A system and method of tracking and classifying an athlete's stick techniques used during a sporting event are disclosed, which includes measuring detailed motions and position of at least one stick object being used in sports, producing relevant stick technique patterns and classifying those patterns in a relevant manner. Classified stick pattern data is used to improve the accuracy and clarity of sporting event metrics, the ability to quantify athlete's skill and the ability to develop athletes based on their game situation techniques. The method used allows for accurate, near real-time discovery of stick patterns during live sporting events without altering or impacting the game or an athlete's ability to perform.

Hockey sticks or other tubular shafts have historically been cut using a hack saw with the shaft resting on the lip of a garbage can resulting in slow and inaccurate cuts. A new device for cutting a shaft comprises a holder for receiving the shaft, and an arm rotatably mounted at an end of the holder. The holder includes an internal passage, sized to receive the shaft, which extends outwardly through an opening at the end of the internal passage. A set of jaws are mounted on the rotating arm, each jaw includes a saw blade extending across the opening perpendicular to the shaft. The jaws are spring biased together at a first end for engaging the shaft, whereby relative rotation of the arm and the holder results in the saw blades sawing the end of the shaft off with high precision. Each jaw may include a lever arm extending from a second end thereof configured to receive an application of a user force to overcome the spring bias force to enable the set of jaws to be separated for mounting the shaft therebetween.

Hockey sticks or other tubular shafts have historically been cut using a hack saw with the shaft resting on the lip of a garbage can resulting in slow and inaccurate cuts. A new device for cutting a shaft comprises a holder for receiving the shaft, and an arm rotatably mounted at an end of the holder. The holder includes an internal passage, sized to receive the shaft, which extends outwardly through an opening at the end of the internal passage. A set of jaws are mounted on the rotating arm, each jaw includes a saw blade extending across the opening perpendicular to the shaft. The jaws are spring biased together at a first end for engaging the shaft, whereby relative rotation of the arm and the holder results in the saw blades sawing the end of the shaft off with high precision. Each jaw may include a lever arm extending from a second end thereof configured to receive an application of a user force to overcome the spring bias force to enable the set of jaws to be separated for mounting the shaft therebetween.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

An apparatus for attachment to a hockey stick shaft includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A connector is provided at the second end for connecting the elongated body to a hockey stick shaft. There is a raised grip profile on the elongated body in an intermediate position between the first end and the second end. The raised grip profile defines a ring which encircles the elongated body. The ring is in an oblique angular orientation relative to longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The ring in an angular orientation fits between the thumb and index finger increasing strength and control when stick handling.

An apparatus for attachment to a hockey stick shaft includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. A connector is provided at the second end for connecting the elongated body to a hockey stick shaft. There is a raised grip profile on the elongated body in an intermediate position between the first end and the second end. The raised grip profile defines a ring which encircles the elongated body. The ring is in an oblique angular orientation relative to longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The ring in an angular orientation fits between the thumb and index finger increasing strength and control when stick handling.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).