About
Upward Sports is a sports ministry program that includes basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and Upward Pickleball. The program uses these sports as part of its mission of promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports. Experiences are described as engaging the whole athlete in mind, body, spirit, and soul.
Upward Sports was founded in 1995 out of a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, by Caz McCaslin. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry and complies with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) membership standards. There are over 2,000 Upward sports experiences across the U.S., serving hundreds of thousands of young athletes.
Upward Sports partners with churches to leverage sports in their community and to help churches use sports ministry to reach their community. The organization walks alongside churches in pursuing their mission by supporting them with strategic consulting, logistics, materials, and spiritual support. It provides resources and support to organize leagues, including for people who are new to running the program, and uses the power of sports to share the gospel and promote the discovery of Jesus in every community.
Partners describe Upward Sports as unifying people through basketball, as a ministry opportunity to connect with the community and plant seeds of the gospel, and as a program that offers resources and support for organizing leagues. One partner notes that Upward Sports is a unique experience for youth in their community and expresses appreciation for being part of a program focused on the next generation and seeing youth come to love Jesus.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
Upward Sports was founded in 1995 out of a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, by Caz McCaslin. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry and complies with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) membership standards. There are over 2,000 Upward sports experiences across the U.S., serving hundreds of thousands of young athletes.
Upward Sports partners with churches to leverage sports in their community and to help churches use sports ministry to reach their community. The organization walks alongside churches in pursuing their mission by supporting them with strategic consulting, logistics, materials, and spiritual support. It provides resources and support to organize leagues, including for people who are new to running the program, and uses the power of sports to share the gospel and promote the discovery of Jesus in every community.
Partners describe Upward Sports as unifying people through basketball, as a ministry opportunity to connect with the community and plant seeds of the gospel, and as a program that offers resources and support for organizing leagues. One partner notes that Upward Sports is a unique experience for youth in their community and expresses appreciation for being part of a program focused on the next generation and seeing youth come to love Jesus.
Last updated May 13, 2026.
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