Flag football

Hey Upward Parents!

Here we GROW again!! Our 3rd season is gearing up to be our best yet! Below are important details to help you prepare for the start of the season. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.  

Time to dust off that whistle!
We plan on having three divisions again this season (Kindergarden-1st, 2nd-3rd and 4th-6th). However, to fill 20 teams, we needed around 40 coaches. We really need coaches to step up for the cheerleaders, 2nd-3rd grade and 4th-6th grade divisions. I know some of you are still icing your arms from baseball and softball seasons but the kids really need your love and support. Upward makes it very easy to be a successful coach as you will receive a coach playbook, an amazing app for your phone and online resources to help you draw up NFL caliber plays. To make it even easier, we will be practicing together where I will be coming up with a practice plan with drills. And...did I mention that the coaches receive some really cool swag including a polo shirt and something to make the basketball coaches jealous...an Upward HAT!! Please let me know by tomorrow as I need to organize the coaches' meeting which is this Sunday, July 27th at 7 pm (more details in a separate email coming soon and this meeting is for coaches only). If you want to help out in other ways, please reach out to me if you or someone you know can help with registration during the first few practices, giving the halftime devotions or helping us out by refereeing. 

Evaluations (which are really practices and kids need to attend both evaluation sessions)

• Cheer
  Wednesday, July 30th from 5:30-7 pm (at North Main Street Church of God's Gym)
  Sunday, August 3rd from 3:30-5 pm (at Butler Memorial Park)
• K-3rd Grade
  Thursday, July 31st from 6-7:30 pm
  Sunday, August 3rd from 2-3:30 pm (draft to follow for coaches only)
• 4-6th Grade
  Tuesday, July 29th from 6-7:30 pm
  Sunday, August 3rd from 5-6:30 pm (draft to follow for coaches only)

Where?

All the evaluations, practices and games for flag football will be held at Butler Memorial Stadium. The address is 100 Memorial Drive, Butler, 16001. With so many kids, parking might be a little tight. Feel free to park around the park or below the field. For Cheer practices, they will be held at North Main Street Church of God's Gym. Address is 1201 North Main Street Ext, Butler, 16001. Once you get to the church, gym is around back. Park in the Green parking lot and enter through the Green Entrance.

What do I do when I get there?

Flag: When you arrive to the field, please check in at the concession stand and grab your child's name tag. You can get your child settled on the field then come back to the second station at the concession stand to review your child's registration information (make sure you double check your child's grade that they are going into in the fall and their uniform sizes). If you originally didn't want shorts but changed your mind, you can still order a pair. Just let the staff know and the cost is $14 (cash or checks only and checks can be made out to North Main Street Church of God).
Cheer: When you arrive to the gym, you will see a table and grab your child's name tag. Once your child is settled, you can come back to the second station and review your child's registration (make sure you double check your child's uniform size). 

Why do we have a draft for flag football?

We are only drafting teams to make sure we can try to keep the teams as even as possible. When polling Upward Families across the country, it has consistently showed that having even teams was much more a priority than playing with friends. However, since we are practicing together, your child will see their friends every practice and most of the games. Also, we will keep siblings and most of the time cousins together on the same team if they are in the same division.

What does my player need for flag football?

Your child will need a water bottle with their name on it, spikes (any spikes will do...football, soccer, baseball, etc.) and comfortable clothes. Mouthpieces are completely optional. For evaluations and practices, parents may sit on the main bleachers or any of the side bleachers but must stay off the field unless you are a coach.

Practices

Practices for the remainder of the season will be as follows:

Cheer: Wednesday nights starting August 6th from 5:30-7pm at North Main's Gym

K-3rd: Thursday nights starting August 7th from 6-7:30 pm at Butler Memorial Stadium

4-6th: Tuesday nights starting August 5th from 6-7:30 at Butler Memorial Stadium 

Sunday Practice

We will have practice Sunday, August 10th. The times will be as follows

K-3rd Grade: 2-3:30 pm
4-6th grade: 4-5:30 pm
Cheerleaders: 5:30-7 pm (at Butler Memorial Stadium)

Games

Our first gameday will be Sunday, August 17th. I will be sending a separate email with game schedules and game day flow. We will not have games August 31st due to Labor Day weekend. 

Uniforms

We will be handing out the uniforms by the third practice. I will order extra sizes so if you have any issues with your uniform, please let me know. 

Adverse Weather

If we are notable to practice or have games due to severe weather, I will notify everyone via text, email and through our Facebook Page "North Main Upward Sports".

My best friend's neighbor's cousin just heard about this amazing league, can they still sign up?

Even though online registration is closed, we still have some room to add players. If you know someone who wants to join our league, please have them contact me before the first evaluation night.

Looking forward to an amazing season and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!!

God Bless and Go Upward!!
Justin Miller

724.679.1755