A training apparatus for use in tackle training, comprises an elongate contact pad having a front surface; and at least two laterally extending elongate members disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the elongate contact pad, wherein the laterally extending elongate members are disposed to the rear of the elongate contact pad, which provides an effective training apparatus for improvements in collisions, tackles and especially the grapple tackle in rugby, thereby improving point of contact, height of approach and arm grip strength.

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.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a server processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the server processor with time stamps. The server processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

A method for motion data processing includes: sensing a plurality of motion data of football player by a magnetic football and magnetic sensors; according to the motion data, analyzing the player's motion trajectory by a processing chip, and identifying whether the player's kicking motion is sliding tackle, smashing or dribbling.

A sports ball is provided. The sports ball may include a bladder and a cover disposed about the bladder, wherein the cover includes a plurality of adjoining panels and defines an exterior surface. The cover further defines a plurality of channels extending radially inward from the exterior surface. The plurality of channels includes a plurality of peripheral channel segments and a plurality of interior channel segments. The plurality of peripheral channel segments each define a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of panels. Each channel of the plurality of interior channel segments is provided within a central region of one or more of the panels and divide the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions.

The present disclosure provides for various objects (weights, playing apparatuses, balls, clothing, etc.) that have liquid disposed in them to assist in building and strengthening small muscle fibers and/or nerves. The various objects can include weights, playing apparatuses such as objects that can be swung in sports, balls, and clothing or other objects that can be worn by humans or other animals. The objects include fluid paths and redirections walls disposed within the fluid paths to direct fluid flow to particular areas within the objects. The designated areas to where fluid flow is directed aid in development of small muscle fibers and/or nerves due to the fluid sloshing around at those particular locations. Methods of making and using the various objects disclosed are also provided.

Disclosed is a rugby-ball sports speaker that includes a flexible protective sleeve defined with an opening and an accommodating cavity communicating with the opening. The speaker further includes at least one receiving casing defined with a receiving slot, the receiving casing being accommodated inside the accommodating cavity and resisting an inner wall of the flexible protective sleeve. The speak further includes at least one speaker assembly received inside the receiving slot and resisting an inner wall of the receiving casing. The speaker further includes a net cover covering the opening and fixedly connected to the flexible protective sleeve, the net cover sealing the receiving casing within the accommodating cavity. The technical solution of this disclosure is designed to enable the user to simultaneously enjoy the fun of throwing and kicking as well as listening to music relying solely on the rugby ball, thus augmenting the user experience.

A ball holder for punt training has a base, a length-adjustable post, a support arm, an intermediary connector, and a gripper. The ball holder is designed to be used in a set of two ball holders are positioned on opposite sides of a ball. Thus positioned, the two ball holders retain the ball at an optimal height for being punted. One end of the length-adjustable post is mounted to the base, such that the length-adjustable post is oriented perpendicular to the base. The support arm is laterally mounted onto the length-adjustable post to form a cantilever that retains the ball in a position offset from the length-adjustable post. The intermediary connector is a flexible fastening device that is connected in between the support arm and the gripper. Accordingly, the intermediary connector enables the gripper to be moved out of the way when an athlete punts the ball.

A device, sometimes mobile, which simulates human motion, such as an omnidirectional sensing target. The target that can detect and differentiate between projectile (bullet) hits to the head, body, and one or more peripheral regions (e.g., arms, pelvis, legs) of a humanoid-form target, elicit a physical response from the mobile device based upon the sensing data, and provide real time feedback to a user (shooter) via a user-friendly interface. The target includes multiple layers of conductive material separated by one or more insulating layers. Forming can be by wrapping planar sensing panel into a three-dimensional configuration such that the panel occludes a three-dimensional volume and presents surfaces sensing projectiles from all directions. Associated circuitry is configured to have a bullet pass through multiple zones and to electronically detect the bullet path based on a combination and/or sequence of zones detecting bullet passage.