Described is a sports training system that can be used to assist pitchers in identifying foot placement and mechanics during a pitching motion. The sports training system includes a mat and plurality of foot pads. The mat is designed to have at least a pitching plate and a plurality of grid zones, while the foot pads are used for placement in one or more of the plurality of grid zones to assist the pitcher with foot placement.

A contact location identification apparatus and method consists of a marking device with a first side and a second side. An attachment device is connected with the first side, where the attachment device removably attaches to an object. A marking receptor surface is provided on the second side, where the marking receptor surface holds a transferable marker substance.

An exercise ball may provide two independent sections, a first separable section and a second separable section, that a user may utilize for weight training and mind-body exercises. The first separable section and the second separable section may be held by a user in opposite hands for weight training and other exercises. The exercise ball may be a Tai Chi ball that may include a plurality of polymagnets provided in an interior of the exercise ball that may keep the two separable sections together. The plurality of polymagnets may provide a push-release or twist-release attachment and detachment to attach and detach the sections.

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.

Embodiments of headcovers having a headcover body that includes a detachable pull strap with a plurality of leg portions that connect to the headcover body and methods to manufacture such headcovers are generally described herein. Other embodiments of the headcovers may be described and claimed.

A polyhedral substantially cube-shaped training aid approximately the size and weight of a basketball and having a side transition, whereby when the training aid is launched in the manner of a basketball shot the rotation of the training aid provides visual feedback representative of a nature of the rotation of the device in flight. The training aid may include a level indicator device, sound indicator, vibration indicator, and side transitions are generally beveled. The training aid may include visual outer-markings on one or more external surfaces of the aid to visually indicate the nature of the rotation of the device when launched. Alternatively, the training aid is removably placed over the outside surface of a basketball so as to at least partially square off a first perspective of the basketball, the training aid being configured and constructed of material that permits the training aid to become removably affixed to the outer surface of the basketball.

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.

Embodiments of headcovers having a headcover body that includes a detachable pull strap with a plurality of leg portions that connect to the headcover body and methods to manufacture such headcovers are generally described herein. Other embodiments of the headcovers may be described and claimed.

A protective sports guard can include a lower component that includes a hard shell outer layer attached atop a flexible padding layer; an upper component that includes a hard shell outer layer attached atop a flexible padding layer; a central component attached to and straddling the lower component and the upper component and that includes a hard shell outer layer; and an elongate strap. The elongate strap can be fixedly attached at one end to the flexible padding layer of the lower component, releasably and variably attached at another end to itself, and configured to wrap around the lower component in excess of one full revolution and to envelop and compress a human body part for a compression fit.

An exercise ball may provide two independent sections, a first separable section and a second separable section, that a user may utilize for weight training and mind-body exercises. The first separable section and the second separable section may be held by a user in opposite hands for weight training and other exercises. The exercise ball may be a Tai Chi ball that may include a plurality of polymagnets provided in an interior of the exercise ball that may keep the two separable sections together. The plurality of polymagnets may provide a push-release or twist-release attachment and detachment to attach and detach the sections.