A training apparatus is disclosed that comprises an obstacle member defining a pass-under area for a sports player to pass a sport-projectile through when in use. The training apparatus comprises a first sensor that is configured to detect the sport-projectile passing through the pass-under area, and a controller that is configured to determine a pass-through direction of the sport-projectile that passes through the pass-under area based on data received from the first sensor. The training apparatus also comprises a lighting fixture indicating an instructed pass-through direction for the sports player to pass the sport-projectile through the pass-under area. A system for training a sports player is described that comprises a plurality of training apparatuses that are remotely configurable to define a training drill for a sports player and to collect training data from execution of the training drill. A method for training a sports player is also disclosed.

A removable cover for a lacrosse stick of the type having an elongated hollow shaft having an outer surface and an inner surface and an interior channel extending therethrough and a free end portion with an open end which serves as a handle portion of said lacrosse stick. The cover includes an end cap configured and dimensioned to be removably mountable in a friction fit manner on the free end portion of the hollow shaft. The end cap has a head portion and an elongated, resilient hollow body portion attached to said head portion and insertable into the open end of the free end portion of the hollow shaft. A flexible, resilient, membrane-like, tubular sheath is removably mountable on the outer surface of the free end portion of the hollow shaft and is movable thereon between a furled position in which the sheath is rolled longitudinally on and along said free end portion of the hollow shaft onto itself to form a rolled-up tubular sheath disposed adjacent to the end cap, and an unfurled position, in which the rolled-up tubular sheath is unrolled longitudinally on and along the outer surface of the free end portion of the hollow shaft. The tubular sheath is dimensioned to create a friction fit when mounted on the hollow shaft. The sheath has a flap which is inserted into the open end and interior channel of the shaft. Both the sheath and the flap are removably secured to the end cap.

A method for selecting a most suitable golf club from a set, where the shafts of the set are of different levels of flexibility along the shaft, includes using a pressure sensing mat upon which the player places both feet while carrying out a sample swing to measure forces applied by feet of the player during the stroke. The pressure sensing mat provides output signals indicative of vertical forces, lateral forces, both heel to toe and side to side, lateral speed, both heel to toe and side to side applied by the feet of the player during the swing and a processor operating on the signals selects certain ones of the output signals to calculate a load factor from the selected signals which is used to select one of the set most suitable for use by the player using a color coding system applied to the load factor.

A sporting good implement, such as a hockey stick or ball bat, includes a main body. The main body may be formed from multiple layers of a structural material, such as a fiber-reinforced composite material. One or more microlattice structures may be positioned between layers of the structural material. One or more microlattice structures may additionally or alternatively be used to form the core of a sporting good implement, such as a hockey-stick blade. The microlattice structures improve the performance, strength, or feel of the sporting good implement.

A hockey-stick blade includes a heel region, a toe region spaced longitudinally from the heel region, and a mid-region located between the heel region and the toe region. The toe region includes one or more reinforcing elements, optionally of different lengths, located at different vertical positions within the toe region. The blade further includes a hosel that optionally is tailored to substantially match the strength and stiffness characteristics of an attached or integral hockey stick shaft. The mid-region of the blade exhibits improved feel and flexibility characteristics due to the increased stiffness in the toe region.

Methods, systems, and techniques for automated detection of goals and announcement of same are provided. The system includes a modified hockey puck and a set of goal units that can be mounted on a hockey goal. Within the puck are light sources, motion sensors, infrared transmitters, and a power source. Within the goal units are light sources, infrared sensors, and a microcontroller. When the goal units are mounted on the hockey goal, the infrared sensors form a detection area through which the puck must pass in order to count as a goal. The infrared transmitter of the puck and the infrared sensors of the goal units communicate with one another, and, when an infrared signal is received, the microcontroller automatically triggers one or more annunciator devices, such as visual, auditory, or haptic devices, to automatically indicate that a goal has been scored without human intervention.

A skating aid comprising novelty figure, such as a snowman, from which a stick or handle, similar to the handle of the hockey stick, protrudes is described. The base of the novelty figure typically has two flat sections proximate its bottom angled relative to each other with the first flat section defining a storage position of the aid when it is not in use, and the second flat section defining a skating position for the aid when in use.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to improved ergonomic hockey sticks and hockey goalie sticks having shafts and paddles with variable geometric shapes and facets for enhanced gripping ability, and methods for the production thereof.

An apparatus and a method that provides a helmet cap with an embedded visor on the inside of said helmet cap to train a wearer of a football helmet to correctly position the head in an up position when tacking and blocking during sports play. The cap can be detachably but securely attached to a football helmet and upper facemask in a position where it does not obstruct the view of the helmet wearer to a position where it does obstruct the helmet wearer's view and thus forces the helmet wearer to look up.

An athletic training system has a data recording system and a data engine. The data recording system is configured to record an athletic competition event. The event may have a first team of players competing against a second team of players. The data engine is configured to receive data associated with the recorded athletic competition event. The data engine processes the data and displays the data as a replay of the event in animated form.