Abstract:
A football training apparatus, system and method utilizes a microcontroller-LED display, located on a football-type projectile, wherein a visual display is displayed by a display element during spiral motion of the projectile. The visual display may be, for example, a word, symbol or color. To train a receiving player&#39;s ball-watching skills, the player is instructed to call out the visual display while the ball is spiraling and in flight in his direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to football training apparatus and method and, more particularly, an apparatus and method for training a football receiver&#39;s ability to watch and receive a thrown football. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The secret of successfully catching a football begins, not surprisingly, with a receiver learning to carefully watch the ball as it spirals toward him in a game situation. A receiver who watches the ball carefully has an enhanced chance of making a successful reception, as compared to a receiver who may be looking elsewhere—e.g., downfield—at the critical moment that the ball arrives. 
         [0003]    Understanding that a receiver needs to work on watching the ball carefully is one thing, but training that skill is an entirely different thing. Moreover, to a watching coach, there may be no way of knowing whether the receiver, during practice, is in fact watching the ball with sufficient care—since of course the coach has no way of getting inside the player&#39;s head, or seeing what the player is seeing. The present invention is concerned with an apparatus and method that allows receivers to work on their ball-watching skills, and to do so in a way that will be verifiable to a watching coach. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a football training apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown; a display element positionable on the projectile; wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED&#39;s; wherein the LED&#39;s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a football training system is disclosed. The system comprises, in combination: at least one substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown; first and second display elements positionable on the projectile; wherein each of the display element comprises a plurality of LED&#39;s; wherein the LED&#39;s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and wherein the first and second display elements display different visual displays. 
         [0006]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a football training method is disclosed, The method comprises: providing a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown having a display element positionable on the projectile, wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED&#39;s, and wherein the LED&#39;s are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and instructing a receiving player to audibly identify the visual display as the projectile is in spiral motion in a direction toward the receiving player, 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a training apparatus, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a top, perspective view of another embodiment of a training apparatus, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1D  is a bottom, perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1A-1B , an embodiment of a football training apparatus  10   a  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The training apparatus  10   a  preferably is a projectile having the traditional shape and visual aspect of a traditional football—though other shapes, which still allow a player to throw a spiral, may also be provided. The critical attribute is that the training apparatus needs to have the ability to be thrown and to spiral when thrown. The apparatus  10   a,  in this embodiment, includes stripes  14  and laces  16 . 
         [0012]    Reference is now made to display element  12   a,  which is a column of light emitting diodes (“LED&#39;s”). The LED&#39;s are controlled by a microcontroller (not shown), which keeps track of the exact position of the LED&#39;s while the ball is spinning. The LED&#39;s illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over again each time the LED&#39;s are in the same location. The visual display may be a word, color, symbol, or other desired image. 
         [0013]    To utilize the apparatus  10   a,  a passer will throw it to a receiver. As the apparatus  10   a  rotates, the LED&#39;s will display the visual display to the receiver. A receiver carefully watching the ball can then read the visual display and call it out—a process that will train the receiver to watch the ball carefully and that will alert the coach that the player is in fact doing so. 
         [0014]    It may be desired to provide a set of apparatuses  10   a,  each displaying a different visual display, so that a receiver will not be able to guess the word from previously receiving the same ball. Alternatively, the microcontroller may be programmed to display different visual displays on successive throws, to address this same concern. Different visual displays may be used to make training progressively more difficult; for example, colors may be easier than words and words may be easier than symbols, or otherwise as desired. 
         [0015]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1B , the stripe  14  having the display element  12   a  is a removable band, which may be placed on the apparatus  10   a  or removed therefrom as desired. This provides a number of advantages. First, this permits the use of a prior art football as the apparatus  10   a,  with the display element  12   a  provided separately. Second, this may more readily permit the display of different visual displays, by for example providing a set of display elements  12   a  each having one or more different visual displays. 
         [0016]    Referring now to Referring first to  FIGS. 1C-1D , an embodiment of a football training apparatus  10   b  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Like the training apparatus  10   a,  the training apparatus  10   b  preferably is a projectile having the traditional shape and visual aspect of a traditional football—though other shapes, which still allow a player to throw a spiral, may also be provided. The apparatus  10   a,  in this embodiment, includes laces  16  but not stripes. 
         [0017]    Reference is now made to display element  12   b,  which, like display element  12   a,  is a column of, controlled by a microcontroller (not shown), which keeps track of the exact position of the LED&#39;s while the ball is spinning. As with the display element  12   a,  the LED&#39;s in the display element  12   b  illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over again each time the LED&#39;s are in the same location. 
         [0018]    The primary difference between the apparatus  10   b  and the apparatus  10   a  is that, with respect to the apparatus  10   a,  the display element  12   b  is affixed to the apparatus  10   b,  rather than applied as a removable band. Such affixing may be by adhering the display element  12   b  using a glue or tape backing to a prior art football, or by incorporating the display element  12   b  more permanently into a football that is manufactured specially to be utilized with the method of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Where the display element  12   b  is removable, it may be desired, as noted above with respect to display element  12   a,  to provide a set of display elements  12   b,  so as to be able to vary the visual display—e.g., different types of visual displays (words v. colors) or different visual displays within a particular type (e.g., different colors, different words, etc.). Other alternatives include providing a plurality of apparatus  10   b,  each displaying a different visual display, or a programmable display element  12   b  capable of displaying different visual displays on successive throws. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the size of the display element  12   a  or  12   b  may be variable, to provide progressive training options (i.e., the introduction of progressively smaller display elements  12   a / 12   b ) The amount of time that the visual display is flashed may also be varied, again to permit progressive training. It may be desired, as well, to provide a display element  12   a / 12   b  capable of displaying more than one visual display in sequence on a single throw, also to provide a variation and increased level of difficult. 
         [0021]    It should be noted that with respect to training apparatus  10   a  or  10   b,  it may be desired to provide a display element  12   a / 12   b  that always displays the same visual display, such as the name of a particular school, sports team, or the like. Such a training apparatus  12   a / 12   b  could be used for training purposes as described herein, or may have a primarily novelty use. 
         [0022]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.