Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a basketball backboard. The basketball backboard includes a display screen, a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data regarding a shot attempt of a user, imaging devices configured to generate image data of the shot attempt, a speaker, and a control unit. The control unit can receive (i) the sensor data from the plurality of sensors and (ii) the image data from the imaging devices. Based on the received sensor data, the control unit can determine whether the shot attempt was successful. Based on the received image data and whether the shot attempt was successful, the control unit can generate analytics that indicate characteristics of the user and the shot attempt and recommendations for improving the shot attempt for subsequent shot attempts. The control unit can provide output data representing the analytics.

A variable-color region (106) of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112), normally appears along it as a principal color, and includes pressure-sensitive color-change structure (132) and pressure-spreading structure (242) having an internal pressure-spreading surface (244). An object (104) impacts the zone at an object-contact area (116). The pressure-spreading structure spreads pressure of the impact along a distributed-pressure area (256) of the pressure-spreading surface. A segment (142) of the pressure-sensitive color-change structure responds to the excess internal pressure along the distributed-pressure area by causing an impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region to temporarily appear along a print area (118) of the zone as changed color materially different from the principal color if the excess internal pressure meets excess internal pressure criteria. The print area thereby closely matches the object-contact area in size, shape, and location.

Principal and secondary regions (106 and 108) of an information-presentation structure extend to an exposed surface (102) respectively at principal and secondary surface zones (112 and 114) variously impacted by a spherical object (104) that rebounds from the surface. The principal region normally appears along the principal zone as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the principal region responds to the object impacting the principal zone at an object-contact area (116) by temporarily appearing along a print area (118) of the principal zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. The print area closely matches the object-contact area in size, shape, and location. The secondary region fixedly appears along the secondary zone as a secondary color. Restitution matching is provided across the two zones so that the rebound characteristics of the object are largely independent of whether it contacts the principal or secondary zone.

A system for improving a basketball player's ability to shoot basketballs towards a basketball hoop having an improved ball sensor is disclosed. An interface allows a player to select various locations for a ball ejector to launch basketballs to. A hollow protrusion extends though the net of the basketball hoop and has a microphone positioned therein. A processor compares audio signals generated by said microphone to pre-recorded sample audio signals of a basketball passing through the net of the basketball hoop to determine if a basketball shot was successfully made.

A physical activity training system operative in conjunction with at least one physical target with which the trainee is expected to interact in trainee activity modes, the system comprising sensor module/s operative to execute real-time measurements of aspect/s of the trainee's interaction with the target, without imaging the trainee; and an output generator including indicator/s operative to enter selectable trainee-detectable states each for a respective time period, thereby to indicate to the trainee which of the trainee activity modes governs (e.g. is in effect) within each time period, and a processor operative to monitor at least one trainee's interaction with the target within the modes, at least by generating, for storage in computer memory, time-stamped records of the modes or states and associated with the records, trainee scores derivable from the measurements generated by the module.

An exercise training system is provided having a system controller and a plurality of stimulant target units connected via a wireless network to the system controller. Each stimulant target unit has a light source providing light to stimulate a user, a proximity sensor providing an output of a distance between the proximity sensor and an object external to the unit, and means for providing feedback to the user to signal that the unit has been actuated by the user. The system controller includes a program for activating the stimulant target units in a sequence. The reaction by the user to the illumination is registered when the user brings a body part or other object to within a selected distance of the proximity sensor, this distance being programmable by the user.

An arrangement, a computer system, and/or a method for playing a game include a playing area, a first set of scoring structures arranged at a perimeter of the playing area and that are active throughout the game, and a second set of scoring structures arranged at the perimeter of the playing area and that are active only during penalty periods of the game, where each pair of adjacent ones of structures of the first set is separated by one of the structures of the second set.

The invention generally relates to a system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity, including the specific method of how to track the moving target and the interaction of one or more users as the target moves. The system and method for integrating physical, moving targets into a game, sport or other activity enables a plurality of users to simultaneously attempt to hit a moving target in the field of play with a moving object while tracking the moving target and moving object using a combination of sensors located on or around the field of play and on or around the moving target and/or moving object.

A variable-color region (106) of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112) and normally appears along it as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region responds to an object (104) impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by providing an impact signal if the impact meets threshold impact criteria. The impact signal identifies an expected location of a print area (118) in the zone. The print area meets one of plural different print-area location criteria respectively corresponding to plural changed colors materially different from the principal color. Responsive to the impact signal, a controller (702) determines which location criterion is met by the print area and provides an initiation signal at a corresponding condition. The impact-dependent portion responds to the initiation signal by temporarily appearing along the print area as the changed color for that location criterion.

Apparatus for football training is provided which includes a circular wall having an inward facing surface to support rebound of a football, which has been struck in a radial direction against this surface, back along said radial direction towards the centre of the circular wall. Multiple target indications are provided at respective angular locations around the circular wall. The apparatus has a control system for activating a series of target indications in sequence, and a monitoring system for determining whether the inward facing surface of the wall has been struck at the angular location corresponding to an activated target indication.