"I already had TVs set up via the Dr. Dish facility, and I needed a way to turn a TV into a scoreboard and not keep adding things to the room. So a quick Google search, and I found ScoreVision.” - Nick Putnam, Coach at On The Ball Academy
On The Ball Academy Expands Their Experience With ScoreVisionLE Software
As we drive through the small towns of western Iowa we come across a stand-alone building just north of Dow City, Iowa. This is the home of On The Ball Academy (OTB), the location of our first scoreboard running ScoreVisionLE software on an Apple TV. We took the two hour dive from Omaha, Nebraska to get to know our inaugural customer and capture the action during their first competition –a girls 3 vs 3 basketball tournament with teams from all over western Iowa.
About On The Ball Academy
Nestled in the Northwest corner of Iowa, lies the charming town of Dow City, Home of Nick and Katie Putnam – founders of On the Ball Academy. OTB is the culmination of generations of basketball influence within the Putnam family of Dow City, IA. What began as a passion for youth basketball and a desire to boost local competition, has evolved into a one-of-a-kind basketball facility in rural Iowa. OTB distinguishes itself by offering innovative individual and small-group practice and training methods. Each program is designed to continually engage driven regionally located athletes, helping them gain a deeper understanding to passion for the game and develop the skills needed to perform at their highest potential in their favorite sport.
On The Ball Academy offers a range of training activities to better athletes in a two-hour radius. Athletes get the options to schedule training sessions individually or as a group at the OTB facility. These training options consist of mobility courses, overall performance training, shooting competitions as a certified Dr. Dish facility, and basketball technical training. To put the athletes’ training to the test—and showcase their skills—Coach Putnam (Coach P) put together a summer long 3v3 basketball tournament for the girls to compete against athletes from the surrounding area.
Why They Chose ScoreVision
With an increasing demand from his high school athletes to facilitate small-sided games, like 3 vs 3, in their facility, and a TV setup already integrated for the Dr. Dish training system, the academy needed a way to keep score in the space without adding more equipment. The desire for a digital scoreboard solution quickly became a priority as they looked for ways to maximize the functionality of their current TV display setup.
A simple Google search led the OTB to ScoreVision. The ScoreVisionLE software offered the perfect solution, allowing them to easily transform their existing TVs into scoreboards, seamlessly transforming the space without extra installations. The ease of use and immediate impact of the ScoreVision platform made ScoreVision the clear choice for elevating the training experience at On The Ball Academy.
Fan Experience
The desire for ScoreVisionLE was originally to maximize the functionality of their current setup, but they discovered what they received was much more than a scoreboard for their 3v3 competitions. By integrating with the ScoreVision Fan App, Coach P was able to share the upcoming tournament schedules, past game results, and live scoring for those unable to make it out to the facility. With media uploading, OTB can display announcements for parents and athletes.
With ScoreVisionLE, On The Ball Academy has the ability to make the experience fit what is best for them. In competitions, they have the ability to display soft stats on a leaderboard with team rosters, or displaying the basic team scoring on the TV and in the Fan App. On The Ball Academy truly cares about making an impact in the community and it’s athletes.
The Future of OTB
On The Ball Academy is expanding its vision to include a variety of training programs and age groups, aiming to create more opportunities for both younger and older athletes. According to Nick Putnam, OTB hopes to host events for high school boys, as well as youth in 2nd to 4th grade, providing them with structured games like 3 vs 3 and 4 vs 4. By tracking scores in these smaller, fast-paced games, OTB can offer a more organized and engaging experience for beginners who are just getting into basketball.
Additionally, the current high school girls at On the Ball Academy have expressed excitement about exploring new activities, like pickleball, especially during their school breaks. With ScoreVision’s versatility and multiple scoreboard layout options, Coach P is considering incorporating pickleball into the program to widen his reach in the community. ScoreVision’s ability to support a range of sports makes it an ideal solution for OTB's evolving needs.
On The Ball Academy continues to grow as regional athletes continue to hone their skills in trainings and competitions. ScoreVision is honored to play a role in the development of these young athletes of western Iowa. You can check out our interview with Nick Putnam on our social reels and other content by visiting @getscorevision on instagram. For more information on how your school or facility can implement ScoreVisionLE into your game day experience, visit our website at www.scorevision.com/products/
