A football training device in which an elongated strap is attached to a football. The strap is elastic and has a handgrip formed at its other end. In practice, a ball runner carries the football while a trainer pulls on the strap in an effort to simulate a fumble thus improving the manner in which the ball carrier carries the ball.

A hitter training device is described that is easily transportable, is not bulky, and does not require complex assembly and disassembly. The hitter training device also readily facilitates hitter training for right-handed hitters, for left-handed hitters, or for switch hitters. The device includes a support, a cord, a ball, and a clamp. The support has a first end, a second end, and a mid-section, and the first and second ends are axially offset from the mid-section. The cord is coupled to the support between opposing portions of the support that are axially offset from the mid-section, and has a length such that, when it is coupled to the support, the cord is not taut. The ball is mounted on the cord. The clamp is coupled to the support and is configured to temporarily mount the support, in a releasable manner, to a structure.

A sports practicing system includes: a lever arm including an aperture; at least one ball secured to the lever arm; a pivot about which the lever arm rotates; an upper member to which the pivot is connected, the upper member including first and second ends; a base for placement on a ground, the base supporting the upper member; and an elastic strap stretched from the first end of the upper member to the second end of the upper member, an inner portion of the strap intersecting the pivot so the strap deflects the lever arm and the ball when the lever arm rotates about the pivot due to the ball being struck.

Training devices, methods of using training devices and systems involving training devices are described. Training devices may include an attachment unit which includes a swivel, a plurality of support members, a first member and a second member. A training device may be configured to a first device, the first device may be moved with the training device configured to it in a desired motion and in as many repetitions as desired, and the training device may be removed from the first device. Training devices may be used in conjunction with hand units, strap units and other devices and/or appendages.

Disclosed is a tennis practice device, wherein a horizontal pole is affixed in a vertical direction at a point on a vertical part of a building or structure to form a basic frame of the device, and a string is hung from an end of the horizontal pole, with a tennis ball is attached to an end of the string; the ball thus suspended is struck with a racket for tennis practice. While useable for personal purposes, the device suits public use when installed on a riverside of a city or on school grounds, where anyone can bring a racket and ball to practice tennis in a fun, realistic way; here, the device must be high in height. Accordingly, techniques are provided to minimize problems, including connecting or disconnecting the ball string to the high-positioned horizontal pole and unexpected situations where the ball string gets caught on the horizontal pole.

A training device for tennis provides multiple training stations for various tennis strokes.

A swing trainer comprises a wire rope onto which are positioned a plurality of balls, each having a hole through the center, and cushioning devices on either end of the wire rope. The balls and cushioning devices can freely travel along the length of the wire rope. The rope is anchored to an immovable object or held on one end by a user.

A tennis teaching aid comprises a stand and a ball (10) and a guide (12) mounted on the stand for rotation about an axis. The guide (12) extends around the ball (10) and defines a planar guide plane that is parallel to but spaced from a required path of a tennis racquet to hit the ball (10) with topspin. The majority of the ball (10) projects above the guide plane for contact with a tennis racquet so that a correct contact with the ball (10) is achieved when the racquet moves parallel to, but not in contact with, the guide (12) and the ball (10) is spinning about its rotational axis.

A resistance training apparatus and method for providing a plurality of training vectors having points of origin variable by direction and elevation to a trainee. The apparatus may accommodate a plurality of trainees and provide multiple training vectors to each trainee. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a base forming the training area and a pair of tower assemblies, each providing members for attachment to the harnesses worn by the athlete. In another embodiment the apparatus provides at least sixteen training vectors to a trainee. Each of the members providing the training vectors are independently adjustable such that balanced or unbalanced loading may be applied simultaneously to a trainee from multiple directions and multiple planes.

A soccer ball having an opening formed in an outer surface of the ball and a connection element having a female portion fit within the opening and a male portion, having a first end configured to removably engage the female receiving portion and a second end having a partially open connection element. An elongated flexible element engages at a first end with the partially open connection element of the male portion.