Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

The kids are doing Upward Basketball and Cheerleading for the first time.  We have actually never done Upward before and have been very impressed with it.  It is such a neat program designed to provide a "fun sports experience based on healthy competition."  It also helps teach self-confidence and values as well as skills of the game.  Another thing I like about it is there are not excessive practices throughout the week.  Lincoln doesn't even have practice.  They practice 30 minutes before their games on Saturdays and Hannah just has 1 hour on Monday nights.

Practicing his bounce pass before the game.

They have had 2 games now and have both really enjoyed it.  They really do it up right.  They have a big blow up thing for the kids to run through when their name is announced--just like in the NBA or college games.  It was so cool!

Here is Lincoln running out for the first game.   

That first game was definitely a learning experience for Lincoln.  They give each kid a colored wrist band and they are supposed to guard the player from the other team that has the same color band as them.  He never quite got it during that first game, but the second one he did much better.

I love this picture of him dribbling the ball.  He looks like a real player!  Ha!  He did pretty well dribbling and shot the ball several times during the first game, but never made a basket.

He is definitely a hustler, which makes me proud!

He was all smiles after his first game.  Yay!

Hannah got to watch Lincoln's first game as well as watch another cheer squad cheer during it.  They just have one squad cheer at each game.  They have 2 games going on at one time and they cheer for one game for half the time and the other the other half.  They do a cheer or dance during half-time.

I really thought after watching that group cheer during Lincoln's game that she would be super shy and possibly not even want to do it.  Boy, was I wrong!  She was excited and loved every minute!

The cheerleaders run out of the blow up thing too when their name is called.  Here is Hannah!

I think she got the best possible coach.  She is really good and has pushed the girls to learn a lot of stuff.  It has been amazing to me what all they have learned!  Hannah is a great listener!

She was so cute when she'd look over at us and smile really big!  She just loved it.

At half-time the first week, they just did a chant.

LOVE!!!

I know she was so proud of herself!

During last weekend's game, Lincoln actually scored once!  He tried several times and did much better at defense.  I can't wait to watch him the rest of the season!

Hannah did a little dance during half-time this past week.  It was the cutest thing.  She did awesome!  I missed the first few counts, but here it is.

They learned a real cheer (instead of a chant) last night and even learned how to do a couple of jumps.  I wasn't really sure about the whole cheerleading thing, but seeing Hannah enjoy it so much has been a lot of fun!