Abstract:
The football handoff trainer includes a vertical stand having a base and a post extending upwardly therefrom. The post includes a support and a vertically positionable extension telescopingly received by the support. An arm is pivotally coupled to the extension and includes a football holder extending therefrom at an end opposite the stand. The football holder releasibly retains a football and cooperates with the arm to simulate a football handoff.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a football handoff trainer. More particularly, the invention relates to a trainer wherein a football player may practice fundamental handoff techniques individually. 
     Professional football has evolved into a multi-billion dollar business industry through advertising, merchandising and television contracts. With such increased growth in the industry in recent years, players are now, more than ever, competing among one another for lucrative multi-million dollar contracts. Thus, the demand for performance enhancement football training tools has grown dramatically. 
     There are two aspects that are important to a football offense: (1) the running game; and (2) the passing game. A two-dimensional football team must have offensive players capable of both running and passing. One crucial aspect of the running game is the delivery of the football from one player to another, i.e. the “handoff”. The most common handoff occurs between the quarterback and a running back or a fullback. This handoff typically occurs shortly after the football is snapped from the center to the quarterback. In some cases, a wide receiver may run across the field to take the handoff from the quarterback or the running back. Such plays (e.g. “reverses”, “end-arounds”, etc.) are typically designed to deceive or trick the defense. Importantly, the quarterback, the running back, the fullback and even the wide receiver must learn proper football handoff techniques to efficiently transfer possession of the football from one player to another. One difficult aspect of training football players in this regard is practicing correct football handling and transferring techniques accurately and repetitively. One general drawback known in the art is that at least two people are required to practice the technique. If the football handoff technique is not executed properly, the football player is likely to fumble the football, which may result in a turnover causing the team to lose control of the game. 
     Receiving a handoff involves learning fundamental footwork and football handling skills to facilitate a smooth and efficient transfer. For instance, it is important that the running back does not step on or otherwise trip over the quarterback during the handoff. It is also crucial that the running back protect the football to minimize the chances of fumbling the football after receiving the football from the quarterback. The quarterback may initially hide the football with the arms or body for some time after the football is snapped in order to deceive the defense. The quarterback may then turn toward the running back with outstretched arms and the football in hand. The football is handed directly from the quarterback to the running back without leaving the hands of the quarterback. To receive the football, the running back positions one arm across the upper chest, palm down, and the other arm across the stomach, palm up. The arm in the upper position should be the one closest to the quarterback. This forms a so-called “pocket” or “pouch” for the quarterback to place the football. The quarterback positions the football horizontally and places the football in the pocket area formed by the running back. Once the football hits the chest and stomach area, the running back clamps down on the football with the top arm and locks the football with the bottom arm and the quarterback releases the football. This preferred handoff technique helps prevent fumbling and conceals the football in the arms of the running back. 
     There are a number of training techniques designed to enhance football handoff skills. One common technique, as briefly described above, is a practice drill involving three players. The first player (quarterback) takes a snap from a second player (center) and turns to handoff the football to a third player (running back). A coach or other instructor may watch these players practice and provide further instructions to the quarterback, the running back or the center. One drawback to this technique is that the drill is heavily reliant upon the footwork and correct positioning of the football by the quarterback. The running back will only be able to properly practice the handoff techniques described pending the quarterback is able to turn and place the football in the proper position for the running back to receive. A quarterback unable to adequately position the football increases the difficulty of the running back to practice the proper handoff techniques. In turn, this might necessitate that the training sequence be slowed down to below game speed so the quarterback can work on footwork and ball placement. All the while, the running back is not able to practice handoff skills at game speed. Moreover, the prior art fails to disclose a device that enables running backs, quarterbacks and/or wide receivers to practice the fundamental football handoff skills alone. 
     Thus, there exists a significant need in the art for a football handoff trainer that teaches the fundamental techniques of properly receiving a football handoff. Such a football handoff trainer should include a portable stand, an arm pivotally coupled to the stand, and a football holder at one end of the arm extending away from the stand, wherein the football holder releasibly retains a football and cooperates with the arm to simulate a football handoff. The football player should be able to adjust the football handoff trainer in height, weight and length in order to practice proper handoff techniques in simulated game-type handoff situations. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The football handoff trainer includes a vertical stand and an arm having a football holder coupled thereto. The arm is pivotally coupled to the stand and pivots about a pin that is selectively engageable with the stand and the arm. The football holder extends from the arm at an end opposite of the stand and releasibly retains a football to simulate a football handoff in cooperation with the arm. A spring may couple between the stand and the arm to resist rotational movement of the arm during the football handoff. This enables the football player to practice both right handed and left handed handoffs. Accordingly, the spring imparts the type of resistance the football player may experience when receiving the handoff from another football player. In a preferred embodiment, the spring is a torsion spring. Moreover, the stand should also include a compartment for storing a portable weight. The portable weight may include water, sand or another weighted material selectively separable from the stand. 
     The stand itself preferably includes a base and a post extending upwardly therefrom. In one embodiment, the post includes a support and a vertically positionable extension telescopingly received by the support. In this embodiment, the arm attaches directly to the extension. Alternatively, the arm may pivotally couple to the post and extend beyond the width of the base. A lock may selectively slidingly engage the stand to position the extension between a retracted position and an extended position. In another aspect of the football handoff trainer, the support selectively detaches from the base to enhance portability. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the football handoff trainer, illustrating retention of a football; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the football handoff trainer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the football handoff trainer, illustrating vertically positioning a pivot arm of the football handoff trainer; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the football handoff trainer, illustrating rotational movement of the pivot arm; and 
         FIG. 5  is an environmental view illustrating use of the football handoff trainer by a running back. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention for a football handoff trainer is referred to generally by the reference number  10 . The football handoff trainer  10  is designed to replace the quarterback to enable a football player to individually practice football handoff techniques. Virtually any offensive, defensive or special teams football player that may receive the football through a handoff during a football game will be able to practice handoffs with the football handoff trainer  10 . The football handoff trainer  10  is particularly useful for offensive players, specifically running backs, fullbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks, as these players typically handle the football and conduct the most handoffs during the football game. Moreover, use of the football handoff trainer  10  eliminates other human error factors associated with using a quarterback that may adversely impact practicing proper handoff techniques. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the football handoff trainer  10  includes a base  12 , a vertically extending post  14  and a horizontally extending arm  16  coupled to the post  14 . A holder  18  extends from the arm  16  at an end opposite the base  12  and is designed to releasably retain a football  20 . The football handoff trainer  10  includes a variety of mechanisms wherein the base  12 , the post  14 , the arm  16  and the holder  18  adjust, as described in more detail below, to enable a football player to selectively position the football  20  in order to practice proper football handoff techniques. The football handoff trainer  10 , including the base  12 , the post  14 , the arm  16  and the holder  18 , is manufactured from substantially rigid materials capable of withstanding repetitious football-type contact at game speeds. For example, a football player may contact the football handoff trainer  10  with hard plastic (comparable to shoulder pad materials), padding, or other protective gear such as rib or chest guards. Accordingly, the base  12  or the post  14  may be manufactured from a solid material such as metal, steel, hard plastic, etc. Preferably, the arm  16  and/or the holder  18  is manufactured from a rigid plastic-type material that retains its structural integrity when subjected to football-type contact, yet does not cause injury to a football player repetitiously using the football handoff trainer  10 . In one embodiment, the arm  16  or the holder  18  may include a pad to soften any contact between the football player practicing handoffs and the football handoff trainer  10 . 
     The size and weight of the base  12  should stabilize the football handoff trainer  10  during use. Specifically, the base  12  should ensure that the football handoff trainer  10  does not tip over, rotate or otherwise move when a football player contacts the arm  16  or the holder  18 . For example, the weight of the base  12  may provide stabilization by lowering the overall center of gravity of the football handoff trainer  10 . Here, the weight of the base  12  counteracts the moment created when the football player contacts the arm  16  and/or the holder  18 . The base  12  may further secure to the ground through hooks or stakes to provide additional stabilization. The width of the base  12  may also be sized to mitigate any potential for tipping or rotating, while allowing the football player to freely contact the arm  16  and/or the holder  18  without tripping over the base  12 . In this regard, the size of the base  12  should provide enough clearance so the football player may practice taking handoffs while simultaneously practicing footwork. The length of the arm  16  should at least be sized so the football player may run through the holder  18  as generally shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The post  14  of the football handoff trainer  10  may be integrated with the corresponding base  12  in one of several embodiments. In one embodiment, the post  14  rigidly attaches to the base  12  and does not adjust relative to the base  12 . Such a design may be particularly desirable for use in youth football leagues where the players are all relatively the same height. Alternatively, the post  14  selectively detaches from the base  12 . This may be particularly desirable if the football handoff trainer  10  is to be unassembled for storage or for transportation between locations. The detachability of the post  14  also enables a user to interchange the post  14  with other posts that may vary in size. The height and weight of the post  14  can be important in terms of structural integrity, cost, storage, transportation, compatibility, etc. 
     Preferably, the post  14  is at least somewhat adjustable so a user may vertically position the arm  16  and the holder  18  for use with football players that vary in height. For example, a football team may have multiple running backs or fullbacks that vary in height. To enhance compatibility of the football handoff trainer  10 , this requires that the holder  18  be able to locate the football  20  at variable vertical positions so the football player may practice proper handoff skills. Selective vertical positioning of the holder  18  can be accomplished through use of multiple interchangeable posts  14  that vary in height or through use of a single post  14  that is selectively vertically positionable. For example, the arm  16  may be vertically positionable through use of a telescoping extension integral to the post  14 , as described with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3  below. Preferably, the football  20  is positioned at a height wherein the football player receives the football  20  in the so-called “pouch” or “pocket” area formed through respective positioning of the upper arm relative to the lower arm. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the football handoff trainer  10 . The post  14  rigidly attaches to the base  12  by any mechanical mechanism known in the art. In the embodiment wherein the post  14  permanently attaches to the base  12 , the mechanical attachment mechanism may include welding. Alternatively, when the post  14  selectively removably attaches to the base  12 , such a mechanical mechanism may include interlocking engagement members, hooks, snaps or other comparable attachment means known in the art. The post  14  should not move or shift relative to the base  12 , especially when the post  14  removably attaches to the base  12 . This ensures that the handoff trainer  10  may be used to simulate football-type situations that require frequent contact.  FIG. 2  further illustrates the post  14  having a channel  22  for telescopingly receiving an extender  24 . The extender  24 , like the post  14 , is rigid and preferably manufactured from substantially resilient materials, such as metals, steel alloys, hard plastics, etc. The extender  24  should be capable of handling torsional forces imparted thereon resultant from repetitive contact by a running back with the holder  18  and pivoting of the corresponding arm  16 . A football player may selectively adjust the height of the arm  16  with the extender  24 . In this embodiment, the extender  24  replaces the need to house a stock of multiple interchangeable posts  14  that vary in height. The extender  24  is further preferred as the height of the arm  16  may be quickly adjusted without detaching and replacing the post  14 . 
     The extender  24  resides within the channel  22  and is secured at a desired height through use of a lock  26 . The lock  26  is selectively insertable into a slot  28  formed through the width of the post  14 . The lock  26  is then selectively insertable into any one of a plurality of slots  30   a - 30   d  formed through the body of the extender  24 . The vertical position of the arm  16  is dependent upon which slot  30   a - 30   d  the lock  26  engages. For example,  FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the post  14  and the extender  24  residing in the channel  22 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the relative positioning of the extender  24  within the channel  22  from a retracted position (shown in solid lines) to an extended position (shown in phantom). As shown, the slot  28  extends through a front side  32  and a backside  34  of the post  14 . The slots  30   a - 30   d  also extend through the width of the extender  24 . Accordingly, the length of the lock  26  is sized to extend through the width of the post  14  and the extender  24  to simultaneously engage the slot  28  and the selected slot  30   a - 30   d . Preferably, a portion of the lock  26  extends out of the back side  34  to ensure stability. The football handoff trainer  10  is initially positioned in the retracted position such that the lock  26  is inserted through the slot  28  in the post  14  and the corresponding slot  30   a  in the extender  24 . Changing the vertical height of the arm  16  to that shown in phantom requires removing the lock  26  out from within the slots  28  and  30   a . The user may grasp a ledge  36  protruding horizontally out from the lock  26  for better grip. The ledge  36  may include a non-slip surface that enables a user to adequately grasp the lock  26  for easy insertion and removal. Accordingly, the lock  26  must be completely removed from within the post  14  and the extender  24  before a user may vertically position the extender  24 . Once the lock  26  is completely removed, the extender  24  moves freely within the channel  22  and may even be completely removed therefrom. Accordingly, the football handoff trainer  10  may include multiple extenders  24  that have variously positioned slots  30 . Of course, each extender  24  would be configured differently. This feature further enhances the vertical adjustability of the arm  16  and the holder  18 . Removability also enables the user to compactly disassemble the football handoff trainer  10  for storage or transportation. To increase the height of the football handoff trainer  10  to the position shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 , a user may align any one of the slots  30   b - 30   d  with the slot  28  for reinsertion and retention of the lock  26  therein. In doing so, the football player selectively positions the height of the arm  16  and the corresponding holder  18  to a specific height for proper use of the football handoff trainer  10 . As described above, the holder  18  should vertically align with the so-called “pouch” or “pocket” area formed by the arms of the football player. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the extender  24  or the post  14  may include more or less slots  28 ,  30  to facilitate the adjustability of the football handoff trainer  10 . 
       FIG. 3  also shows a weight  38  integrated into the base  12  to enhance the stability of the football handoff trainer  10 . The weight  38  helps lower the center of gravity of the football handoff trainer  10  down toward the top of the base  12 . A low center of gravity is preferred so the football handoff trainer  10  does not tip over during use. In one embodiment, the weight  38  is integrated into the base  12  as a solid piece of material, such as metal. In an alternative embodiment, the weight  38  is selectively insertable or removable from within the interior of the base  12 . Here, the base  12  may include a compartment where the weight  38  is stored. A user may selectively access the weight  38  in the storage compartment via a latch or other door-type mechanism. Selective removal of the weight  38  from within the compartment enables a user to decrease the overall weight of the football handoff trainer  10  during transportation. Alternatively, the weight  38  may comprise water or sand that can be selectively added or removed from the base  12 , as desired. In this embodiment, the weight  38  may be accessed via an access opening located in the perimeter of the base  12 . Enabling the user to selectively remove the weight  38  from within the interior of the base  12  further increases the mobility of the football handoff trainer  10 , especially if the user endeavors to transport the football handoff trainer  10  from one location to another. For example, when the weight  38  comprises water, the user may drain the water out from within the base  12  before transporting the football handoff trainer  10 . Preferably, the water may be drained directly to the field. Then, the user transports the relatively lighter football handoff trainer  10  to the desired location and subsequently refills the base  12  with water. In this embodiment, the user is not required to actually carry the weight  38  from location to location. 
     A reflexive mechanism  40  associated with the extender  24  and the arm  16  is best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The reflexive mechanism  40  is designed to simulate the type of resistance a running back may experience from the arms of a quarterback when receiving a game-time handoff. The reflexive mechanism  40  is also designed to realign the positioning of the arm  16  such that the football handoff trainer  10  resets after use. The reflexive mechanism  40  includes a pair of springs  42  that exert torsional reflexive forces on the arm  16  and the extender  24 . Each spring  42  includes a lower loop  44  that selectively engages a protruding retainment member  46  extending outwardly from the body of the extender  24 . Likewise, each spring  42  also includes an upper loop  48  that selectively engages a corresponding upper retainment member  50  formed on a mounting bracket  52  on a rear end  54  of the arm  16 . The loops  44 ,  48  securely attach to the corresponding retainment members  46 ,  50  and should not loosen or disconnect therefrom during use. The loops  44 ,  48  may snap or clip into the retainment members  46 ,  50 , or may actually be welded thereto for permanent engagement therewith. Although, it is preferable that the springs  42  removably attach to the retainment members  46 ,  50  such that a user may disassemble the football handoff trainer  10  for transportation or storage. 
     Use of the football handoff trainer  10  necessarily requires that the football player contact and rotate the arm  16 . The arm  16  rotates about an axis  56  that is concentric with a pivot pin  58  that extends through an aperture  60  in the width of the arm  16  and into a corresponding receptacle  62  formed in a top surface  64  of the extender  24 . The springs  42  are designed to realign the arm  16  as it pivots about the axis  56  after contact by the football player.  FIG. 4  specifically illustrates movement of the arm  16  about the pivot pin  58 . As described above, the football handoff trainer  10  is designed so a user may practice receiving a handoff from both the right hand side and the left hand side. Hence, the arm  16  is capable of rotating both to the right (counterclockwise movement) and to the left (clockwise movement) as shown in  FIG. 4 . Rotation of the arm  16  about the pivot pin  58  in conjunction with the reflexive mechanism  40  allows the football player to practice both right handed and left handed handoffs without reconfiguring any of the components of the football handoff trainer  10 . Being able to practice both right handed and left handed handoffs is particularly desirable because football players are often required to run plays from both sides of the field. For example, a coach may call a play that requires the running back to receive a right handed handoff. But, after lining up at the line of scrimmage, the coach or quarterback may change the play so the running back receives a left handed handoff. Coaches or quarterbacks often change plays to exploit weaknesses in the defense. Hence, the symmetrical design of the football handoff trainer  10  enables the arm  16  to pivot both counterclockwise and clockwise about the pivot pin  58  so the football player may practice receiving a handoff from both the right hand side and the left hand side. 
     In general, a football player receiving a left handed handoff contacts the holder  18  and rotates the arm  16  counterclockwise. As shown in  FIG. 4 , this causes movement of the arm  16  to the positioning of the arm  16   a  and causes the springs  42  to bend at a pair of bend points  66 . The springs  42  resist the counterclockwise movement of the arm  16 , thereby exerting some degree of resistance to the “pouch” or “pocket” area of the football player during the handoff. Accordingly, the springs  42  exert a torsional reflexive force on both the arm  16  and the extender  24  at the position of the lower retainment members  46  and upper retainment members  50 , respectively. The springs  42  realign the arm  16  after the football player receives the handoff from the holder  18  and no longer contacts the arm  16  or the holder  18 . Hence, the reflexive force ushers the positioning of the arm  16   a  clockwise back to the positioning of the arm  16 . The springs  42  exert a similar torsional resistance when the football player practices receiving right handed handoffs. Here, the springs  42  resist the clockwise rotational movement of the arm  16 , thereby providing some degree of resistance to the football player during the handoff. Again, movement of the arm  16  to the positioning of the arm  16   b  causes the springs  42  to bend at the bend points  66 . This causes the springs  42  to exert the torsional reflexive force on both the arm  16  and the extender  24  at the position of the lower retainment members  46  and the upper retainment members  50 , respectively. After the football player removes the football  20  from the holder  18  and is no longer contacting the football handoff trainer  10 , the springs  42  again realign the arm  16   b  to the resting position of the arm  16 . The springs  42  are designed to resist rotational movement of the arm  16  to both the position of the arm  16   a  and the arm  16   b . Accordingly, the reflexive mechanism  40  effectively maintains the football handoff trainer  10  in a resting position of the arm  16 , as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  is an environmental view illustrating a running back  68  receiving a left handed handoff from the football handoff trainer  10 . In this configuration, the running back  68  raises a left arm  70  and lowers a right arm  72  to form the aforementioned “pocket” or “pouch” area. The running back  68  effectively runs into the holder  18  retaining the football  20 . Contact with the holder  18  causes rotation of the arm  16 , as described above. Upon making contact with the football  20 , the running back  68  closes the left arm  70  and the right arm  72  about the football  20 , grasps the football  20  and removes the football  20  from within the holder  18 . The positioning of the left arm  70  of the running back  68  enables extension of the arm  16  into the so-called “pocket” or “pouch” area. Accordingly, the arm  16  continues to rotate about the pivot pin  58  until the running back  68  no longer contacts the football handoff trainer  10 . At this point, the springs  42 , as described above, rotate the arm  16  back into a resting position. Similarly, the running back  68  could turn around for a right handed handoff and receive the football  20  with the right arm  72  in the elevated position and the left arm  70  in the lower position. Here, the running back  68  pushes the arm  16  of the football handoff trainer  10  clockwise and receives the football  20  from the right side. Naturally, the arm  16  pivots back to a resting position via the springs  42 , as described in detail above. Thus, the running back  68  may practice both right handed and left handed handoffs with the football handoff trainer  10  in one configuration. Moreover, the selective vertical positioning of the arm  16  enables the running back  68  to set the vertical height of the holder  18  to ensure that the running back  68  receives the football  20  within the aforementioned “pocket” or “pouch” area. The running back  68  may then efficiently and repetitively practice receiving a handoff from the football handoff trainer  10  at game speeds. Thus, the running back  68  is not dependent upon a quarterback in order to practice receiving handoffs. The running back  68  is also not subjected to quarterback errors. 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.