Team,

Below, please see important Seaforth men’s basketball weekly update (Sun, 9/29).

Cheers,
Coach Berry

Quote: “Being hungry means you're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal. Just wanting to eat means you’re only interested when it's easy or convenient.”

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Open Gym Schedule:

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

• Tue, 10/1 from 6:00am – 7:30am
• Fri, 10/4 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Breakfast Club:

This week, there are two (2) breakfast club engagements:

• Mon, 9/30 from 6:15am – 7:15am
• Thu, 10/3 from 6:15am – 7:15am

Press & Press Break Basketball Clinic:

The Press & Press Break basketball clinic will be at Seaforth High School on Sat, 10/5 from 11:00am – 2:00pm.

Registration details:

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

Weekly Basketball Tip:

When running the 5-out, motion offense and you receive a pass, follow these steps:

1. Observe the passer.
   • Did he cut? If so, is he open for pass? Is he posting up?
     
   • Did he screen away? If so, is the player utilizing screen open for pass?
   • Did he draft cut? If so, at the right time, dribble drive to basket?
2. Are you able to drive to basket (1 v 1)? If so, create for yourself or teammate.
3. Pass ball and repeat process.

Please note, by making the defense chase and defend for an extended period, there will be a breakdown. At which point, high percentage shots will present itself.

Our philosophy is to play intelligent, patient offense and be the “smarter” team.

Making Smart Decisions:

As we move forward, it’s crucial to make smart decisions that reflect our commitment to excellence, both on and off the court.

• Go to class, do your homework, and aim for excellent grades.
• Lead by example, show kindness even when it’s not returned, and stay away from disciplinary issues.
• If you’re driving, drive carefully.
• When in school, always put your phone in the Faraday bag (per school’s policy).
• Remember, if you get into trouble, it could affect your eligibility on the team.

Our goal is to be a model program, not just at Seaforth, but throughout the entire county.

Let’s be great and lead by example!

Accountability in Action:

Successful basketball teams hold themselves accountable.

Players prioritize attending practices, open gyms, and breakfast clubs. When someone misses, teammates check in to see what’s going on. If someone isn’t being coachable or shows poor work ethic, teammates step up and address it.

Players take collective responsibility for the team’s actions. If something is off, it's up to the players to fix it. Coaches should only have to "step in" when issues are beyond team's scope or understanding.

At the end of the day, this is your team — guard it, nurture it, and take ownership of it. When you do, the team’s potential for success grows exponentially!

Integrity or Relationships:

High school basketball tryouts commence late October, and as the head coach, I’m faced with tough decisions, including making cuts.

This is never easy. It’s painful to tell a player they haven’t made the team, and with 60+ kids trying out for only 12 spots, many will inevitably be disappointed. What makes it harder is that I know many of these players and their families personally.

The challenge I face is whether to select the best 12 players purely based on skill (10 criterions) or to give preference to those I have personal relationships with, even if they aren’t in the top 12.

In the end, I will choose integrity. While relationships are important to me, it’s crucial that I remain fair and objective. That said, I will make sure to provide opportunities for those who don’t make the cut to stay involved with the program and continue to grow.

I hope those affected by this decision will understand that it comes from a place of fairness and love for the game and its players.

Basketball Shooting Videos:

50 Shooting Drills

• https://www.seaforthbasketball.com/smr24/50shooting

Fundamental Shooting Mechanics

• https://www.seaforthbasketball.com/smr24/rrshooting