The present invention relates to a sports apparatus (100). The sports apparatus (100) comprises: a ball holder (102); and a motor (110) arranged to rotate said ball holder (102); wherein an axis of rotation of a drive of the motor (110) is offset from the axis of rotation of the ball holder (102). The sports apparatus (100) is used for practicing football kicking skills.

A sports projectile delivery system may control the operation of a launcher to cause an American football or other sports projectile to be delivered to a target location on a field. In some aspects, the system can track player movements on the field, e.g., through the use of a tracking device mounted on the player, enabling the ball etc. to be launched to a player in anticipation of where the player will go. The system may include additional customization and/or logging options, e.g., permitting a player to designate a body position (e.g., above the head or near the knees) for delivery of the ball, designate a speed or hang time for delivery, or provide player data and analytics to an online or otherwise connected database.

A ball training or simulating device is provided. The ball training or simulating device comprises a modified ball coupled to a base by a motion transfer member. The modified ball allows for a lower, more natural, ball position, while the shape, position, and configuration of the motion transfer member provide for a verisimilar kicking experience. The ball training and/or simulating device can be coupled to a computing device to allow input from the modified ball to be used in a simulated or augmented reality game.

A ball target for use in sports training is provided which includes an upper member having an attachment member, the attachment member for attaching the upper member to a fixed object. The ball target further includes a target panel removably disposed on the upper member by a fastener. The fastener may be a first magnetic component attached to one of one of the upper member and the target panel, and a second magnetic component attached to another of the upper member and the target panel. The first magnetic component is attracted to the second magnetic component by a magnetic force.

A monitoring and play making recommendation system for the sport of football that uses a combination of historical and real-time data for proving a coaching recommendation. In one example, the coaching recommendation is based on a fourth-down play and includes a recommendation to attempt a field goal, punt, or attempt a fourth down conversion. Each recommendation is associated with a team's ultimate game winning probability. Data relied upon by the system can be changed based on predetermined profile data for various on-field teams or by changing individual team attributes based on the absence or presence of individual players. Recommendations are provided as visualizations and relayed to a user interface. The system may also work on a media platform for modifying live video feeds and presenting certain game winning opportunity graphics to home viewers.

The invention disclosed comprises an apparatus, method of using, assembling and stowing the apparatus, and a kit including the apparatus and components for training players to achieve lift when kicking a football that requires an angled trajectory. The invention functions to provide a physical point of reference and visual target for a kicker to establish consistent kicking skills and achieve predictable angles. The apparatus is sturdy, easily and reversibly disassembled, and stored as part of a durable, packable kit to organize the required training gear. The method includes a series of steps whereby the apparatus is assembled; a kicker kicks the ball; if the angle of the kick is sufficient to lift the ball over the apparatus it will go over the visual target, if not it will fall under the visual target. The kit comprises at least a carry bag with various pockets for the device and related equipment.

An automated football throwing system includes a route input system and display, a launch controller, and a football throwing device. In operation, a user inputs the route desired to be executed. A processor accesses a visual illustration of the route from the storage media and displays the visual illustration on the display. The data retrieval system accesses data regarding the launch variables which may include the lateral orientation, angle of elevation, and output speed corresponding to a selected route. The display plots the motion of the runner determined by a sensor to compare to the route for accuracy. The launch controller adjusts the football throwing device and the display screen in accordance with the launch variables for the specific route. The football throwing device includes a pair of coacting wheels adapted to propel a football, separated by a space in which a football may be inserted from a loading mechanism.

A wearable massage and/or compression device for applying controllable scrolling or intermittent sequential forces, such as compression forces, to the body and limbs of a user comprises an elongated fabric body sized to encircle a limb of a user, one or more shape-memory wires carried by the fabric body and configured to apply a compression pressure to the limb through the fabric body upon changing shape in response to a stimulus, and a micro-processor based controller for selectively actuating the one or more shape-changing elements to reduce the effective diameter of the device encircling the limb, to thereby apply pressure to the limb.

The invention relates to a system for collecting and processing data associated with players playing a ball game, where the ball comprises at least one RFID transmitter in the form of a passive RFID tag. For every player, an active RFID radio frequency sensor is worn on every limb authorized to come into contact with the ball, said RFID sensor being able to measure the instantaneous distance between the RFID sensor and the RFID transmitter from the strength of the radio frequency signal received from the RFID transmitter. An accelerometer measures the instantaneous acceleration of said limb. A microprocessor and a memory are used for time-stamping and storing the measurements output by the RFID sensor and the accelerometer for the purpose of post-processing. A central processing unit runs a program configured to read and process the data recorded in the memory units worn by the players and to deduce therefrom data representative of certain physical or technical information related to the play of the players.

A glove is provided and includes a cuff providing an opening to the glove. A back panel defines a first portion of finger sheaths and a thumb sheath and extends along the finger sheaths and the thumb sheath to the cuff. A palm panel is disposed on an opposite side of the glove from the back panel and defines a second portion of the finger sheaths and the thumb sheath. The palm panel is formed from a material having a greater coefficient of friction than a material of the back panel and extends along the finger sheaths and the thumb sheath to the cuff. The palm panel tapers in a direction from the finger sheaths to the cuff. A gusset extends between and is attached to the back panel and the palm panel and is formed from a different material than the back panel and the palm panel.