Patent ID: 8894512

Claim:
A fumble training device for football training, comprising: a) a first portion resembling a football, having a proximal portion and a distal portion, filed with a resilient material; b) a support rod having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end of the support rod extending into the distal end portion of the first portion but not entirely through the first portion to its proximal end, the support rod being surrounded by the resilient material along at least a portion of its length, the support rod further including an anchor disposed thereon, wherein the anchor is a hook, the anchor hook being embedded in and secured to the resilient material to prevent the support rod from being pulled out of the first portion; c) a tension coil spring comprising a plurality of turns and haying a proximal end and a distal portion, the proximal end of the tension coil spring being attached to the support rod, wherein the turns of the coil spring are in mutual contact when said tension coil spring is in a relaxed, horizontal position, and wherein said coil spring is configured to hold said support rod and said ball at a horizontal angle when the coil spring is in its relaxed, horizontal position; and wherein the coil tension spring is strong enough to hold the football at angle perpendicular to the ground without bending; is strong enough to return the football to a perpendicular position after being clubbed, chopped or punched; and is not so stiff that it requires an unnatural amount of force to deflect it when performing “clubbing”, “chopping” or “punching” football techniques; and d) a stationary vertical support configured to maintain said tension coil spring, said support rod, and said first portion at a horizontal angle, perpendicular to said stationary vertical support.