A sports training system includes an array of break beam sensors. Each sensor is configured to detect a passage of an object, such as a hockey puck, between adjacent posts and provide information for the passage to a controller communicatively attached to the array of sensors. A mobile application is configured to receive information from the controller and provide, for presentation to a user, passage statistics for the passages completed by one or more players. Servers are located in at least one data center. The servers are configured to receive and store the passage statistics and to provide access to the passage statistics.

A compressible core with an RFID tag is described. The compressible core comprises an RFID integrated circuit, and an inlay material sandwiched between a top hemisphere and a bottom hemisphere. The RFID integrated circuit includes a memory that stores a unique identifier. The inlay material includes an RFID antenna electrically coupled to the RFID integrated circuit. The top hemisphere of the compressible core is separated from the bottom hemisphere of the compressible core. The inlay with the RFID antenna and the RFID integrated circuit placed between the top and bottom hemispheres. The top hemisphere, the inlay and the bottom hemisphere are joined together forming a compressible core. Additionally, the molded shell encapsulates the compressible core.

A method of operating an electronic basketball scoreboard apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving a game parameter; operating a basketball game based upon the received game parameter; receiving a first indication of a ball passing through a first basketball hoop; receiving a second indication of a ball passing through a second basketball hoop; determining a first score of the basketball game based on the first indication from the first score sensor; determining a second score of the basketball game based on the second indication from the second score sensor; recording video of the basketball game; transmitting the recorded video; and transmitting the first score and the second score.

A sensing system and method determines whether a slow pitch softball has been delivered in a strike zone. The system includes: a dual, mirror image slow-pitch software home plate; the home plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface configured for attachment to ground; the upper surface comprising a pressure or impact sensing array covering at least edges of the upper surface of the home plate; the sensing array having a battery source for powering the system; the sensing array issuing an electrical signal when sensing pressure or impact; and the electrical signal connected to an audio or visual output device that indicates receiving of the electrical signal by a visual or audio emission.

A basketball system comprising a court system having shot locations defined by shot location lines on the play surface and the shot areas defined by shot area lines on the play surface, and a goal system comprising a respective backboard suspended above the play surface at each opposing farthest end of the play surface, an instrumentation system comprises sensors to detect activities within the boundary line of the court system, and a respective penalty box for each team in which players, coaches, and referees can serve a penalty assessed for an infraction.

A sports training system includes an array of break beam sensors. Each sensor is configured to detect a passage of an object, such as a hockey puck, between adjacent posts and provide information for the passage to a controller communicatively attached to the array of sensors. A mobile application is configured to receive information from the controller and provide, for presentation to a user, passage statistics for the passages completed by one or more players. Servers are located in at least one data center. The servers are configured to receive and store the passage statistics and to provide access to the passage statistics.

Systems and methods for assisting a user with creating a custom shots-made basketball practice arrangement are provided. A detector detects made basketball shots. A user interface receives a user selection of a subset of pass receipt locations for a custom shots-made basketball practice arrangement located about a basketball playing surface. A control system receives data indicating the user selection and a number of shots to be made and commands an ejector to launch basketballs to a particular one of the pass receipt locations in the subset until data is received indicating that the selected number of shots to be made are made at the particular one of said plurality of pass receipt locations, cease launching the basketballs to the particular one of the pass receipt locations, and begins launching basketballs to a second particular one of the pass receipt locations in said subset.

A ground traversing, electrically driven drone travels along a preprogrammed path that corresponds to pass catcher's travel path during a play, matching the pass catcher's speed and run cuts. The play is wirelessly communicated to the drone by a handheld electronic device located remote of the drone. A target is located on the drone so that a quarterback can throw a football at the target in order to refine the quarterback's timing and accuracy for the play. Sensors onboard the drone track both the football's and quarterback's speed and travel trajectories so that such data can be collected, along with the drone's travel path, and stored onboard the drone's control unit and eventually fed into 3-D reconstruction software for analysis by the quarterback and coaching staff. The target rotates so that the target either faces in a fixed direction or constantly faces the quarterback during execution of drone's maneuvers.

A ground traversing, electrically driven drone travels along a programmed path that corresponds to pass catcher's travel path during a play, matching the pass catcher's speed and run cuts. The play is wirelessly communicated to the drone by a handheld electronic device located remote of the drone. A target is located on the drone so that a quarterback can throw a football at the target in order to refine the quarterback's timing and accuracy for the play. Sensors located remote of the drone track both the football's and quarterback's speed and travel trajectories so that such data can be collected, along with the drone's travel path, and transmitted to the computer and eventually fed into 3-D reconstruction software for analysis by the quarterback and coaching staff. The target rotates so that the target either faces in a fixed direction or constantly faces the quarterback during execution of drone's maneuvers.

A basketball performance monitoring system sensor including at least one sensor proximate a basketball goal having a backboard, a rim coupled to the backboard, and a net having strings coupled to the rim; the at least one sensor configured to determine shot information, the shot information comprising both an impact of a basketball with at least one of the backboard and the rim, and a shot passing through the rim; a local microprocessor coupled to the at least one sensor; a housing containing both the at least one sensor and the local microprocessor; the housing includes geometric features to reduce the likelihood of tangling housing in the net; and the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; wherein the first end of the housing extends outside the net; wherein the second end of housing includes an arm extending inside the net.