A basketball return chute assembly includes a chute and a backboard attachment device. The chute is adapted to receive a ball from a basketball basket assembly attached to a backboard and direct the received ball back to a game player. The backboard attachment device is connected to the chute and is adapted to attach to the backboard, to place the chute beneath the basket assembly, and to cause the chute to direct the received ball in a direction away from the backboard. The backboard attachment device is connected to the chute via a hinge. The chute includes a slide with a knuckle at one end and the backboard attachment device includes a plate with another knuckle at one end. The slide is one leaf of the hinge, and the plate is the other leaf of the hinge. The hinge is held together using a pin inserted through the knuckles.

A freestanding basketball backstop assembly returns basketballs shot at a basketball hoop to a player positioned at a location spaced apart from the basketball hoop. A net support has a base and side legs, with vertical rods removably insertable into sockets of the side legs and threaded through sleeves extending from the side edges of the net peripheral border. The base is placed in front of the post supporting the basketball backboard. In one embodiment, the net is arranged behind the post supporting the backboard, and a slit opening in the bottom periphery of the net receives a portion of the post supporting the backboard. In other embodiments, the net remains in front of the post supporting the backboard, and the vertical rods are set variably to place the net in different angle orientations so that the assembly may be used either as a backstop assembly, or as a defender barrier in front of the basketball basket or as a barrier or practice net for other sports.

A basketball dribbling pad is provided to provide dribbling feedback to a user or a coach. The basketball dribbling pad can measure dribble speed, dribble force, and/or dribble height and provide live feedback to a computer or a mobile device. The computer or mobile device can also store the history so that progress of the athlete can be monitored.

Methods and apparatus relating to predicting outcome in a sporting environment are described. The methods and apparatus are used to relate trajectory performance of an object to body motions and body orientation associated with a generating the trajectory of the object. When equipment is utilized to generate the trajectory of an object, than the effects of equipment motions and equipment orientation can be also related to trajectory performance. The method and apparatus can be used to predict body motions and body orientations that increase the likelihood of achieving a desired outcome including specifying optimum motions and orientations for a particular individual. The method and apparatus may be used in training, coaching and broadcasting environments.

A method for providing an enhanced sports training experience comprising providing a user with a wearable near-eye display, capturing an image in a user's field of vision, detecting the presence of a basketball hoop in the image, the basketball hoop having an associated backboard, using an image processor to determine a three dimensional position of the hoop relative to the near-eye display, calculating an ideal trajectory between the user and the hoop, whereby a basketball following the trajectory will pass through the basketball hoop, determining the apex of the trajectory, and displaying on the near-eye display, a visual graphic at the trajectory apex, the visual graphic representing a target.

A basketball performance monitoring system comprising a local microprocessor in communication with a remote computational system. At least one sensor is coupled to the microprocessor. The at least one sensor is coupled to a basketball goal and is configured to sense at least one of an attempt to score a goal and a successful goal. A first display is coupled to the microprocessor and a second display is coupled to the remote computational system.

Systems and methods for providing performance feedback regarding a basketball practice session are provided. A user interface associated with the basketball launching machine accepts user input indicating a subset of various locations at a basketball playing area for a basketball launching machine to provide basketball passes for a player to catch and shoot towards a basketball goal for said basketball practice session. At least one detection device ascertains whether the player succeeds in making a goal, and at least one processor retrieves data from the detection device and generates graphical output indicating the player's success in making goals for the basketball practice session displayed in a spatial layout visually corresponding to where the basketballs were passed.

Systems and methods for assisting a user with creating a custom basketball practice arrangement are provided. An ejector launches basketballs toward each of a plurality of pass receipt locations located about a basketball playing surface. A user interface receives a user selection of a subset of the pass receipt locations and a revisionary user selection excluding at least one of the pass receipt locations in the subset and including at least one new one of the pass receipt locations in the subset. A control system receives data from said user interface and commands the ejector to launch at least one basketball towards each of the pass receipt locations in the subset as revised following said revisionary user selection.

A powered spinning training/therapy apparatus for rotating a body of a person comprises a spinning apparatus. The spinning apparatus includes a chassis and a rotatable platform supported by the chassis for rotation about a vertical platform axis. The rotatable platform is configured to support the body of the person in an upright orientation with the vertical platform axis passing through the body of the person. A drive unit is operatively connected to the rotatable platform for rotating the rotatable platform about the vertical platform axis and has sufficient power to rotate the rotatable platform and the body of the person disposed thereon at a rotational speed of at least 0.1 RPM. A controller is provided for controlling the drive unit and thereby controlling the rotation of the rotatable platform.

An interactive sports training system, including a basketball hoop on a basketball platform, a metal structure connected to the basketball hoop, a main post connected to the basketball hoop and the metal structure, a plurality of back structure bars connected to the main post, a plurality of foldable ground construction bars connected to the main post, a plurality of side nets positioned to form a triangular structure with the main posts and the plurality of foldable ground construction bars connected to the main post, a football post located in a football platform, and a plurality of metal mesh bars. The plurality of metal mesh bars provide connection of the plurality of side nets with a telescopic mesh carrier structure.