An apparatus for developing goal scoring skills is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a goal, and a three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure is configured to replicate a human goalkeeper to improve a training experience for a user. The apparatus is useful for developing and improving goal scoring skills, and preferably, for developing and improving hockey goal scoring skills.

Systems for detecting a successful field goal are described herein. More specifically, the systems are directed at automated detection for a field goal attempt. The systems evaluate whether the football was kicked within the designated area (e.g., above the cross bar and between the two upright poles). The detection is performed through the use of cameras, lasers and detectors associated with the field goal post. In this way, the systems assist referees in determining the success of the field goal attempt.

A pin mount system for releasably mounting a sports net to a ground surface, for example a hockey net to an ice surface. The sports net includes at least one post having an end. The pin mount system includes: a pin having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end for positioning within the post, a resilient member such as a spring coil in compression to normally exert an extensive force to the pin to extend the distal end of the pin past the end of the post, and a handle operably connected to the pin to retract the pin against the resilient member. The pin is releasable from the ground surface in response to an amount of force applied to the sports net, and the sports net stays in place when minor force is applied, for example.

A foldable, portable sports goal structure includes a hollow frame that contains an elastic cord or cable that uses compressive forces from the cord tension to hold the frame together. The sports goal includes ground support bars, sidebars and a crossbar. Rear support bars may also be used. The elastic cord or cable that is under tensions is used to hold the frame together when the goal is set up. The elastic cord or cable also holds the frame together when the goal is folded up so the goal can be quickly set up or folded up. The net can remain attached to the frame, which allows the goal to be used or stored as a single unit.

A portable target assembly for use in a sport wherein a projectile is propelled at a goal, the portable target assembly comprises a front face and rear face separated by a solid material, and a magnet secured to the portable target assembly allowing the portable target assembly to be magnetically attached to a goal post or crossbar. A magnetically receptive material is coupled to a goal post or crossbar when the post or crossbar is not made of a magnetic material. A method of sport training, comprising the steps of: providing a portable target assembly having a front face and a rear face separated by a solid material with a magnet secured thereto; securing the portable target assembly to a goal post or a cross bar of a goal such that the portable target assembly protrudes into a goal region of the goal; launching a projectile at the portable target assembly.

An assembly for modifying/adapting a practice goal to serve as a sporting game practice aid. The assembly suitably includes a target and/or plurality of target pockets that can be removably coupled to the practice goal. This provides a physical target towards which to aim a sporting object (including a puck, ball, and/or the like), and thereby a means of evaluating one's progress towards mastery of the task at hand.

A smart soccer goal for tracking and communicating motion of objects includes a goal frame; a net coupled to the goal frame including a plurality of lights; and one or more sensors coupled to the goal frame. A first sensor of the one or more sensors is directed to detecting movement within and immediately near the smart soccer goal and a second sensor of the one or more sensors is directed to detecting movement outside of the smart soccer goal.

A training system includes a launching device house a computer electrically connected to a mechanical hopper and a plunger disposed within a casing sized to launch a lacrosse ball. The casing is structured and arranged to be movably connected to the housing such that at least one of a launch angle, speed, direction, distance and spin can all be selectively chosen by a user. At least one sensor is designed to be placed onto at least one of a player, the lacrosse ball, or a lacrosse net such that the sensors are structured and arranged to relay metric data to the computer in connection with a training program software operating on the computer, wherein the sensor(s) are wirelessly connected to the computer. A mobile device software application communicates with the computer for tracking the metric data and selective programming of the lacrosse ball tossing and training system by the player.

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.

Methods, systems, and techniques for automatically detecting and tracking hockey goal events during hockey play are provided. Example embodiments provide an Automated Hockey Goal Detection System or goal detection system, which enables goal events during hockey play to be automatically and immediately detected and notifications generated therefor and for automatically tracking and communicating attributes of such events such as puck speed and location. Automated event information may be automatically recorded and/or communicated to other devices, such as a remote computing device, to analyze player or game effectiveness. An example goal detection system utilizes an infrared transmitting hockey puck and an infrared sensing goal frame with one or more sets of multiple infrared sensors arranged around the perimeter of the goal frame. The goal frame may include a control unit that determines the location and speed of the puck within the goal frame by evaluation of the active sensors.