Precision basketball-handling training tool

A precision ball-handling training tool develops accuracy and proficiency in basketball control of an athlete performing no-look dribbling of a basketball. A non-opaque tubular member terminating in a body member forms a ring having a perimeter that defines an open space inside the perimeter. A light source is positioned within the tubular member to emit light from and along its length. The emitted light is sufficiently intense to be perceived by the athlete performing no-look dribbling of the basketball within the open space. Opposed light beam switch components positioned at the perimeter of the ring define a line-of-sight across the open space. Power supply and processor circuitry contained in the body member responds to instances of a basketball obstructing the line-of-sight during a basketball dribbling exercise by causing momentary light emissions from the light source to indicate whenever the athlete dribbles the basketball within the open space of the ring.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to athletic skills training equipment and, in particular, to a precision basketball dribbling training tool that enhances a basketball player's no-look ball control skill development.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

While dribbling a basketball, a basketball player exhibiting ball-handling proficiency does not look down at the court floor to watch the basketball. A player skilled in no-look basketball control while dribbling can become more adept in maneuvering around closely guarding defenders and take advantage of enhanced court vision to find open teammates on offense and distribute the ball to one of them.

A basketball player participating in a basketball training drill typically stands stationary in a triple threat position (i.e., knees slightly bent, feet spread shoulder width apart) and dribbles the basketball at a high rate of speed. The basketball player attempts to bounce the basketball consistently to the same court floor location while refraining from looking down at the court floor and to count the number of bounces of the basketball during the training drill. Looking away from the basketball and concurrently counting the number of bounces of the basketball make it difficult for the basketball player to perceive the extent to which the basketball bounces consistently to the same court floor location. An inability to no-look dribble the basketball repeatedly from the same court floor location impedes ball-handling control skill development. A basketball player having mastered no-look control of the basketball while dribbling can develop court vision that facilitates maneuverability across the court floor while scanning for an unguarded teammate to whom to pass the basketball.

What is needed is a precision ball-handling tool for use in basketball dribbling training drills that enhance a player's accuracy and proficiency in no-look basketball control.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A precision ball-handling tool is configured for use by an athlete in performing basketball dribbling training drills to develop accuracy and proficiency in no-look basketball control and thereby enhance the athlete's basketball court vision. In preferred embodiments, a non-opaque tubular member has a length and first and second ends that terminate in a body member having an inner exterior surface. The tubular member and the inner exterior surface of the body member are shaped to form a ring having a perimeter that defines an open space inside the perimeter.

A light source positioned within the tubular member is configured to emit light from and along the length of the tubular member. The light, when emitted, is of sufficient intensity to be perceived by the athlete while not looking directly at the ring and dribbling a basketball within the open space. First and second light beam switch components positioned in opposition to each other at the perimeter of the ring define between them a line-of-sight across the open space of the ring.

Power supply and processor circuitry contained in the body member is operatively connected to the light source and the first and second light beam switch components. The power supply and processor circuitry, in response to instances of a basketball obstructing the line-of-sight during the basketball dribbling exercise, causes momentary light emissions from the light source to indicate whenever the athlete dribbles the basketball within the open space of the ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3show a precision ball-handling tool10for use by a basketball player while practicing basketball dribbling training drills that enhance no-look basketball control skill development. Precision ball-handling tool10includes a non-opaque (i.e., optically transparent or translucent) tubular member12having a first end14and a second end16that terminate in, respectively, a first opposite side18and a second opposite side20of a body member22. Body member22has an arcuate inner exterior surface24, which in combination with tubular member12, forms a ring26having a perimeter28. Perimeter28defines an open space30inside of ring26. A basketball32depicted in phantom lines is shown positioned at the center of open space30.

A light source40is set within and extends along the length between first end14and second end16of tubular member12. Light source40is configured to emit light of sufficient intensity that can be perceived in the peripheral vision of the basketball player while practicing no-look dribbling a basketball32within open space30. Light source40preferably includes a string of spaced-apart light-emitting devices42, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). An example of a suitable tubular member12is commercially available 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) inner diameter, 0.625 in. (15.9 mm) outer diameter translucent polyethylene tubing. An example of a suitable light source40that fits within tubular member12is a commercially available 5 volt, 5 mm width white LED strip light that is cuttable at each LED42.

A first light beam switch component44and a second light beam switch component46are positioned in opposition to each other at perimeter28of ring26to define a line-of-sight48across open space30. Ring26is preferably of generally circular shape, and light beam switch components44and46are positioned at perimeter28such that line-of-sight48defines a diameter of ring26. Ring26has a diameter of between about 15 in. (38.1 cm) and about 16 in. (40.64 cm) for the reasons given below. Light beam switch components44and46preferably form an electrically powered photoelectric switch in which first switch component44is a light emitter and second switch component46is a light detector. An example of a suitable photoelectric switch is an Adafruit ADA2168 IR Break Beam Sensor photoelectric switch with 5 mm LEDs. Line-of-sight48in the form of an optical beam path between light emitter44and light detector46traverses open space30of ring26. Each bounce of basketball32within open space30of ring26causes an obstruction in the form of a beam break in optical beam path48between light emitter44and light detector46.

FIG. 4is a block diagram showing power supply and processor circuitry60housed in body member22. Circuitry60includes a power supply62, i.e., a battery, which provides +5 volts to the positive side of LEDs42of light source40and to a terminal of a main ON/OFF switch64. When actuated to the ON state, ON/OFF switch64provides electric power to a computer66, which has a display68. A preferred computer66is an ESP 32 Development Board with 0.96 inch OLED Display WiFi Kit, which supports Arduinu IDE functionality and is available online from MakerFocus. Light emitter44and light detector46receive electric power from computer66to generate a light beam that propagates along optical beam path48between them. The negative side of LEDs42of light source40is connected to a collector terminal70of a transistor switch72, which has a base terminal74and an emitter terminal76. Base terminal74is connected to a control signal output of computer66, and emitter terminal76is connected to ground potential. Light detector46develops on a sensor wire78connected to computer66a signal that indicates each instance of a beam break in optical path48.

Whenever a bouncing basketball32breaks the beam in optical path48, computer66responds to the signal developed on sensor wire78by applying to base terminal74of transistor72a voltage that causes current flow from collector terminal70to emitter terminal76. Each of LEDs42is illuminated as a 30-millisecond light pulse during each beam break in optical beam path48. Computer66is programmed to emit the momentary light pulse upon initiation of a beam break but not emit another momentary light pulse until after removal of the obstruction that caused the initial beam break. A single bounce of a properly inflated basketball32produces concurrent pulsed illumination of LEDs42, and the frequency of light pulses emitted by LEDs42depends on the rate at which the basketball player is dribbling basketball32within open space30. The pulse duration of LEDs42is shorter than the time between successive bounces of basketball32during a high-speed dribbling training drill.

Computer66is programmed to check, at a 400 KHz rate, for a beam break and to record a single count in response to a beam break in optical beam path48. Computer66counts each time when basketball32causes a beam break in optical beam path48and provides a cumulative count of beam breaks over a user-selected dribbling practice time interval. A manually operated reset button80(FIGS. 1, 3, and 5) allows a basketball player or trainer to clear display68of the cumulative count recorded by computer66.FIG. 5shows three example locations32a,32b, and32cof basketball bounces in open space30that cause a beam break in optical beam path48. Display68presents a real-time running count of beam breaks in optical beam path48during the user-selected time interval. Computer66processes beam break count-related information detailing performance of a basketball dribbling training drill.

To make advantageous use of precision ball-handling tool10, a basketball player practicing no-look dribbling assumes a triple threat stance or position, positions basketball32over open space30of ring26, looks away from basketball32, and begins high-speed dribbling. Although not making direct eye contact with basketball32as it bounces, the basketball player sees in his peripheral vision light pulses emitted by LEDs42. One count is recorded by computer66each time the basketball bounces in open space30of ring26. If the basketball bounces outside of ring26, LEDs42emit no light pulses. Display68shows in real time the cumulative count of basketball bounces in open space30for the duration of the training drill set by the basketball player or trainer monitoring the practice drill. A diameter of ring26of between about 15 in. (38.1 cm) and 16 in. (40.64 cm) is preferred because it sets within open space30a range of tolerance for consistent location of basketball placement that is indicative of good ball-handling control. This diameter range is appropriate for regulation basketballs of the NBA, NCAA, or WNBA, which specify basketball diameter ranges of 9.43 in. (23.95 cm)—9.51 in. (24.16 cm), 9.39 in. (23.85 cm)—9.55 in. (24.26 cm), and 9.07 in. (23.04 cm)—9.23 in. (23.44 cm), respectively.