Out Working — In the Time of COVID-19

“We’re gonna do anything we can to provide the best program we can”

-Coach Macky Bergman, Steady Buckets

School, work and so much of our lives are happening from our homes, and sports were soon to follow. At the start of the pandemic, it became clear that if we were going to be in this for the long haul, we had to learn to make the best of it. And there was a lot to be desired in the realm of exercise. Coach Macky saw that, and he said, “I’m not gonna let Steady Buckets die. I gotta figure out something to do for all the kids in our community.” Because Steady Buckets is more than a basketball program for many of their players. They’re dedicated to their motto “Out Work ’Em,” pushing their players to get better every day. I’ve heard it be called a “second home” and frankly, it’s a community that has played a huge role in the lives of hundreds of kids.

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I recently had the chance to sit down with Coach Macky and talk about how players, coaches, and the program overall have been affected. Steady Buckets is a non-profit based in New York City, centered around the idea of making great basketball accessible to everyone in New York. Their normal programming, with workouts seven days a week in downtown Manhattan, was halted when their gyms were forced to close. For over a month, Steady Buckets has been running Zoom workouts, with programming 7 days a week. Workouts center on different elements of the game, with some targeted at specific age groups, like 8 and under, or girls-only.

With roughly 200 kids attending virtual workouts every day, Coach Macky says, “In the three categories that we’re working in… I think the program is better than ever.” The program has shifted focus onto three main components of basketball — ball handling, strength training, and agility. In addition, they offer Zoom workouts focused on shooting, yoga, and advanced ball handling.

With all workouts complimentary, the non-profit provides the opportunity for thousands of youth to improve their skills. Even in ordinary circumstances, the organization is committed to making sure the opportunities that they offer can be utilized by all. Now, as many players attend from New York City apartments, in the epicenter of the virus, resources can be limited. As Coach Macky says, “Some people are in their tiny little bedroom in a New York City apartment and have a workout space the size of a yoga mat. But they’re making it happen because, cause they want it.”

The players at Steady Buckets are different from anywhere else. Not just because they come from all over the city, from different backgrounds and families, because they love the program, because they are committed to it, and improving. I’ve experienced first hand how amazing the coaches and players are, and the program has been able to recreate that on Zoom. Personally, I’ve been attending for 3 years, and the workouts online are just as challenging, and there’s just as much visible improvement as you would get in the gym. Coach Macky says that one of the best parts about working online is seeing the change in players, “You go, ‘Wow, that kid’s really improving, from their living room.’ You know, that’s kind of cool.”

As Coach Macky says “We’re going to do everything we can to provide the best program that we can.” Attending a workout, it’s easy to see how much consideration has gone into this transition. Workouts occasionally include breakout groups, where you have the opportunity to connect with other players who you know, or players who you’ve never met. As social distancing continues, players from all over the country are joining in. Over 5,000 logins have been recorded, and the number is continuing to grow.

There have been some technical difficulties, and there have been many setbacks, but ultimately, there’s a goal here. Kids are stuck at home, lacking the activity that comes in gym class or school sports. Millions of kids across America play sports, and for many of them, it’s more than just a physical outlet. So if practices, games, and workouts are halted for two months, or even more, what happens? Right now, we have more time on our hands and we have the opportunity to do a lot more. We have the choice to sit on our couches, playing video games, or we can make the best of this time in other ways. So, as Coach Macky says “We all know that this is a really challenging time in our life, but we’re getting through it together, and we’re helping each other through.”

To join a Zoom workout or register for Steady Buckets — head to steadybuckets.org. Programming is offered 7 days a week — from 10–7 pm on weekends, and 11–7 on weekdays.

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