Team,

Below, please see important Seaforth men’s basketball weekly update (Sun, 10/13).

Cheers,
Coach Berry

Quote: “The man in the mirror is your biggest competitor. Outwork him daily.”

---

Open Gym Schedule:

This week, we have two (2) open gyms:

• Tue, 10/15 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm
• Thu, 10/17 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Breakfast Club:

This week, there is one (1) breakfast club engagement:

• Mon, 10/14 from 6:15am – 7:15am

Weight Room:

This week, there is one (1) weight room engagement:

• Wed, 10/16 from 6:15am – 7:15am

Baseline Out-of-Bounds (BLOBs) & Specials Clinic:

The BLOBs & Specials basketball clinic will be at Seaforth High School on Sat, 10/26 from 9:00am – 12noon.

Registration details:

• https://www.seaforthbasketball.com/blobsdesc

Weekly Basketball Tip:

Here are three key tips for running the 1-3-1 full-court press defense:

• Force ball to sideline: Direct ball handler toward sideline or outer third of court to set up effective traps.
• Keep ball out of middle: Deny passing lanes to the middle of court to disrupt offensive flow.
• Quick rotations and communication: Ensure quick rotations and maintain constant communication to cover gaps and apply pressure.

The primary objective isn’t always to steal the ball, but to force opposing team to expend energy just bringing ball up court. If they make a mistake, we capitalize. If not, we settle back into our half-court defense.

Your Greatest Teacher:

Sometimes, I encourage players to make BIG mistakes. Sounds crazy, right? But let me explain.

As a basketball player (or any area of life), you should do your homework, ask questions, and then take action. If things aren’t perfect and mistakes happen, that’s okay - mistakes are part of growing.

Over the years, I’ve made plenty of mistakes myself. I’ve lost tens of thousands of dollars, made family decisions I regret, and even lost basketball games by choosing the wrong strategy. But each mistake helped me learn and grow, making me wiser along the way.

Without those mistakes, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, believe it or not, I’m grateful for them. Mistakes, you’ve been my greatest teacher!

Now, don’t get me wrong - I don’t want to make mistakes. But I refuse to let the fear of making them paralyze me. Inaction out of fear is far worse than any mistake you’ll make.

Learn from mistakes, adjust, and grow stronger because of them.

Beyond the Court:

As a community-based basketball coach, I am deeply committed to the well-being and growth of every player I have the privilege to coach.

For many players, my relationship with them began in elementary school, and now, they are working toward earning a spot on the men’s varsity basketball team. Some will achieve this goal, while others may fall short.

The important question is: “What happens to the players who don’t make the team?” My answer is simple: I’m still here for them.

Whether you make the team or not, my support remains unwavering. I care about you beyond the court, and I’m committed to being your life coach - no matter what.

Here are five ways we can continue to work together:

• Basketball Development Plan: I’ll provide a personalized basketball development plan to help you improve your skills through self-training, camps, and free play.
• Mentorship: I’ll be your mentor not just in basketball, but in academics and life. We’ll have regular check-ins to ensure accountability and growth.
• Team Role: Even if you’re not on the court, there are vital team positions like manager, statistician, videographer, or scout. Fun fact: My coaching career began as a team statistician in high school!
• Character Development: Together, we’ll brainstorm leadership opportunities at school or in the community to help build your confidence and maturity.
• Community Engagement: You can assist in organizing outreach events and service projects, playing a key role in the basketball team’s presence in the community.

Making the team is not the end-all. It’s just a point in time. What matters most is how you choose to grow from that moment.

Take me up on this offer, and no matter the outcome, you will win in basketball - and more importantly, you will win in life.