For many the din of Upward gyms and leagues may be dying down.  For some it is already over, and the relative calm is a welcome respite. 

On the other hand, now is the time to start planning for another season.  Some wonder how to take it to the next level.  Clearly, it starts with vision.  Cast a big vision for volunteers and team members.  Upward is, for many, one of the best outreach campaigns because it reaches the core needs of families.  It provides a place for their kids to grow in character, body and spirit.  For some, it is the easiest non threatening way to enter the church doors.

But like any event, it's easy to push this to the side.  Simple tip:  make sure your Upward league is on your website.  It's a simple best practice.  Make sure people know you have the league.  Then allow for online registration and management.  Today's culture is all about easy.  Think Staples.  Think the "easy" button.

Here at HTGSports, we just completed an online registration season with Lenexa Bapist Church in Lenexa, KS.  It is one of the largest Upward programs in the country.  While we don't want to be unabashedly self promoting, we think the comments of the Upward director bear repeating:

            HTG Sports provided us with an excellent online registration program that was tailored to our needs.  I was         nervous about venturing out into the online registration process but HTGSports provided a program that worked perfectly with our Upward Basketball/Cheerleading program.  The technical support and response time was excellent.  If you are thinking of beginning online registration for one of your sports programs then you will want to have HTG Sports on your team. --Kent Hackathorn, Recreation Pastor, Lenexa Baptist Church

We understand churches and their Upward leagues.  Our kids participate in Upward leagues so we are not some third party vendor that you have to graft into your system.  We want to help you grow your outreach--even in the quiet.

--Gerry High is the President of HTGSports.net.