I was sitting in the chair at my dentist office having a nice friendly chat with the hygienist (that is while she wasn't cramming some tool in my mouth--I really don't like going to the dentist by the way).  She had a couple of kids--both pretty young.  Like most young parents she was searching for some good wholesome activities for her kids. 

So I told her about Upward. She'd never heard of it.  She attended a church but wasn't very involved.  I told her to hit the church website and sign up online.  Fortunately, the church website allowed people to sign up for Upward online.  By the time I left the office, she was thanking me profusely (I can't say the same based upon my sore mouth).

This situation illustrates what Upward Leagues must do to grow their activity.  Part of the purpose of Upward is to provide a great place for kids within our congregations to get out, interact, and get some exercise.  But Upward also provides a great outlet for a church to reach out to its community.  But the key is that the community must be able to find out about it. 

More and more people find their kids activities online.  On your church website, use a headline that people might search for:  "Great Activities for Your Kids:  Upward Basketball."  Consider linking and tying your church website to some of the parent based magazines in your area.  Those magazines always list kids activities.  Have Upward on your home page.  Make sure your program is listed in Upward's main website. 

And of course, make sure you have your registration online.  Make it easy for people to sign up through sites like www.htgsports.net.  If we've learned anything in this fast paced culture of ours, people are looking for the easy button.  Online allows people to register without having to stop by the church, find the office, reach the right person, get the paperwork, etc.  You get the idea.

--William High is a freelance writer.  For more on online registration visit www.htgsports.net.