Disclosed is a towel rack for use during a tennis or other sports event. In one example, the towel rack includes a support for supporting a towel, and at least one display panel for displaying a message. In a disclosed method, a message is displayed during the sports event, and the towel is placed on the support such that the message is unobstructed by the towel.

A training apparatus arranged to be portable, collapsible, and able to be configured into different arrangements for different nets and/or different sports-related activities. The training apparatus comprises a support portion, base poles pivotally coupled to the support portion, base brackets coupled to the base poles opposite the support portion, extensions coupled to the base brackets, first and second flexible rods removably coupled to the support portion, and a net configured to be received by the flexible rods. The net is configured to bend the first and second flexible rods from a linear state to an arcuate state, such that a net tension holds the net upright.

A training apparatus arranged to be portable, collapsible, and able to be configured into different arrangements for different nets and/or different sports-related activities. The training apparatus comprises a support portion, base poles pivotally coupled to the support portion, base brackets coupled to the base poles opposite the support portion, extensions coupled to the base brackets, first and second flexible rods removably coupled to the support portion, and a net configured to be received by the flexible rods. The net is configured to bend the first and second flexible rods from a linear state to an arcuate state, such that a net tension holds the net upright.

A ball net structure arranged to be portable, collapsible, and able to be configured into different arrangements for different nets and/or different sports-related activities. The ball net structure comprising a base structure including at least one support portion, at least one base extension, and at least one base extension hinge, wherein the at least one support portion and the at least one base extension are coupled to the at least one base extension hinge. At least one rod is removably coupled to the base structure and received by a net, wherein the net is adapted to exert a force on the at least one rod causing the at least one rod to exert a force onto said base structure.

A ball net structure arranged to be portable, collapsible, and able to be configured into different arrangements for different nets and/or different sports-related activities. The ball net structure comprising a base structure including at least one support portion, at least one base extension, and at least one base extension hinge, wherein the at least one support portion and the at least one base extension are coupled to the at least one base extension hinge. At least one rod is removably coupled to the base structure and received by a net, wherein the net is adapted to exert a force on the at least one rod causing the at least one rod to exert a force onto said base structure.

The scorekeeping system includes a plurality of scoring elements. An upper bracket can be secured a first string having a first portion of the plurality scoring elements and a second string having a second portion of the plurality of scoring elements. The first string can have a first thread and a second thread, each of the first thread and the second thread being threaded through the first portion of the plurality of the scoring elements. The second string can have a third thread and a fourth thread, each of the third thread and fourth thread being threaded through the second portion of the plurality of the scoring elements.

The scorekeeping system includes a plurality of scoring elements. An upper bracket can be secured a first string having a first portion of the plurality scoring elements and a second string having a second portion of the plurality of scoring elements. The first string can have a first thread and a second thread, each of the first thread and the second thread being threaded through the first portion of the plurality of the scoring elements. The second string can have a third thread and a fourth thread, each of the third thread and fourth thread being threaded through the second portion of the plurality of the scoring elements.

Disclosed is system and method for measuring the tension of a tennis net, and, alternatively or in addition, for determining if a service let occurs via the measuring of the net tension. The disclosed embodiments measure a force exerted on the center-strap or the singles stick by the net. In these embodiments, the measured force provides an accurate reflection of the tension of the net.

A template for properly determining the positions for the yardline numbers of an American-style football field includes a generally rectangular frame having an external perimeter and an internal opening defined by an internal perimeter. The shape of the internal opening, and the corresponding shape of the internal perimeter, is such that for each of the yardline numbers, i.e. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0, the internal perimeter defines a plurality of locations for abutting a corresponding plurality of outer edge portions of the yardline number. With the external perimeter appropriately aligned along one or more lines of the field, the frame can be used to properly locate any one of the six yardline numbers that are needed to properly locate all of the yardline numbers on an American-style football field. This frame reduces the number of templates needed to locate the yardline numbers of a football field, and also simplifies the process of properly locating the yardline numbers.

A tennis net anchoring device and method securely anchors a tennis net center strap to a recessed anchor post on a tennis court surface. The anchoring device comprises a longitudinal, double-sided, unitary body supporting a net-retention member and a ground-retention member. A top portion of the unitary body includes two arcuate T-shaped, net-retention members that retain the tennis net through grommet holes in the net. The net-retention members extend downwardly from the upper end of the middle portion to define an arcuate net-support surface. A lower portion of the unitary body includes two off-set, J-shaped ground-retention members, opposite the net-retention members. The ground-retention members have a ground-retention surface that forms an anchor post insertion channel. The insertion channel enables insertion of an anchor post recessed beneath the court surface. The ground-retention members have free ground ends that enable maneuvering of the anchor post within the anchor post insertion channel.