An apparatus and method of providing heat to hand-holding locations on a lacrosse stick shaft including a heating emitting element and a user-operable control. The apparatus and method may include one or more resistive heating elements connectable to a power source such as a battery. Charging of the power source may be by plug in charging, kinetic energy charging, contact charging, inductive charging, or by replacement of a battery. The apparatus and method may be configured for mounting within the stick shaft, for being mounted in an end piece at the butt end of the shaft, or being positioned on the outside of the shaft as a sleeve or wrap. The apparatus and method may include a chemical heating apparatus or phase change heating apparatus positioned within or on the stick shaft. The user control may be mounted in or on the end piece at the butt end of the shaft. An indicator may provide information to a user regarding status states of the operation of the lacrosse stick shaft heating or recharging.

A protective sports glove including a vent opening and an arched panel extending upward and over the vent opening. The glove can include a breathable material that extends across the vent opening to provide improved air flow to and from the interior of the glove. The arched panel can arch above the vent opening, and optional breathable material, so as to form a void under the panel, thereby providing impact protection to the wearer's hand while still enabling air to circulate through the vent opening to the wearer's hand. The arched panel can be configured to flex or bend when the hand is brought back toward the wearer's wrist or forearm, yet provide resistance to that backward movement to eliminate and/or reduce the overextension of the hand and wrist.

A protective digit shield for a protective sports glove, the shield having a hard chassis portion and an energy absorbing portion forming a hinge. The chassis portion provides an arcuate channel in which the thumb/digit is received. The chassis is segmented along the longitudinal axis to provide a proximal portion and a distal portion corresponding generally with the proximal and distal phalanx bones of the thumb/digit. A resilient, energy absorbing element along the channel provides separation between the chassis and forms a living hinge such that the chassis can rotate. The energy absorbing element may also include a damping element along opposing edges at the segmented joint to absorb and dissipate forces and prevent hyperextension. In an alternate embodiment, the energy absorbing element is replaced with a connection cable for connecting the portions of the chassis.

This present invention relates to a protective cover for use with a handle on a piece of sports equipment, such as a baseball bat, to protect the handle from the elements (e.g., rain, sleet, snow) and/or physical damage. The protective cover preferably includes a contoured interior with an integrated memory foam that provides a convenient location to place a pair of cleats or other accessory, a hook and loop fastener positioned on the exterior surface to attach additional accessories, and a patch or other surface upon which useful information may be recorded and displayed.

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.

Described is a knob for application to the gripping end of a hollow stick. The knob comprises a rounded, oblique, cylindrical support structure, transitional shaft and tang aligned on a common longitudinal central axis. The support structure comprises a greater diameter rounded, cantle-like support and gripping structures.

The present invention is directed to an improved sports helmet including a quick release connector assembly for the faceguard that allows for rapid disconnection of the faceguard from the helmet shell. The connector includes a bracket, and a coupler mechanism featuring an elongated pin, a head component, a spring, a retractable engaging element and a washer. The connector assembly is moveable between a use position, wherein the faceguard is secured to the shell by the bracket and the coupler mechanism, and a released position wherein the bracket and the faceguard are disconnected from the shell. An inwardly directed actuation force that lacks a rotational component is applied to the elongated pin to move from the use position to the released position.

An athletic training system and apparatuses which allows a user to practice several important skills needed to be successful in the game of lacrosse and of highest import affords user the ability to practice gaining possession of a ball at the beginning of the game and back after each score. The specifically designed structural elements of this device allow a player to practice endless repetitions of face-off and draw skills, while challenging the player to improve their form and quickness.

A shield for a lacrosse helmet, wherein the shield includes a shield structure having a shield front, a shield rear, a shield top, a shield bottom and shield sides, wherein the shield structure includes a mounting structure located proximate the shield bottom, wherein the mounting structure is configured to securely associate the shield structure with a front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the shield structure is arcuate in shape between the shield sides to conform to the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the lacrosse helmet shield further includes an impact absorbent material associated with the shield rear to be located between the shield rear and the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet when the helmet shield is associated with the lacrosse helmet.

A shoulder-pad system includes various components, including an impact-plate assembly and one or more sub-layers. The shoulder-pad system may be substantially retained in an arrangement or configuration using one or more securing garments. An exemplary securing garment includes an upper-body garment that at least partially wraps over, and attaches to, the impact-plate assembly.