A machine and method for receiving and launching an oval football. The machine includes a football catch area, a motorized belt to orient the football and motorized wheels to launch the football. The user catching the football throws it back to the machine. The machine automatically orients the football and launches it back to the user catching the football. The machine provides the user a consistent timing pause between receiving the football and launching of the football.

A soccer training system may include one or more rebound units, including: a base; at least one rebound surface and rat least one tunnel having a tunnel inlet and a tunnel outlet, the tunnel has a cross section larger than a soccer ball. The shape of the tunnel may be such that when the base is placed on the ground a soccer ball entering the inlet is directed towards the outlet. The system may further include one or more defense player simulation devices, including a stable body to be placed on a field; and at least one adjustable indicator located on the stable body. In operation the at least one adjustable indicator may be configured to provide game instructions to a user. The system may further include a controller configured to: control the at least one adjustable indicator to provide the game instructions to the user.

The invention pertains to a sport training device to be mounted between a first vertical support and a second vertical support. The sport training device has a rebounding surface, preferably a net that is mounted at a predetermined location between the vertical supports. Mounting is facilitated by attachment means coupled at one end to the net and at the other to the vertical supports. The invention is preferably used in the sport of soccer where the vertical supports are the uprights of a soccer goal. This training device is particularly advantageous as it does not include mounting to the upper crossbar of the soccer net. It is easily mounted to the uprights and is configured for easy removal therefrom. In use, a user would kick a ball at the sport training device and the rebounding surface would absorb part of the impact and return the ball at a reduced speed compared to the impact speed.

The invention relates to a device (1) for returning balls (24) in a playing arrangement (20) of a ball sport, having a goal wall (21), wherein a space (22) in front of the goal wall (21) and a space (23) behind the goal wall (21) are provided, wherein an inclined plane (3) is provided in the space (23) behind the goal wall (21), wherein the inclined plane (3) leads to a receiving position (4) of a motor-actuated lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time, and having a dispensing mechanism, which, in a dispensing position of the lifting apparatus (5), acts on the ball (24) in such a way that the ball (24) can be dispensed into the space (22) in front of the goal wall (21). The invention further relates to a motor-actuatable lifting apparatus (5) for one ball (24) at a time for use in a device (1) for returning balls (24) and to a method for returning balls (24).

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.

The present invention is a basketball net designed to facilitate preferred directional momentum to an exiting basketball. The basketball net is designed and constructed in a manner such that the basketball exiting the net has desired exit-trajectory and rotational spin. The present invention enables the basketball leaving the net to return towards the preferred direction, which is, field of play instead of an undefined random direction. The asymmetry is induced by either substituting existing cord segments with those having elastomeric properties, or surface treatment on internal face of the net at particular sections so as to create frictional differentiation.

Systems and methods are provided for guiding a participant through a fitness experience or workout. The participant is provided access to an exercise area at a fitness facility, with the exercise area comprising several exercise or game modules. At each module, the participant engages in a customized exercise or game that is tailored to the participant's fitness level or to key fitness elements that the participant is expected to work on. An instructor may program each module with a type and difficulty of game that is appropriate for the participant, and the participant's activities and results are tracked over time and reported to both the instructor and the participant.

A golf ball putting practice apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a trap, that is configured to trap a golf ball between a surface of the trap and a playing surface on which the apparatus is placed. The surface of the trap is inclined at an angle relative to the playing surface. The apparatus also comprises a detector that is configured to detect that the golf ball has entered the trap, and a golf ball returner configured to provide, with or without a delay, a substantially horizontal impulse to return the golf ball along the playing surface in dependence upon detection that the golf ball has entered the trap.

The basketball rebounding apparatus includes a first frame having a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms lead to a second frame. The second frame may be hingedly coupled to the first and second arms, thereby the second frame may descend away from the first and second arms. The basketball rebounding apparatus may have a spring that controls the second frame. When a basketball passes through a basketball hoop and the basketball rebounding apparatus, it will travel towards the second frame via the first and second arms. Once the basketball contacts the second frame, it will be in a stationary position until removed by a user.

The invention relates to an advanced basketball training system. The basketball training system includes a motorized rotatable backboard mounted on a column. The assembly further comprises a smart basketball capturing mechanism mounted on the rotatable backboard. The smart ball capturing mechanism is connected to a ball receiving mechanism. The ball receiving mechanism collects the ball when a shot attempt is missed or made, and is delivered inside the column. A ball propulsion mechanism is fixed at the base of the column for passing/propelling the ball back to the player at various distances. The system further comprises a polyolefin or thermoplastic elastomer/acrylic sports court flooring, overlaying LED and infrared panels, for displaying multiple line markings in correlation to the angle of the rotatable backboard and other parameters related to the sport. The systems operating system comprises high-speed camera technology, smart basketball GPS technology, infrared sensors, and augmented reality using AR glasses.