Why I built HoopScape
Coaching kids has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. I built HoopScape to make it easy for anyone to build practices and manage games, whether it's your first day or your 20th year.
I'm Jacob Adams. I grew up in the country in Illinois, playing basketball in 3-on-3 tournaments, rec leagues, church leagues and anywhere else I could find a game. I watched every Michael Jordan game and acted out the final seconds in my driveway.
As an adult, I spent years coaching and mentoring people at work as a manager and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, but coaching kids wasn't on my mind. Then in 2022 we signed my youngest son up for basketball at our local YMCA, and my wife mentioned they were looking for volunteer coaches.
It dawned on me that my dad was so busy providing for our family as a truck driver that he never got to coach me or be at my games. I played lots of sports, but it never felt the same without him there. I didn't want that for my sons, so I sent an email and signed up.
There was a learning curve. I was new to coaching, and the kids were in first grade. I found ways to see each kid's strengths, connect with them, and help them grow on their own and as a team. That turned into three years with the same group, across basketball and flag football seasons, with some soccer along the way for my older son. Those kids became best friends and loved the journey together.
My passion for basketball has only grown since. I co-founded a year-round youth basketball program, where I'm the head coach.
HoopScape grew out of the work I was doing every week: drawing drills, building practice plans, keeping time, taking notes, and trying to remember what we needed to fix from the last game, all while trying to actually coach. I want every coach to have the experience my teams had, with HoopScape as the one place that helps them succeed.
Where AI fits
As I add AI, the goal is the same: not to replace the coach, but to take more of the planning work off your plate so you can spend more time with your players. You review everything it drafts, and you decide what your team runs.
A bit about me
- Dad and basketball coach
- Roughly 20 teams coached over the past five years
- Co-founder and head coach of a year-round youth basketball program
- YMCA of Snohomish County Program Volunteer of the Year — recognized for impact coaching youth sports
- Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
- A career building technology products
Tell me what you think
If something doesn't feel right, or you have an idea that would make HoopScape better, I want to hear it. I read the feedback.
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