GB2608790A

GB2608790A - Sports training device

Info

Publication number: GB2608790A
Application number: GB2109315.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Felstead Day Julian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-06-29
Filing date: 2021-06-29
Publication date: 2023-01-18
Also published as: GB202109315D0

Abstract

Sports training device 10 comprises a base 12, a support post 14, an arm 16, head unit 18 with an attachment means 27. The arm may be pivotally attached to the support post with a hinge. There may be a biasing means 20 to maintain the arm in the required position. A pull cord 22 may be provided to lower the head unit. A downward facing magnet 26 may be installed in the head unit. A training ball may have a magnet or metal piece to enable attachment via the magnet in the head unit. The training device may have a netball ring, target or bounce back net attached to the support post. Another embodiment has a rope or cable which can be looped over an elevated structure with a head unit attached. Another embodiment has a arm which can be held by a user.

Description

Sports Training Device Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to a sports training device. The invention is primarily intended for teaching kids how to mark the ball in an Australian Rules Football (AFL) game or how to catch the ball overhead in a netball game, but is not limited to this use, and can also be used for other sports.

Background of the Invention

[2] Historically in various ball sports there have been challenges in training young (8-12yo) kids the correct technical skills of components of these sports from a young age. A large impediment to learning correct technique at a young age is that the main variable being the movement of the ball is not a constant.

[3] To illustrate the issue, in AFL football as an example, marking a ball with both hands in accordance with the Codes own teaching instructions: [4] Main Teaching Points * Line your body up with the flight of the ball. Keep your "eyes on the ball".

* Jump off one foot and swing the other knee up to gain maximum height.

* Eyes are kept on the ball, fingers are outstretched and thumbs almost together.

* The ball is met slightly in front of the head with arms extended -"long arms".

* It should be firmly gripped in the fingers.

[5] All of the points above assume movement of a ball whilst the youth is still yet to really learn the correct skill and technique required to correctly practice these points. These aspects are normally learnt at a much later stage in the youths sporting development when the youth has the co-ordination / skill to read the flight of the ball in the air and the basic skills.

[6] Similar skills in catching the ball overhead or in front in a pass or rebound situation are needed in other sports such as netball and basketball.

[7] With an increase in junior participation in AFL Football and netball, both locally and overseas, there has been a notable decline in players ability to mark a ball overhead, at the highest possible point in an AFL football game, as well as a decline in kids being able to catch a ball overhead as in a netball game.

[8] Currently there are no known solutions to overcome the shortcomings in teaching technical aspects of ball sports involving keeping a sporting ball suspended and stationary in order to teach youth the correct techniques required in their chosen sport in a controlled, consistent, repetitively manner. (spiking a volleyball, heading a football, rebounding a netball orbasketball, marking an AFL football) [9] The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[10] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

[11] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a sports training device comprising: a base, a support post extending upwardly from the base, an arm to extend laterally from the support post, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.

[12] Preferably, the arm is pivotably attached via a hinge to the support post.

[13] Preferably, a biasing means extends between the arm and the support post to maintain the desired position of the arm relative to the support post.

[14] Preferably, a pull cord is provided to the arm to allow a person to pull the arm down against the force of the biasing means to lower the head unit as needed.

[15] Preferably, the attachment means comprises a downwardly facing magnet installed in the head unit.

[16] The invention also provides a training assembly comprising: the device the above, and a training ball for the device fitted with a corresponding magnet or metal piece at an internal surface thereof, which will allow the training ball to be attachable to the head unit in a removable manner.

[17] Preferably, the training ball is as AFL Football, soccer football, rugby or rugby league football, basketball, volleyball, or netball.

[18] The invention also provides a sports training device comprising: an arm attachable to a structure to extend laterally therefrom, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.

[19] The invention also provides a sports training device comprising: a rope or cable which can be looped over an existing elevated structure, and a head unit at a distal end of the rope or cable, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.

[20] The invention also provides a sports training device comprising: an arm to be held by a user, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.

[21] The invention also provides a training assembly comprising: a head unit having an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto, the attachment means comprising a downwardly facing magnet installed in the head unit, and a training ball for the head unit fitted with a corresponding magnet or metal piece at an internal surface thereof, which will allow the training ball to be attachable to the head unit in a removable manner.

[22] The invention also provides a sports workstation comprising: the device of the first aspect above, and additional training feature attached to the support post comprising one or more of a netball ring, a target, and a bounce back net, [23] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings [24] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [25] Figure 1 shows a sports training device according to a preferred embodiment; [26] Figure 2 illustrates placement of magnets in a ball and in the head unit of the sports training device; [27] Figure 3 shows the sports training device in use; [28] Figure 4 shows reattachment of the ball to the sports training device; [29] Figure 5 shows folding of the sports training device for transport/storage; [30] Figure 6 shows another alternative embodiment of the sports training device; [31] Figure 7 shows another alternative embodiment of the sports training device; [32] Figure 8 shows a sports training workstation; and [33] Figure 9 shows a quick clamp for the workstation.

Description of Embodiments

[34] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[35] Figure 1 shows a sports training device 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sports training device 10 comprises a base 12, a support post 14 extending upwardly from the base 12, an arm 16 to extend laterally from an upper end of the support post 14, and a head unit 18 at a distal end of the arm 16.

[36] The base 12 provides a wide support to stabilize the sports training device 10 on a ground surface. The base 12 can also include spikes or apertures for spikes for inversion into the ground if desired. The support post 14 extends upwardly to a height of about 1 meter or longer. The arm 16 is pivotably attached via a hinge 17 to an upper end of the support post 14. The arm 16 in its typical extended use position extends generally laterally and slightly upwardly from the support post 14.

[37] A biasing means 20 is used maintain the desired extended use position of the arm 16 relative to the support post 14. The biasing means 20 in the embodiment is a gas strut. A pull cord 22 is provided to the arm 16 to allow a person to pull the arm 16 down against the force of the biasing means 20 to lower the head unit 18 as needed. The height of the support post 14 is preferably adjustable, and the angle of the arm 16 to the support post 14 in the extended use position thereof is also preferably adjustable.

[38] The head unit 18 is disposed at the distal end of the arm 16 and as shown in Figure 2 includes a downwardly facing magnet 26. The head unit 18 is thus spaced away from the base 12 and the support post 14. A training ball 30 for the device 10 is fitted with a corresponding magnet 28 at an internal surface thereof, which will allow the training ball 30 to be attachable to the head unit 18 in a removable manner. The magnets 26 and 28 form a removable attachment means 27 between the head unit 18 and the training ball 30.

[39] Other removable attachment means 27 are also possible such as hook and loop patches (VelcroTM) or corresponding button halves between the head unit 18 and the training ball 30. Magnets are however preferred due to ease of use and attachment strength. The magnetic removable attachment means between the head unit 18 and the training ball 30 can alternatively include a magnet on one and a metal piece on the other (e.g. magnet on head unit 18 and metal piece on the training ball 30). The removable attachment means can also be a downward clamp for clamping a portion of the ball to hang the training ball from the head unit.

[40] The training ball 30 can be any desired sports ball such as AFL Football, soccer football, rugby or rugby league football, basketball, volleyball, netball, etc. [41] The example shown is an AFL football 30 with a magnet or metal piece at a point thereof. In use, as shown in Figure 3, the training ball 30 is attached to the head unit 18 to hang therefrom, with the training ball 30 being set at a desired height to teach a user 50 to jump and mark the ball as per the teaching points above. The user 50 marks the ball -by jumping and gripping the ball 30 at which the ball 30 is released from the head unit 18 as the user 50 drops back to the ground. This simulates the user 50 catching and bringing a flying ball down in marking. As shown in Figure 4, once the user 50 marks the training ball 30, the device 10 can be "reset" by pulling the cord 22 to bring the head unit 18 down to a height at which the user can reattach the training ball 30 to the head unit 18. Releasing the cord 22 returns the head unit 18 with the training ball 30 attached thereto back to the desired training height. The example shown can be repeated for other sports as desired such as netball. A netball ball can have the corresponding magnet in its inner surface as described for removable attachment to the head unit 18. A user 50 can then use the device 10 to practice catching the netball ball overhead or from the front as in a rebound or passing situation. As shown in Figure 5, the biasing means 20 can be removed to fold the arm 16 down to a transporUstorage position adjacent the support post 14.

[42] The invention thus provides a sports trainer comprising an arm on a hinged pivot section that has a magnetic head unit designed to hold the loads of various sporting balls as applicable to the particular sport. The device works by attaching the ball to the magnetic head unit. The gas strut is used so the operator (should they not be tall enough to reach) can pull on the handle attached by a cord to lower the head unit to reattach the ball.

[43] The Technique Trainer device has multiple applications across numerous ball sports training including: * Football (AFL) -marking, catching * Football (soccer) -heading * Football (Rugby) -catching * Basketball -catching, rebounding * Volleyball -spiking * Netball -catching, rebounding * American Football (NFL) -catching [44] The device is applicable to any sport that requires jumping to contact / contest / catch /hit / kick a ball from an elevated position of the ball.

[45] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the sports training device 10b, being a device attachable to an existing structure such as a post or goal post 200. The sports training device 10a omits the base 12, but similarly comprises the support post 14, the arm 16 extending laterally from an upper end of the support post 14, the gas strut 20 between the arm 16 and the support post 14, and the head unit 18 at the distal end of the arm 16. The support post 14 can be attached to the post 200 via any suitable means such as straps, bolts, or other fasteners. The head unit 18 can also be attached to a rope or cable which can then be looped over an existing elevated structure such as a goal crossbar.

[46] The head unit and corresponding training ball can also be provided by themselves at which the user can choose to mount the head unit as needed to a structure such as a beam or to hang from a rope or cable.

[47] Figure 7 shows another alternative embodiment of the sports training device 10c, being a handheld device 10c. The sports training device 10c omits the base 12 and the support post 14, but includes the arm 16 and the head unit 18 at the distal end of the arm 16. The proximal end of the arm 16 can be held by a user 201 to position the ball 30 as needed. This embodiment is useful for training smaller children for example.

[48] Figure 8 shows a sports training workstation 100 which also includes the base 12 (in the form of a tripod), the support post 14, the arm 16 extending laterally from an upper end of the support post 14, and the head unit 18 at the distal end of the arm 16. Also extending from the support posts are additional training features such as a netball ring 110, a target 120, and a bounce back net 130 all attached to the support post 14 via quick clamps 115 (Figure 9).

Claims

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A sports training device comprising: a base, a support post extending upwardly from the base, an arm to extend laterally from the support post, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm is pivotably attached via a hinge to the support post.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein a biasing means extends between the arm and the support post to maintain the desired position of the arm relative to the support post.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein a pull cord is provided to the arm to allow a person to pull the arm down against the force of the biasing means to lower the head unit as needed.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a downwardly facing magnet installed in the head unit.
6. A training assembly comprising: the device of claim 5, and a training ball for the device fitted with a corresponding magnet or metal piece at an internal surface thereof, which will allow the training ball to be attachable to the head unit in a removable manner.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the training ball is an AFL Football, soccer football, rugby or rugby league football, basketball, volleyball, or netball.
8. A sports training device comprising: an arm attachable to a structure to extend laterally therefrom, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein a biasing means extends between the arm and the support post to maintain the desired position of the arm relative to the support post.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein the attachment means comprises a downwardly facing magnet installed in the head unit.
11. A sports training device comprising: a rope or cable which can be looped over an existing elevated structure, and a head unit at a distal end of the rope or cable, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.
12. A sports training device comprising: an arm to be held by a user, and a head unit at a distal end of the arm, wherein the head unit includes an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball thereto.
13. A training assembly comprising: a head unit having an attachment means for removable attachment of a training ball, the attachment means comprising a downwardly facing magnet installed in the head unit, and a training ball for the head unit fitted with a corresponding magnet or metal piece at an internal surface thereof, which will allow the training ball to be attachable to the head unit in a removable manner.
14. A sports workstation comprising: The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, and additional training feature attached to the support post comprising one or more of a netball ring, a target, and a bounce back net.