CULTIVATING THE ATHLETE AND THE SPORT

YOUTH SPORTS MINISTRY

LEAGUES AND CAMPS

Dear Church Partner,

Thank you for your time and consideration of a Baller Athletics youth sports ministry. This brochure is designed to inform you of our programs and an opportunity to share who we

are as a non-profit organization. Baller Athletics exists to cultivate youth sports

culture with the gospel of Jesus through the local church. We carry out this mission through partnering with Christian churches to run youth sports leagues and camps as a ministry in their local communities. The ministry opportunities include aspects of service, discipleship and outreach for all participants involved. Sports are a platform for your church to build relationships, use their gifts, and love your community.

We hope you continue to read through this brochure and recognize the resources that Baller Athletics offers to support the mission of your church. On the following pages you will find sections on our vision, strategy and values, support and resources we offer, our sports programs, frequently asked questions and our biblical beliefs. We want you to have all the information available as you pray and consider these sports ministry options.

Our curriculum is designed for 7th through 12th grade participants and with start-to-finish guidelines for your volunteer team to implement in your local community. We have regional representatives assigned to each church to help start and grow their youth sports ministry. We are available to answer any further questions you may have after reviewing this information. Please contact us through email at info@balleratheltics.org or online at www.ballerathletics.org/contact/.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

INTRODUCTION

VISIONBaller Athletics exists to cultivate youth sports culture with the gospel of Jesus through the local church. We desire to be a part of the mission of God and see others know, love, and serve Jesus. We encourage participants to be the best they can be in athletics and life. We believe God is honored in that pursuit. However, there is much in athletics that is not honoring to God. Athletics are not the problem. The problem is our sin and how it destroys all things in our culture. The solution is individual lives and a culture transformed by God so they can play and live life the way it was intended to be.

STRATEGYWe partner and equip Christian churches to run sports leagues and camps as an intentional outreach in their local communities. We provide all of the training, material, and support needed to run a successful youth sports ministry.

VALUESAthletic Excellence

We aspire to see athletics thrive globally and for participants to become the best they can be.

Life Development

We desire to create environments for participants to be the best they can be in life through character and spiritual development.

Community Change

We seek to use athletics as a platform to offer hope and generate community change through the local church.

BALLER ATHLETICS

VOLUNTEER MATERIALEach volunteer coordinator, coach, referee, and judge will receive a playbook and t-shirt to represent a particular sport and as a thank you for the time and ministry support. The cost of the t-shirts are included in the church partnership package.

REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORT Each church will be assigned a regional representative who will serve you and walk you through starting and growing your league or camp. Support includes: coordinating tips, marketing, ordering, and being available for any other questions that arise.

PRINT AND MOBILE TOOLSThe coordinating playbook has an additional CD with print materials for your league or camp. The print material includes: Team roster, practice and game schedules, and tournament schedules. In addition, the coordinator, coach, and referee or judge playbook are available in PDF for use with mobile devices.

REFEREE OR JUDGE TRAININGThe referee booklets cover guidelines for being a successful referee (ball sports) or judge (action sports). Training includes: tips on technique and positioning, proper calls and judging aspects, and spiritual development and prayer opportunities.

PRACTICE AND GAME GUIDELINESEach coordinator and coach playbook provides detailed guidelines to operate practices and games. Guidelines include: equipment and facilities needs, practice outlines, skill development drills, team rosters, and game rules and regulations.

QUALITY PARTICIPANT PACKAGESEach player or rider will receive sport specific participation packages each season. Package examples (subject to change) include: reversible jerseys, t-shirts, bags, wristbands, magazines, hats, and stickers.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL The material includes customized brochures and posters. The number of promotional items depends on the size of your church, league, or camp.

COORDINATOR TRAINING The coordinator training playbook covers everything needed to operate a league or camp. Training includes: Setting timelines, volunteers needed, equipment and facilities needed, promotion strategy, operations guidelines for practices and games.

COACHES TRAININGThe coach playbook covers guidelines for being a successful coach and instruction needed to run practices and games. Includes: goals, skill development examples in print and DVD, life lesson devotions, and team rosters.

START-TO-FINISH SUPPORT

BALLER BASKETBALL

League: Typically 10-13 weeks total. Practices 2-4 weeks before first game day. 8 week season plus a tournament. One practice and game each week. Coach leads players through skill development and life lesson devotions each practice. Players are provided gear and a magazine.

Camp: One week in length (Monday-Friday, or five other consecutive days) for 3-4 hours per day. Daily skill development, games, and full court scrimmages are included. Coaches lead campers through skill development and life lesson devotions. Players are provided with gear and a magazine.

BALLER ACTION

League: 8 weeks of sessions plus a contest. One or two sessions per week and season ending contest or jam session. Coach leads riders through

skill development and life lesson devotions each session. Riders are provided with gear and additional magazine.

Camp: One week in length (Monday-Friday, or five other consecutive days) for 3-4 hours per day. Daily skill development, games, and pre-contest sessions are included. Coaches lead campers through skill development and life lesson devotions. Riders are provided with gear and a magazine.

BALLER SOCCER

League: Typically 10-13 weeks total. Practices 2-4 weeks before first game day. 8 week season plus a tournament. One practice and game each week. Coach leads players through skill development and life lesson devotions each practice. Players are provided with gear and a magazine.

Camp: One week in length (Monday-Friday, or five other consecutive days) for 3-4 hours per day. Daily skill development, games, and full court scrimmages are included. Coaches lead campers through skill development and life lesson devotions. Players are provided with gear and magazine.

LEAGUES AND CAMPS Each league and camp are designed specifically for youth participants (7th-12th grade). Baller Athletics provides all of the training, material, and support needed to run a successful sports ministry.

The following are the sport divisions of Baller Athletics:

BASKETBALL

ACTION SPORTS

SOCCER

PACKAGE VALUE

Competitive practices, games, and contests. Skill and fitness development.Quality gear and material.Promotional material. Character development and mentoring.Life lessons devotions.

SPORT SUMMARY

SPORTS

Why should my church run a Baller Athletics league or camp?

A Baller Athletics league or camp can be used as an intentional tool for your church to reach out to your community, create environments for building relationships, and providing opportunities for people to participate, serve, use their gifts and grow. Every league and camp is designed to cultivate a relationship with Jesus Christ, character and athletic development.

What makes this program different from other youth sports programs?

Baller Athletics programs offer a balanced pursuit of excellence in athletics and ministry. Baller Athletics will train and provide your church with all the resources to lead a successful sports ministry league or camp. Your leadership team will be equipped on how to implement the technical skills of the sport and share the gospel of Jesus in an age-appropriate way.

What are the costs associated with starting and operating a Baller Athletics league or camp?

The initial expense is purchasing or renting any special equipment (goals, balls, whistles, helmets, other sport related items) or playing area (fields, courts, or parks) that is needed to run a successful league or camp.

The second expense is the set rate Baller Athletics charges each church per participant. For each league sport -- basketball, soccer and actions sports -- the charge is $45 per participant. Camps -- basketball, soccer and action sports -- are $25. Shipping is an additional expense.

Based on the expenses mentioned above, each church determines the final price they will charge per participant. The total collected from registration fees will help offset any initial expenses and turn your league or camp into a self-sustaining sports ministry.

There is no annual church participant fee for operating a league or camp.

What resources does Baller Athletics provide?

Baller Athletics provides customized brochures and posters, training material for coordinators, coaches and referees, life lesson devotions, t-shirts for volunteer team (no additional cost), and participant gear and material packages (cost per participant listed above). Regional representatives will support each church from start-to-finish.

What do we need to operate and have success?

Volunteers will be crucial for the operations and success of your league or camp. Volunteer opportunities include the coordinating team, coaching, and being a referee or judge. The number of volunteers needed depends on the size of the league or camp. A regional representative can help determine your needs and advise you of partnership opportunities with other local churches if volunteers are limited.

Facilities needed also depend on the sports selected and the availability of volunteers. Churches that do not have a gym, field, or park, can conduct a league or camp at a local community facility or school. If this occurs, we encourage contacting the local community facility or school to discuss availability and scheduling as soon as possible.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Participants needed depends on the sport selected and if you are conducting a league or camp. Basketball and soccer leagues need a minimum of four teams to have a competitive and fun season. A camp or action sports league does not need a minimum number of participants. Each church will determine a minimum number that they deem successful in order to proceed.

Time is a major factor needed for a Baller Athletics league or camp. The time commitment will vary depending on the assigned duties and the size of the volunteer team. The more volunteers on the coordinating, coaching, and referee or judging teams, the amount of time needed to operate a league or camp will decrease with the added help.

What are the age groups?

While the good news of Jesus is a message for all people, the main focus of Baller Athletics is on youth. We currently offer sports for 7th through 12th grade and boy and girl divisions.

When can we conduct our league or camp?

Baller Athletics programs are flexible to schedule during a time period that best meets the needs of your church and community. However, most of the leagues take place during their sport's traditional season. Basketball (Fall-Winter), Soccer (Spring), and Action Sports (Late Spring-Summer).

How long is a league or camp?

A typical basketball or soccer league will last ten to thirteen weeks. Practices are two to four weeks before first game day. There are eight weeks of game play along with a practice one night a week, and a tournament to end the regular season. An action sports league consists of eight weeks of practice (skill development, life lesson, pre-contest formats) and a one day contest to finish up the league. Camps are one week in length (Monday - Friday, or five other consecutive days) for three to four hours per day.

What support will we have from Baller Athletics?

Baller Athletics desires for each church partner to succeed. We are all on the same team pursuing the same vision and goals. Each church will be assigned a regional representative who will serve you and walk you through starting and growing your league or camp. Our support includes coordinating tips, marketing, ordering and being available for any other questions that arise.

What is the next step?

The next step is to contact us at info@ballerathletics.org or on the website home page contact link to proceed to the next steps of running a league or camp. Each church will sign a Partner Agreement (following program guidelines, biblical beliefs). After initial contact, a regional representative will contact you and begin the first steps of finalizing the game plan for starting a league or camp.

PICK A SPORTSports options include Baller Basketball, Baller Action, and Baller Soccer leagues and camps. Curriculum designed for 7th -12th grade participants and for boy and girl divisions.

PICK A SEASONBaller Athletics programs are flexible to schedule during a time period that best meets the needs of your church and community. However, most of the leagues take place during the sport’s traditional season. Basketball (Fall-Winter), Soccer (Spring), and Action Sports (Late Spring-Summer).

ESTABLISH A GAME PLANBegin the process of organizing your youth sports ministry details into a game plan. Organize the details of which sport you will run, the season and time-line you will agree upon, which age groups and gender divisions will you offer, which facilities will host your programs, final participant costs, equipment needs, and which volunteer team members you will need to help execute the game plan.

CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVEContact us at info@ballerathletics.org or on the website home page contact link toproceed to the next steps of running a league or camp. Each church will sign a Partner Agreement (Program guidelines, Christian beliefs). After initial contact, a regional representative will contact you and assist you in finalizing the game plan for starting a league or camp and answer any more questions that you might have.

RECEIVE STARTER-KITAfter a regional representative finalizes your church game plan and a Partner Agreement is returned, a league or camp starter kit will be sent to your church. Astarter-kit includes a league or camp coordinator playbook and CD to walk you throughfrom start-to-finish in running a youth sports ministry program at your church.

1

2

3

4

5

NEXT STEPS

THE SCRIPTURESThe Bible was written by men under inspiration from God. It is completely true in all that it affirms. It is the source of God’s divine revelation and is the final authority for Christian belief and practice.

GODGod is holy and the sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe. God is one being that exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three persons are co-equal and co-eternal but distinct from one another.

JESUSJesus Christ is the Son of God. He is both fully God and fully man. Jesus lived a perfect life and died as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He rose bodily from the grave three days after being buried to display His victory over sin, Satan, death, and the power of God. Jesus will one day return to earth and reign as King.

MANGod created man in His image. Out of all of creation, man is set apart as God’s special image bearer which gives all people inherent worth and special responsibility. Man was created to know and worship God.

SINSin entered the world due to the disobedience of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. Sin changed everything God created. The affects of sin impacted all of creation, including people. Sin separates a person from God and also effects our relationships with others. Because of sin, man stands guilty before God, deserving the consequences, and is incapable of loving or worshiping God. SALVATIONThe problem of sin cannot be fixed by any of man’s own effort. God, according to His grace, offers salvation to man as a free gift that is obtained through faith in the work of Jesus on the cross. Those on whom the work of Jesus is effective are born again: they are given a new heart that loves God, hates sin and desires to live an obedient life.

HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He empowers believers to live the life God has called them to, inspired the Scriptures, illuminates the Word of God, and convicts people of sin. By the Holy Spirit, believers have spiritual gifts that they use to serve the local church.

CHURCHA church is a localized community of baptized believers committed to one another and the mission of God. They are ruled by the authority of scripture, gather regularly with recognizable leadership, practice the two ordinances of baptism and communion and function as a team and family.

THE FAMILYMarriage is a covenantal relationship instituted by God that is between a man and a woman and provides the foundation for a family. Sexual activity is to only be practiced within a life-long, covenantal, monogamous, heterosexual marriage.

THE KINGDOMThe kingdom of God is His rule, reign and authority. His kingdom is present in this world but not fully expressed. When a person is born again, that person is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. One day, God’s rule, reign and authority will be perfectly expressed on earth as it is in heaven.

ETERNITYMan was created to exist forever. Those who are in Christ will spend eternity in the new heavens and new earth in new life under the rule and reign of God forever. Those who reject Jesus will experience the wrath of God and spend eternity separated from God in hell.

BELIEFS

ONLINE @ WWW.BALLERATHLETICS.ORG

CULTIVATING THE ATHLETE AND THE SPORT

WWW.BALLERATHLETICS.ORG