By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

Valley Grande’s Upward soccer program is in its tenth season and is hoping for its best turnout yet. 

Registration for Upward soccer in Valley Grande opened up last week for children from K-4 through sixth grade. The deadline for early registration is on Aug. 21, and the deadline for late registration is on Aug. 28.

Doshia Sims has been helping with Upward soccer in Valley Grande for the past few years. Her husband, Kirk Sims, is the league director of Upward soccer in Valley Grande and their son, Kaleb, has been playing Upward soccer for the past eight years.

“It’s a wonderful environment out there,” Doshia Sims said. “Getting to speak to the kids and the parents — you don’t see a lot of the negativity that you can see in other places.”

The friendly environment promoted through Upward soccer is due to the strong ties the league has to the church. The Valley Grande Upward soccer league aims to make children more connected to their faith as well as teaching them the fundamentals of soccer.

“It’s a ministry. They play soccer, but they also have the opportunity to be introduced to Christ and certain verses,” Sims said.

Registration forms are located at Valley Grande Baptist Church. Early registration costs $45 and late registration costs $55. The registration fee includes a reversible jersey, socks and a water bottle. Parents need to provide shin guards, cleats and black shorts.

Wanda Champion, ministry assistant at Valley Grande Baptist Church, said there were 97 children who registered last season. She is hopeful there will be more children sign up this season.

“We’ve had a lot of calls,” Champion said.

The first practice begins on Sept. 14 and the first game begins on Sept. 26. Every child who signs up to play will be ensured playing time once the season kicks off. The season is six weeks long and consists of one game and one practice per week.

Sims has watched Kaleb grow up and fall in love with soccer through the Upward program and she is excited he still has one year remaining to experience all Upward has to offer both on the field and off the field.

“He definitely has a love of soccer, and since he ages out this year we probably are going to have to continue with it next year,” Sims said.

For more information, contact Valley Grande Baptist Church at 874-6657.