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AMERICAN FORK — When Nicolas San Juan noticed his daughter was struggling to improve at soccer, he decided to use his background as a software engineer to help.
The result is Inside Coach, technology he designed to put in sports balls to measure an athlete’s progress and make individual practices a social experience. So far, the Kickstarter campaign backing the project has raised more than $17,000.
“The whole purpose is to motivate (kids) to keep active and also improve in any sport they play with the techniques that can help them be successful and have fun,” San Juan said.
His current prototype is a soccer ball, but he plans to expand into other sports like basketball and baseball. Sensors embedded in the ball can detect how much force is put on the ball, how far the ball travels and how it spins, among other factors. That data is then recorded and shared with the player through a mobile app and accompanying wrist band.
In addition to tracking a player’s progress for different skills, the app is designed to provide real-time coaching cues. It also connects with friends online so players can challenge each other and compare results.
In his daughter’s case, San Juan said she loved playing soccer for the social interaction, but didn’t know how to practice when she was alone. That was a common theme he found while talking to other parents.
“I think kids play video (games) because it is fun, especially when they can play online with friends,” he said. “I think this (technology) can help them stay active outside and have that social aspect too.”
Playing sports was one of San Juan’s favorite pastimes while growing up. He lived in a small village of about 400 people in Mexico, where there was a community basketball court and a shared basketball. There weren’t any organized teams, but he and his friends would take turns playing during recess.
He came to the United States when he was 15 and was introduced to soccer at Weber State University while he was studying computer science. Since then he has continued to play the sport and regularly coaches his daughter’s soccer teams.
“It’s a dream for me to even come this far (with Inside Coach) and to fulfill that love of making software and sports,” he said. “It’s really a blessing for me.”
Inside Coach soccer balls can be pre-ordered through the Kickstarter campaign with pledges starting at $149.
