"How Data, Structure, and Team Development Changed My Coaching Style"
Player Development Case Studies
As a coach and creator of CoachBall, I know exactly what challenges teams face. I use the app myself every week, and now I can't imagine being without it.
Reinier Sierag
I think I now know the challenges coaches sometimes face.I use the app every week and I really notice the difference: you're spending less time on the line-up, you have more overview, and as a result, more peace and a clear game plan.No more separate Excel sheets or WhatsApp messages—everything in one system.
I've been coaching for six years now, and during that time I've had the pleasure of guiding eleven teams and around eighty players at various levels.Every team, every player, and every season has taught me something about growth, motivation, and teamwork.
During the Trainer/Coach 3 course of the KNBSB, I've learned how crucial structure, planning, and reflection are for team development.
Everything we learned there—about communication, coaching, and organization—I now apply weekly, with digital support.
In this article, I'll share how this combination has transformed my coaching style and the entire season.
Sharing Line-ups with Focus and Calm
Before each game, I share the line-up with the team in advance.Not too early, but just before departure.That gives players direction, clarity, and peace of mind.They can prepare better, and the scorer can calmly fill in the lineup in advance.
On game day, I bring my tablet and a printed lineup to the dugout.Hanging up the lineup works better visually: everyone knows where they need to be.No questions, no chaos.
I print out the batting order with officially written names (DOE, John van), positions, and jersey numbers.I share that with the opponent beforehand.Actually, that already puts me up 1-0 😉.
Preparing your line-up in advance not only gives a professional impression but also helps avoid any debates about names or positions.Switching innings becomes faster, the players know exactly what to do, and you've got room for some individual coaching and fine-tuning.
Everyone gets a turn — consciously and fairly
In the app, you can easily set up a play strategy.I use that with the Juniors to ensure everyone gets equal playing time.Per game, you can see who is playing, who has a break, and how often that happens.
We perform as a team, not as a few talented individuals.That is more powerful and sustainable.I focus on growth, and then the results will follow naturally.Trust the process.
By communicating your strategy in advance within your yearly plan, you can prevent discussions.Parents and players get it, and you boost team spirit.Players who are further along automatically take on a mentor role—a great application of what we learned about shared leadership during the KNBSB training.
Want to approach this differently?Then you can set your lineup strategy for each team exactly the way you want.If you're coaching Women's Major League Softball, you can tweak the strategy so the line-up algorithm generates the line-up in a completely different way.
Once you've created the 7 innings, you can drag and drop your players and receive immediate feedback on whether you've overlooked something.
Building value season after season
The app isn't just useful for a single game; it builds value week after week.You see:
Who is in attendance and who is not.
Where there are areas for improvement at both the player and team level.
How practices and games complement each other by making connections.
Those who write, stay in the game.By consistently taking notes, you build a reliable memory for your team.The App helps you remember so you don't forget things.
This creates a data-driven journal of your season.
Grow Over Multiple Years
At the end of the season, you'll see the real power: charts show how players grow—from batting averages to pitching speed.
"Development becomes visible and measurable.That motivates players and helps coaches refine their training plans.”
Talent development becomes something tangible, not just a feeling.This will also help you better support your story with the Technical Committee of the club you're active with.
Inspired by Moneyball, The All Blacks, and Coaching Experiences
The data-driven approach is partly inspired by Billy Beane.He is the former general manager of the Oakland Athletics who, with his data-driven approach—known as Moneyball—changed baseball forever.
This year, I spent a day with Billy Beane at a seminar.His vision on leveraging data for competitive advantage greatly influenced me and was a major inspiration for coachball.app.
Additionally, on the advice of success coach Stanley Doney, under whom I had the privilege to play, I became interested in The All Blacks and the book Legacy by James Kerr, whom I had the honor of meeting in 2025.
Stanley also appeared on our CoachBall podcast, where we had an extensive chat about leadership, mental resilience, and team building.
“During a seminar by James Kerr, I learned about their culture of continuous improvement, leadership, and shared responsibility.You can see this reflected in our teams: players support each other and share the outcome together.”
Doney, Beane, and Kerr's philosophy beautifully merges into how we coach today: with data, structure, and culture as a foundation.
From Game to Future
Because all the data is centralized, you can easily review and compare:
Attendance and commitment
Performance per season
Where the greatest progress lies for the next year
“You're not just building a team, but also creating a valuable database for the future.”
More Time for Coaching
“Through automation, I focus more on the game and the players.“Less paperwork, more development and enjoyment.”
The app reduces hassle, provides better insights, and makes coaching more fun.
Conclusion
At the end of the season, I reflect on the growth of each individual player and the team as a whole.
With the app, I can instantly see team performance, individual development, and attendance at practices and games.
The evaluation talks I have now become concrete and well-founded.
I can show where a player has improved, where there's room for growth, and how that development compares to the team average.
Even choosing an MVP or best hitter is a breeze: with the iScore integration, the stats are instantly available, fully backed by data and achievements.
“Coaching feels more professional (confident), clearer, and therefore more enjoyable.
You see in black and white how effort translates into progress — for players, coaches, and the entire team.”
Or as Manny Manson once said in his podcast:
“You never have to justify your choices upfront, never.
But when questions arise, you better have the answers ready.”
Those words perfectly capture why I find this approach so valuable: you don’t have to explain everything, but you can back it all up.And that brings calm, confidence, and focus — for everyone on the team.