A portable sports rack and delivery system including an elongate rack enclosure, and a method of use thereof are provided. The elongate rack enclosure defines a storage space for accommodating balls stacked one above the other. A delivery opening, disposed at a first end of the elongate rack enclosure, receives, accommodates, and delivers an uppermost ball from the storage space. A base member, attached to a second end of the elongate rack enclosure, supports the stacked balls within the storage space. A release component including a compression spring, disposed on an upper surface of the base member, elastically compresses and expands to elevate and release the uppermost ball from the storage space for delivery through the delivery opening. A training component, operably and adjustably coupled to a rear section of the elongate rack enclosure, extends above the first end of the elongate rack enclosure to assist in training a sportsperson.

The football player-worn target pad is a training device. The football player-worn target pad is a garment. The football player-worn target pad is worn by an athlete. The football player-worn target pad is configured for use in training for the game of American football. The football player-worn target pad provides targets used to aim the interpersonal impacts that commonly occur between a first athlete and a second athlete participating in American football. The football player-worn target pad incorporates a harness structure and a pad structure. The harness structure is worn by the first athlete. The pad structure presents a plurality of target images that are visible to the second athlete. The second athlete aims at the plurality of target images during the interpersonal impact between the second athlete and the first athlete.

According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Primarily because of its unique finger configurations, and/or grip enhancers, and/or hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove more operable in various sports activities.

Virtual and augmented reality sports training environments are disclosed. A user interacts with virtual players in a simulated environment of a virtual reality sporting event. In some embodiments, the user's actions and decisions are monitored by the simulated environment. The environment evaluates the user's performance, and provides quantitative scoring based on the user's decisions and timing. Coaches and other users may design customized scenarios or plays to train and test users, and the resultant scores may be reviewed by the coach. In one application, real life pitchers and their pitching data are tracked and replicated in a simulated pitching environment. A team of users may practice against a simulation of a pitcher they are about to compete against, swinging at pitches that they would see in a real game. Such environments may maximize effective practice time for users, and help develop better players with improved decision-making skills.

A sporting apparatus, system, method and/or computer program product may provide an electronically and programmably controlled sporting device, which may include a sporting robotic device, which may include one or more of: at least one pair of parallel panels facing one another forming a tunnel space, with an array of sensors on an inner periphery of the parallel panels; or a plurality of sensors arranged in an array on an inner periphery of a tunnel space; where the plurality of sensors is configured to detect, and sense a projectile following a path through the tunnel space; and at least one data collection system configured to: capture a time stamp and location of occurrence of a detection event, store the time stamp and the location of the detection event, and analyze a trajectory and path followed by the projectile through the tunnel space.

A tackle training system defines a frame configured for attachment to a player's body. The frame has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a center portion extending therebetween. The upper portion defines at least one attachment structure extending downwardly toward the lower portion, and the lower portion defines at least one attachment structure extending upwardly toward the upper portion generally vertically aligned with the attachment structure of the upper portion. The opposing attachment structures are for contacting opposing ends of a bar so as to removably attach and extend the bar between the upper and lower portions. The attachment structures of the frame limit movement of the removable bar generally to that of the frame and allow release of the removable bar from the frame when a force that overcomes an attachment force provided by the attachment structures is applied to the removable bar.

A training ball system comprising a training ball including a receiver for receiving a wireless signal from a remote location, the training ball further comprising a vibration module for providing a sensory indication to a user carrying the training ball; an input device physically separate from the training ball including a transmitter for enabling transmission of a wireless signal to the receiver; where the receiver responds to receiving a wireless signal from the input device to trigger vibration of the motor immediately upon receipt of the wireless signal.

A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible mast. The flexible mast may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The mast may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible mast. Some embodiments may be configured for training with lightweight balls, for example pickle balls. The mast may include a securing mechanism which attaches around one of the pre-existing holes of the ball's shell. In some embodiments, the mast may be modular including a mechanism to detach from and reattach to the basket at the user's will. When detached, the mast becomes a hand-held hitting system.

A system for sports training comprising an object comprising one or more sensors that allows the system to identify the location of the object. The object also may have a microprocessor and wireless transmitter to allow for transmission of the sensor data via wireless transmission to an external electronic device. A software application running on the electronic device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, receives the sensor data and incorporates the information into a game-like or training application. This application can display to the user which location the object should be for the game. This application can also analyze which patterns the player has difficulties with and suggest certain patterns and other advice to help the player to improve their skills. Use of ultra-wideband communication between objects and base stations can determine the position of objects for use in training in hockey or soccer.

A training device for performing a training kick includes a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface. The device further includes a ball, a front frame attached to the base and defining a first slot, a rear frame attached to the base between the front frame and the rear side of the base, the rear frame defining a second slot, a ball holder assembly comprising a first guide slidable within the first slot and a second guide slidable within the second slot, the ball holder assembly fixed to the ball and movable relative to the base such that the ball is movable in a kicking action toward the rear side from a first position to a second position, and a resistance band coupled to the base and operable to bias the ball holder toward the first position.