he’s talking about. I’m going to do it my own way.” Would you learn anything? No, and not only that, the whole team would suffer because you’d be a selfish player—doing your own thing on the court while everyone else was working together to score or to defend the other team.

Respect is really important. Not because I like telling you what to do. But as your coach, I want you to learn about the sport of basketball so you can enjoy the game. You know who REALLY deserves our respect both on and off the court? God does.

Activity: Supplies: Basketball

Have you ever heard of the law of gravity? Let me put it this way. (Hold up a basketball) What happens if I let go of this ball? Would it stay suspended in the air? No way! It would fall to the floor. Sure it might bounce a bit but eventually, this ball will end up on the floor.


Interaction Questions 1. Since God created gravity, what does that show us about him? (he is in

control of everything Earth and the maker of all)

2. Why do we need to show respect to God? (because he is in charge of everything and knows us best)

3. How can we show respect to God this week? (respect other people and authority)



Application:Mountain climbers, pilots, skydivers—they all have to take proper precautions, and they certainly respect the law of gravity. If they don’t, they’ll end up in a world of hurt. For instance, do you know how much gear it takes to climb a mountain? It’s not just a matter of strapping on your boots and filling up a backpack. There are carabiners, ropes, rope bags, harnesses, helmets, climbing gloves... and that’s just the start! I don’t even know what half of that stuff is—do you? The point is, a true climber respects the danger involved in rock climbing because he understands the law of gravity that God put in place when he created the world.

God is the Maker of heaven and earth. He created mountains and oceans and rhinos and aardvarks just by speaking. He knows everything about everything. So when it comes to figuring out how to live, God has all the answers. And when we follow what his Word—the Bible—says about how to live, it shows God that we know he has all the right answers. In other words, we show God the ultimate respect. So the next time you’re tempted to go against what God says because you think you might have a better idea, remember gravity. God is in control of all things and he can be trusted. Show respect to God because he’s in charge of everything. At the end of this practice I will give each of you a practice card for Respect. Use it to review your verse and unlock the Respect door at TeamUpward.com with the secret code.

Prayer: › Tell God we know he is in charge of everything.

› Ask God to remind us that he knows everything because He made us: He knows what we think, what we like and don’t like, and who we hope to grow up to be.

› Ask God to help us show respect because he loves us and always wants what is best for our lives.





Bottom Line:You respect God when you show respect for people in charge.


Introduction:Respect is showing others they are important by what you say and do. You respect your teammates by treating them like you would want to be treated. You respect me, your coach, by participating and giving 100%. What are some ways you show respect to your parents? (Pause for responses.) Great job! You gave some awesome examples. I know sometimes it feels like there are adults around you telling you what to do. Maybe you feel like as a kid that you don’t get to make enough decisions. But here’s the truth. The people who are in authority over you like your parents, teachers, me—we have your best interest at heart. And we put rules in place to protect you.

Think about it this way: When you stay within the boundaries of authority, it’s like being under a big umbrella. You’re protected from the storm. But if you step outside of that umbrella, you’ll get wet. Authority is put in place to protect us.

Activity: 1. Ask the kids to stand. Play Simon Says but use the words “Coach

Says...” as you lead them. A few examples: touch your nose, give your neighbor a high five, cluck like a chicken, spin around, stand on one foot, sing “Happy Birthday,” jog in place, oink like a pig, etc.



2. Try to make the game increasingly more difficult by giving the orders faster and faster.

3. After you’ve played a few rounds, give another child or two a chance to lead. But instead of saying “Coach Says” have them say their own name instead.

You did a great job listening and following instructions. Did you notice how I chose certain people after me to lead the game? Did you know that God has done the same thing?


Interaction Questions 1. Who has God chosen to be your authority? (ex. Mom, dad, teacher,

grandparents, coach, police, etc.)

2. Why does God ask us to obey and respect our authority?

3. What can you do to respect your authority? (obey when we are asked to do or not to do something)

Application:God chooses certain people to lead here on earth in his place. In fact, there’s a story in the Bible about a guy who wasn’t much older than you guys when he was chosen to be king. His name was David. David went on to do incredible things and lead an entire nation. And you know who chose him to lead? God did. Now, I know we don’t have kings and queens in authority here but there are LOTS and LOTS of people that have been chosen to lead us. People like parents and teachers. Or what about the President? Do you know why we should do what they ask of us? It’s not because they say so. It’s because God chose them. In Romans 13:1-2 it says, All of you must be willing to obey completely those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. Just like God chose David to



be king, God chose the people who lead you and me. So when we go against their authority, we go against our heavenly Father. When we obey them, we’re honoring our heavenly Father. So remember—you respect God when you show respect for people in charge.

Prayer: › Thank God for reminding us that the people who are in authority over us

are chosen by him.

› Ask God to help us remember that he selected our authority for a reason. Even when we want to disobey the people in charge.

› Tell God we want to honor him in everything we do.



Bottom Line:You can show respect with your actions and words.




Introduction:You say well over 1,000 words every day! But how many of those words do you think about before they come out of your mouth? Let’s put it this way, have you ever heard the phrase “think before you speak?” If not, let me break it down for you. “Think before you speak” means exactly what it says. We’re supposed to think about what we say before it actually comes out of our mouths. In other words, stop and think to yourself, “Is what I’m about to say helpful or harmful?” If it’s harmful, don’t say it! If it’s helpful, speak on! Because our words are very powerful. Helpful words have the power to brighten someone’s day, week, even year! And the truth is, harmful words can hurt someone way more than sticks and stones. Once they’re spoken, you can never take them back.

Activity: Supplies: tube of toothpaste, a watch, and a paper plate

Let’s try a little experiment to show you what I mean.

1. Ask a volunteer to guess how long it would take him/her to squeeze all the toothpaste out of the tube. When you say go, have the volunteer start squeezing the toothpaste out onto the paper plate. Time the child with your watch. (You might want to bring a travel size tube to make the example go a bit faster.)

2. Reveal how long it took the volunteer to squeeze the toothpaste from the tube to the team.

3. Select another volunteer. Tell him you’re going to give him exactly __________ time (the same amount of time it took your first volunteer to empty the tube) to put the toothpaste BACK into the tube.

Give the child a chance to try. Of course it will be impossible so the child will be frustrated.




Interaction Questions 1. What is the most powerful thing that we have to respect or disrespect

others? (our words to other people)

2. If you disrespect someone with your words, how do you get those words back? (you can’t get your words back... but you can ask for forgiveness)

3. Think of someone who is valuable to you (i.e. mom, dad, brother, sister, etc), how can you use your words this week to let them know that you value that person?

Application:If you squeezed all the toothpaste out of a tube and then you tried to put it back in the tube—it’s not possible, is it? Just like that, our harmful words can’t be put back once we say them. But once you’ve said them, those disrespectful words are out there. That’s why it’s important to use your powerful words in a way that will show others respect—remind them of how valuable they really are. Those are the kinds of words you’ll never wish you could take back.

But don’t forget that just like our words, our actions also show others respect or disrespect. When your mom asks you do something like wash the dishes and you do it right away without complaining, you’re showing her that she’s valuable to you. Or what about when your dad asks you to play with your younger brother but the whole time, you huff and puff and roll your eyes? You’re telling both your dad and brother that they’re not very valuable to you. Both your words and your actions are very important. They can give people value or degrade them. So think before you speak. Check your attitude. And remember, you can show respect with your actions AND your words.



Prayer: › Tell God that sometimes we are tempted to say things that we don’t mean.

› Tell God we need his help showing respect instead of disrespect when we have a bad attitude.

› Ask God to help us to choose actions that show others how valuable they really are to us.

› Ask God to help us think before we speak so our words are helpful and not harmful.

Mid-Practice Huddle – Devotion 8Practice Card Reminder: At the end of this practice, remember to distribute the practice cards entitled “Practice 8.” These cards will contain this week’s verse and virtue as well as the unlock code for TeamUpward.com. This will be the same verse and virtue for Practices 9 and 10.

Virtue & Definition: Faith is believing in what you can’t see because of what you can see.

Bottom Line:Even though you can’t see God, you can believe in him because you can see what he has made.

Scripture Verse - Coach, review the verse together as a teamWe live by believing, not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIrV)



Introduction:What do you think the word faith means? What would I mean if I said “I have faith in you?” (Pause for responses.) Yeah, it would mean that I believe you can do anything. I’m confident in your abilities because of what I’ve seen from you in the past. Basically, faith is believing in what you can’t see because of what you can see. This word is especially important when it comes to our relationship with God. We can’t see God face to face. So how can people say they have faith in God when they can’t see him? That’s a GREAT question. Even though we can’t see God, we CAN see what he has made. Even things that are made by man wouldn’t exist without God creating man in the first place!

Like the stars: Did you know that there are between 10 sextillion and 1 septillion stars in the universe? I don’t even know what a septillion is, do you? My guess is that’s a LOT of stars! But that’s actually just a guess-there are so many stars that no one can count them! All I know is, if man can’t count the stars but God made them all, I think I can trust God, don’t you?

Not only did God make the ginormous universe with all SEPTILLION stars in it, but He also made your body and mine. Did you know that there are a bunch of tiny blood vessels running through our bodies? These blood vessels allow blood to flow through our body, carrying the nutrients and oxygen we need to survive. Would you believe that if all the blood vessels in your body were stretched out end to end, it would cover over SIXTY THOUSAND MILES? Wow! The same God who made this huge world also made you and me and even though we can’t see our blood vessels or count the stars in the sky, we can believe in God because we see his amazing handiwork.



Activity: Let’s play a little game to help us understand what it means to believe in something without actually seeing it.

1. Have the players stand in a circle. Whisper the name of one of these animals, in order, to each child in the circle. Dog, Sheep, Chicken, Cow and Pig.

2. Have the players make the sound of his/her assigned animal and put themselves in groups with other animals like themselves. But here’s the catch—they may not talk and they have to have their eyes closed!

3. Let the players know that once they find another animal in their group, it’s wise to grab the other person’s hand so they can stay together.

4. Give the players 60 seconds to find the other animals in their group.


Interaction Questions 1. What is one of your favorite things that God made? (ex. mountains,

beach, mom, dad, sister, brother, etc.)

2. What does it mean to have faith? (to believe and trust even when we cannot see God face to face)

3. God really cares about you and wants you to trust in him. How can you show God and others that you have faith in him this week?

Application:Sure, it would be easier to believe in God if we could see him face to face. But then we wouldn’t really need faith. The cool thing about God is that he didn’t just leave it up to us to figure out what he’s like. He sent his only Son to the world to show us what he’s like. He gave us the Bible to read to know how to follow



him. And he created this great big beautiful world to live in full of animals like dogs, chickens and cows and amazing things like mountain ranges and endless oceans and sunsets. And he made YOU! There is no one else on earth that’s exactly like you. You’re the only you that will ever exist, made by God.

God’s handprints are everywhere we look. And they help us have faith in a God we cannot see. We just have to be willing to trust and believe in him. So even though we can’t see God face to face, we can see what he has made. And that’s a big reason to have faith. At the end of this practice I will give each of you a practice card for Faith. Use it to review your verse and unlock the Faith door at TeamUpward.com with the secret code.

Prayer: › Tell God sometimes it’s hard to believe when we can’t see him face to

face.

› Thank God for creating such an amazing world to live in where we can see the things he has made.

› Tell God how amazing and creative he is.

Mid-Practice Huddle - Devotion 9Coach: If this is your last practice of the season, DO NOT use this devotion. Instead, use the devotion entitled “Last Practice” found on the “Weekly Practice Devotions” section of the coach resource page in MyUpward.org. Also, you will need to distribute the practice cards entitled “Last Practice” to each player. If this is not your last practice of the season, do not distribute practice cards.




Bottom Line:When you see what Jesus can do, it helps you face your fears.


Introduction:How many of you like magic tricks? Have you ever seen a magician in action? Whether you had a magician at your birthday party one year or your Uncle Eddie pulls a quarter out of your ear, we have all seen some sort of silly magic trick. The truth is, magic tricks are called tricks for a reason. Magicians study for years to be able to make something look real that’s really not. It’s only a trick of your eyes. And while you might rack your brain trying to figure out how someone could make a coin pop out of your ear without you feeling it, at the end of the day, whether you learn the secret or not, that magician didn’t suddenly turn your head into a bank.

When Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago, he did some amazing things. The Bible calls them miracles. And even the most talented magicians will never come close to doing anything as astonishing as Jesus’ miracles. That’s because they weren’t tricks. The things that Jesus did during His short time on earth were simply amazing. He fed over 5,000 people with one boy’s lunch. He healed people who’d been blind or lame their entire lives. He calmed a raging storm just by speaking. He brought a man named Lazarus back from the dead! He could do anything.

Activity: 1. Ask players to pair up. Once they have a partner, have the players give

an example of something they wish they had the power to do. (They may give silly answers like jump over buildings like Superman, or they may give more serious answers like, heal my mom who is sick—be prepared for either extreme.)



2. After the players have had some time to share their answers, circle up the whole team.

3. Ask for volunteers who are willing to give their answers to the entire group. As the coach, give an example first to break the ice and get the conversation started.


Interaction Questions 1. Can you name one of the many miracles Jesus did while he was here on

Earth? (fed the 5000, turned water into wine, healed the blind, calmed a storm)

2. How does God help us face our fears? (because he can do anything)

3. What is a fear that you have had lately and how did God comfort you when you were fearful?

Application:Pulling a coin out of someone’s ear or having x-ray vision might seem pretty cool, even if it is just a trick or a movie. But here’s what’s truly amazing. Jesus can do all of the things you mentioned. Every example you gave is something Jesus can do. In the Bible, Jesus proved that His powers come from a very powerful God. And together, they’re capable of absolutely anything.

So when you find yourself in a difficult situation, when you feel scared or sad or helpless, just remember Jesus’ many miracles. And remember that those miracles were God’s way of showing us just what he is capable of. Because when you know what Jesus can do, it will help you face your fears.



Prayer: › Thank God for sending his son, Jesus to show us who he is.

› Tell him how thankful we are that we can read about the cool things Jesus did a long time ago.

› Ask God to remind us that no matter what happens, we can face our fears because of what Jesus did for us.

Mid-Practice Devotion 10Coach: If this is your last practice of the season, DO NOT use this devotion. Instead, use the devotion entitled “Last Practice” found on the “Weekly Practice Devotions” section of the coach resource page in MyUpward.org. Also, you will need to distribute the practice cards entitled “Last Practice” to each player. If this is not your last practice of the season, do not distribute practice cards.


Bottom Line:When you hear what Jesus has done, it helps you believe who Jesus is.


Introduction:Have any of you guys ever been to an aquarium? Have you ever stood there, staring into the glass as fish swim by and think about the fact that they’re



completely unaware of the entire world on land that exists outside of their water world? Imagine for a minute that you could go down to the ocean and talk to the fish. What if you could explain to them that there’s this whole world above the surface of the water? What if you could describe in detail what life is like on land—where people walk around and breathe air and stay dry? Do you think those fish would believe you? Probably not. But would that fish’s disbelief change your story about life on land? No way. You’ve experienced it. You live on land, and walk around, breathing air in and out of your lungs. That’s your story. And no one can argue what you’ve actually experienced.

Do you guys know how many points most NBA players score in a game? I’d say the average is 15, with really great players maybe scoring as much as 30, and the really exceptional player maybe scoring 50 points. So it was a really big deal when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game back in 1962! Can you believe that? In fact, it’s such a high record that no one has even come close—Kobe Bryant is the next in line, and he “only” scored 81 points. It’s so high it doesn’t really seem possible, does it? But just because it seems impossible doesn’t mean it actually is, and anyone who was at that game—not to mention those players themselves—will tell you it DID happen.

Activity: Give the players 30 seconds to think of something they’ve seen or experienced that’s hard to believe. Maybe it was a team that won a game in the last 10 seconds. Maybe it’s a family member who was in a bad accident but made it through okay. Once they’ve come up with their answers, go around the circle and give them an opportunity to share.

Wow. Those are some seriously amazing things you guys have seen.




Interaction Questions 1. Even though we were not there to see the miracles that Jesus did, why

do you still believe they are true? (Because they are written in the Bible and God’s word is true.)

2. If you could be there for any of Jesus’ miracles while he was here on this Earth, which one would you want to see?

3. Does it help to believe in God knowing that Jesus performed miracles a long time ago and that we can read about those miracles in the Bible?

Application:It’s the same with Jesus. If you were to be able to travel back in time, over 2,000 years ago and interview the disciples, don’t you think they’d have some amazing stories to tell you? And if you were standing there listening would you be like the fish in my previous example? Would you shake your head and say, “There’s no way Jesus did those things.”? Maybe. But would your disbelief change what those disciples experienced? Not one bit. You see, just because you and I weren’t there to see all those miracles in person, doesn’t mean they didn’t happen.

But what if you just decided to believe that what they said was true? What if you said, “It’s okay if I didn’t see it for myself. I’m just going to trust that those disciples really did witness Jesus doing those amazing things.”? The more you get to know Jesus and hear about what he has done, the easier it is to believe. Because when you hear what Jesus has done, it helps you believe who Jesus is.



Prayer: › Tell God we think it’s amazing that he is so BIG.

› Tell God that we know just because we didn’t see Jesus do miracles doesn’t mean it’s not true because we have the bible and can read about it.

› Ask God to help us choose to believe in him even when it’s hard. And to remember to read about what the disciples saw with their own eyes, and choose to trust in you.

Mid Practice Huddle - Last Practice of the SeasonPractice Card Reminder: At the end of this practice, remember to distribute the last practice card to your players. These cards contain the verse below and also include a final code for TeamUpward.com that will unlock all games and videos for the entire season.

Virtue & Definition: You are part of God’s Big Story!

Bottom Line:God loves you and gave us Jesus to trust and follow.

Scripture Verse - Coach, review the verse together as a teamFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16, NIV



Introduction:We’ve had a GREAT season! It’s been so much fun watching each of you become better basketball players and better friends with each other! We’ve learned a lot about basketball…but we’ve also learned a lot about ourselves and about others.

Think about the things that we’ve learned during our huddle time this year. Do you remember the three virtues we’ve discussed? What were they?

(Allow players to answer the question.)

› First we learned about Courage. Courage is being brave enough to do what you should do even when you’re afraid. Being courageous isn’t always easy. Especially when you’re the only one doing the right thing. But we know that we have God to be there with us. He asks you to do the right thing and then stands with you as you do it, giving you the strength you need to be courageous

› Then we learned about Respect. Respect is showing others they are important by what you say and do. We learned how important it is to show respect for God because he is in charge. We show respect to him by doing what he says to do. Respecting other people who have been placed in charge of us…people like your parents, teachers, coaches is another way to show God that we respect him. It’s also very important to think before we speak…because we can’t undo word we say. Always show respect with your actions and words.

› We also learned about Faith. Faith is believing in what you can’t see because of what you can see. God gave us all of his creation…this whole world to see him through it! He gave us his son Jesus to show us what he is like. He also gave us the Bible, his word, to tell us what he is like. Even though we can’t see God with our eyes, we know he is there because of all these things…and we know that we can trust in everything he tells us in every situation.



Listen to this week’s verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

We have all made mistakes. The Bible tells us that because of sin, we are separated from God. But because God loves us so much, he provides a way back to him. Our verse teaches us that this way is through his son, Jesus. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life on earth and then pay the price for all of our sins on the cross. And because of that act of forgiveness, we can be with God forever.

I’ve got something else to tell you. Did you know that you are part of God’s BIG STORY? That’s right…he has a BIG STORY and each one of you are in it! You will learn more about that BIG STORY at the award’s celebration. It’s gonna be great!

Let’s pray to God and thank him for all he’s done for us.

Prayer:Dear God, thank you for an awesome season! Thank you for teaching us about Courage, Respect, and Faith. Thank you for sending your son Jesus for each one of us. And thank you for reminding us today that You will always forgive us when we mess up. You are awesome! In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.





Section Two:Games

Section Two: Games


Rules for Upward BasketballGame Format › A referee leads both teams in prayer at center court before every game.

› Games consist of two 18-minute halves and an eight-minute halftime.

› A coin toss or other impartial method determines which team receives possession first. In jump-ball situations, possessions will alternate.

› During each six-minute segment the clock runs continuously stopping only at the end of each segment for predetermined substitutions.

› No timeouts are used in Upward Basketball.

› At the end of each six-minute segment, the team that receives the ball next is based upon the direction of the possession arrow. Therefore, an end-of-the-period shot is encouraged.

› Teams switch goals at halftime.

› No scores are kept in the K5 or first- and second-grade divisions.

› Any games ending in a tie should remain a tie.

› No division standings are maintained in any division.

› Coaches are allowed to walk the sidelines and encourage their players without stepping in the playing area. K5 coaches are allowed on the court with the players.

› All coaches will adhere to the substitution system (for more information on the substitution system, see your coach training guide or visit MyUpward.org).

Section Two: Games


Rules for PlayExcept where the rules unique to Upward apply, play is governed by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) Rules Book (website: www.nfhs.org).

1. Man-to-man defense will be played at all times. Zone defenses are not allowed.

2. Defensive players must stay within arm’s reach of the player they’re guarding. (Isolation plays are not part of Upward Basketball because they take away the opportunity for improvement for all players and contradict the spirit of the rules. This prevents defenders from sagging or crowding an area of the court to gain a defensive advantage.)

3. Double-teaming is not allowed. Help defense is strongly encouraged in the following instances:

› Picks and Screens: Defensive switching is allowed on offensive picks or screens. The non-screened defender can help his or her teammate by temporarily switching until the teammate recovers to defend their offensive player. This is commonly referred to as “help and recover.”

› Fast Breaks: During any fast break (when the team that gains possession of the ball pushes it quickly into the opponent’s end of the court, hoping to get a good shot off before the other team has a chance to set up on defense), another defensive player not assigned to the ball handler may help in order to slow or stop the fast break. Upon stopping the fast break, defenders should return to guarding their assigned players.

› Lane Area: If a defender is in the lane, and the player he or she is guarding is within arm’s reach, the defender is allowed to provide help defense.

Section Two: Games


4. At the beginning of each six-minute segment, both coaches should lineup the players at mid-court and match them up by ability without giving verbal cues. If both coaches and referees foresee a match-up problem due to position and height, players can be shuffled around to create a better game situation.

5. Full-court presses are not allowed. Defensive players may not guard their opponents in the backcourt.

6. Backcourt violation will not be called due to the shortness of the court in cross-court play. However, if playing full court on a regulation-size court (84 feet), this violation should be called.

7. The offense must purposefully attack the defense in every situation – no stalling. After a warning from the referee, a violation will be called resulting in a turnover.

8. Referees will call and explain all violations. The detail of explanations will vary according to the age group and understanding of the players and should decrease as the season progresses.

9. When possible, referees will advise players of potential violations before the violation occurs.

10. The three second restriction (lane violation) should not be called in the kindergarten or first- and second-grade divisions. However, coaches and referees should encourage offensive movement in and out of the lane area.

11. No technical fouls or protest of games.

12. No score will be given for a basket in the wrong goal. It will be treated as a turnover.

Section Two: Games


13. A player committing two fouls in one six-minute segment must sit out the remainder of that segment. The next player in the rotation comes in as the substitute. This does not change the normal rotation, because the fouled-out player does not come back into the game until scheduled to do so. The player who comes in as a substitute gains extra playing time. This extra time does not affect the predetermined substitution system. Note: In a second foul situation, when a team only has five players at a game, replace the substitution rule with a two-point penalty by awarding the fouled team two additional points. The opposing team then takes possession.

14. Non-shooting fouls result in the ball being taken out on the side by the offended team (no bonus rule). All shooting fouls result in free throws.

15. The game clock runs continuously, with the following rules going into effect when fewer than two minutes remain in the game:

› Non-shooting fouls result in the offensive team getting one point and the ball.

› Shooting fouls result in the offensive team scoring two points. The opposing team then takes possession.

› Players fouled in the act of shooting and making the basket are credited with the basket plus one point. The opposing team then takes possession.

Section Two: Games


first Half

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