A snowball launching and batting apparatus comprising a barrel member, a handle member, and a knob feature, the handle member further comprising a primary cradle structure configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The apparatus further comprises a secondary cradle structure capable of coupling the primary cradle structure and configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The knob feature may further comprise a depression configured to form snowballs. The apparatus is further configured to have an extended and retracted state. A user inserts snow into the barrel and cradle structure to form a snowball and inserts it into the apparatus while in an extended state. Launching the snowballs from the apparatus may comprise swinging the apparatus or applying a force to the handle member to quickly move it from an extended state to a retracted state.

A sports ball, such as a lacrosse ball, comprising, an outer shell layer defining an enclosure having an interior volume for housing a filler material, the outer shell layer comprising a plurality of sections (pads or panels) connected along a plurality of seams, the sections having an outer surface comprising one or more layers of a substantially smooth non-woven synthetic leather, such as a synthetic suede, microfiber, or micro-velour, with an optional surface coating, which produce a frictional resistance (coefficient of friction) which decreases ball slippage against a surface or when released from the strings of a lacrosse stick.

A lacrosse training ball that is made up of a shell that defines an enclosure having an interior volume is disclosed. The shell includes a plurality of pads connected along a plurality of seams sewn with a thread having a finishing knot. The interior volume is substantially occupied by a filler that includes a mixture of a first material and a second material.

A ball game may include a system for defining a playing area including a plurality of boundary markers, a plurality of paddles or rackets and a ball. Rules of the game may involving hitting a ball upwardly and begin assessed a point if the ball falls within a central boundary marker, without an outer boundary marker or on one of the boundary markers, and wherein a point may be assessed against an opponent when the ball lands in a player play area for that player.

A sports ball, such as a lacrosse ball, comprising, an outer shell layer defining an enclosure having an interior volume for housing a filler material, the outer shell layer comprising a plurality of sections (pads or panels) connected along a plurality of seams, the sections having an outer surface comprising one or more layers of a substantially smooth non-woven synthetic leather, such as a synthetic suede, microfiber, or micro-velour, with an optional surface coating, which produce a frictional resistance (coefficient of friction) which decreases ball slippage against a surface or when released from the strings of a lacrosse stick.

A variable-color region (886) extending to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (892) having a boundary (1212 or 1214) responds to an object (104) impacting the zone sufficiently hard to meet threshold impact criteria at an object-contact area (896) by changing color at a corresponding print area (898) or by providing an impact signal that causes color change at the print area if supplemental impact criteria are also met. In either case, a smoothened image of the print area is produced by determining a portion of the boundary where the print area is nearest the boundary, approximating at least that boundary portion as a smooth boundary vicinity curve, approximating the print area's perimeter, or a portion thereof nearest the boundary, as a smooth perimeter vicinity curve, and comparing the vicinity curves to determine if they meet or overlap.

A lacrosse training ball that is made up of a shell that defines an enclosure having an interior volume is disclosed. The shell includes a plurality of pads connected along a plurality of seams sewn with a thread having a finishing knot. The interior volume is substantially occupied by a filler that includes a mixture of a first material and a second material.

A throwing system for throwing and catching a ball of a first diameter. A scoop is provided that has a basket and a handle. The basket has a first end, a second end, a bottom surface and an open top, wherein the handle extends from the second end of the basket. A loading hole is disposed through the bottom surface of the basket. A flap or other obstruction is provided that at least partially obstructs the loading hole. The obstruction prevents the ball from passing through the loading hole in one direction. The ball is loaded into the scoop by simply pressing the scoop over the ball so that the ball passes through the loading hole and into the basket. Once in the basket, the ball can be thrown from the scoop in a traditional manner.

A sports rebounder apparatus is disclosed that allows a rebounding panel to be adjusted to multiple angular positions to allow players to replicate and practice a variety of different pickleball shots. The degree of angle is directly related to the rebounding loft that the ball will experience. For example, the further a rebounding panel is tilted away from a player, the higher the ball will rebound than a ball striking a more vertically-positioned rebounding panel. This higher loft affords the player more time to react to the rebounded ball. Likewise, the further the rebounding panel is tilted towards a player, the ball will rebound lower and faster, giving a player less time to react. This is advantageous for players of different skill levels, as well as for providing different shots that players could replicate and practice.

A sports projectile delivery system may control the operation of a launcher to cause an American football or other sports projectile to be delivered to a target location on a field. In some aspects, the system can track player movements on the field, e.g., through the use of a tracking device mounted on the player, enabling the ball etc. to be launched to a player in anticipation of where the player will go. The system may include additional customization and/or logging options, e.g., permitting a player to designate a body position (e.g., above the head or near the knees) for delivery of the ball, designate a speed or hang time for delivery, or provide player data and analytics to an online or otherwise connected database.