Football Training System and Method of Use

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/637,081 which was filed on Apr. 22, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to sports training devices and performance tracking systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a smart football training system that enhances quarterback training by accurately measuring release time and passing efficiency. The invention comprises a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football, a training wristband with an integrated magnetic sensor, and a mobile electronic device running a training application. The wristband detects when the football is within the quarterback's grasp and automatically starts a timer, which stops upon release of the football. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, football requires split-second decision-making, particularly for quarterbacks executing passing plays. A typical football play lasts for approximately four seconds, during which the quarterback must survey the field, analyze the defensive coverage, anticipate receiver routes, and make an accurate pass. A quarterback requires technical skill, precision, and also the ability to make quick decisions under pressure.

One of the challenges in executing a successful passing play is the time constraint imposed by the opposing defense. Defensive teams frequently employ blitzing tactics, which can drastically reduce the quarterback's available decision-making time. In many cases, the quarterback is pressured, hit, or sacked within 2.5 seconds of the ball being snapped. Statistical analysis shows that more than half of all sacks occur within a 2.0-3.0 second window.

Quarterback performance is closely linked to release time, which refers to the duration between the snap and the ball leaving the quarterback's hand. Training methods aimed at improving release speed and decision-making efficiency are therefore essential for quarterback development. Traditional quarterback training often involves manual timing using stopwatches or subjective analysis by coaches. These methods are inherently inconsistent and fail to provide precise, real-time data on release time. Individuals desire an improved training system that addresses the shortcomings of traditional football training systems.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart football training system that provides quarterbacks with an objective, data-driven method for improving their release time and passing efficiency. Also, there is a long-felt need in the art for a training system that provides consistent feedback for the improvement of players. There is a long-felt need for a system that can automatically detect when a football is being held, measure the time from snap to release, and provide real-time performance insights to players and coaches. Furthermore, there is a need for a training system that seamlessly integrates with modern mobile technology to track, analyze, and store passing play data for long-term skill development. Finally, there exists a need for a hands-free, non-intrusive device that does not interfere with a quarterback's natural throwing motion while still accurately monitoring passing plays.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment, comprises a smart football training system designed to enhance quarterback training by precisely measuring passing play duration. The system comprises a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football containing a plurality of strategically placed magnets, a training wristband worn on a user's wrist, and a mobile electronic device running a training application. The training wristband incorporates a magnetic sensor, which detects the presence of the magnets within the football when held by the quarterback. Upon detection, a processor within the wristband automatically initiates a timer. When the football is released and the magnetic field is no longer detected, the timer stops, and the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection) duration is recorded. The training wristband communicates wirelessly with a mobile electronic device via a wireless transceiver, transmitting timing data to be displayed and analyzed in real time. Additionally, the system may be connected to a remote server, enabling cloud-based data storage and advanced analytics.

In this manner, the smart football training system of the present invention fulfills the aforementioned needs by providing an innovative, precise, and real-time method for quarterbacks to measure and improve their passing efficiency. The system eliminates the inconsistencies of traditional training methods, enabling for accurate measurement of release times without the need for manual timing or subjective evaluation. The training wristband is lightweight and non-intrusive, ensuring that quarterbacks can train without altering their natural throwing mechanics. The mobile application provides instant feedback, enabling players and coaches to track performance trends over time. The smart football training system can be adapted for various levels of play, from youth football to professional leagues, making it a versatile and valuable tool for quarterbacks at all stages of development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a smart football training system. The system comprises a football having a plurality of magnets disposed therein, a training wristband configured to be worn on a user's wrist, the training wristband comprises a magnetic sensor configured to detect the presence of the plurality of magnets within the football when the football is within a predetermined proximity to the training wristband, a processor in communication with the magnetic sensor, the processor is configured to determine whether the football is being held based on a detection signal from the magnetic sensor, initiate a timing function upon detecting that the football is being held, and stop the timing function when the football is released.

In another aspect, a mobile electronic device comprising a training application, the training application is configured to receive the timing data from the wireless transceiver of the training wristband, display the timing data to a user, and store and analyze passing play durations.

In one embodiment, a football training system is disclosed. The system includes a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football comprising a plurality of strategically disposed magnets, a training wristband worn on a user's wrist, the training wristband comprises a magnetoresistive sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnets within the football when the football is within a predetermined range of the training wristband, a processor configured to activate a timer upon detecting that the football is within the user's grasp and stop the timer when the football is released, a wireless communication module configured to transmit data related to passing plays, and a remote server is communicatively coupled to the training wristband via a mobile electronic device, the remote server configured to store and process passing play data received from the training wristband.

In yet another aspect, a method for monitoring passing plays using a smart football training system is described. The method includes detecting, via a magnetic sensor within a training wristband worn on a user's wrist, a plurality of magnets disposed within a football when the football is within a predetermined proximity to the wristband, initiating, via a processor in the training wristband, a timer upon detection of the football being held, continuously monitoring the detection of the magnets within the football, stopping the timer when the detection of the magnets ceases, indicating that the football has been released, transmitting timing data from the training wristband to a mobile electronic device via a wireless transceiver, and displaying the timing data on the mobile electronic device via a training application for analysis and review.

In still another embodiment, a method for tracking football passing performance using a smart wristband is described. The method comprises the steps of securing a training wristband to a user's wrist, the training wristband comprising a magnetoresistive sensor, gripping a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football having a plurality of magnets strategically placed therein, detecting, by the magnetoresistive sensor in the training wristband, the presence of the magnets in the football, automatically starting a timer in response to detecting the football being held, continuously tracking the duration of the football being held, stopping the timer when the football is released and the magnets are no longer detected, and transmitting the recorded passing duration to a mobile electronic device for storage and analysis.

In another aspect, a football and wristband training combination system is disclosed. The system comprises a football having a prolate spheroid shape and comprising a plurality of magnets disposed within its structure, the magnets being arranged to be detectable by a magnetic sensor, a training wristband is configured to be worn on a user's wrist, the training wristband comprises a magnetic sensor configured to detect the presence of the plurality of magnets in the football when the football is within a predetermined distance (i.e., threshold) of the wristband, a processor configured to activate a timing function upon detecting the football within the user's grasp and stopping the timing function upon release of the football, and a wireless communication module configured to transmit timing data to an external device for display and analysis.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of smart football training system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view showing one embodiment of the magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the magnetic sensor enabled wireless training wristband used in the training system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football illustrating the locations of the magnets within the football in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a process for initiating use of the magnetic sensor enabled wireless training wristband for detecting magnets in accordance with the disclosed structure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a flow of events for initiating and using the training application for the smart football training system 100 as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary initial user interface displayed by the mobile electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary user interface showing the setup instructions for syncing the application with the football in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary user interface showing the application scanning for training wristbands in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary mobile device screen image illustrating the results of the scanning process shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a mobile application interface showing the selection of settings options for a specific player as selected from the screen of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates another mobile application interface showing the specific setting options for the selected player;

FIG. 12 illustrates a mobile device screen image showing past play history as selected for a specific player in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 13 illustrates another mobile application interface showing the selection of settings options for a new or different player;

FIG. 14 is a mobile device screen image illustrating the specific setting options that are selectable for the new or different player as in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a computer architecture diagram showing an illustrative computer architecture for computing devices described in embodiments presented herein and capable of executing software components described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a smart football training system that provides quarterbacks with an objective, data-driven method for improving their release time and passing efficiency. Also, there is a long-felt need in the art for a training system that provides consistent feedback for the improvement of players. There is a long-felt need for a system that can automatically detect when a football is being held, measure the time from snap to release, and provide real-time performance insights to players and coaches. Furthermore, there is a need for a training system that seamlessly integrates with modern mobile technology to track, analyze, and store passing play data for long-term skill development. Finally, there exists a need for a hands-free, non-intrusive device that does not interfere with a quarterback's natural throwing motion while still accurately monitoring passing plays.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a football training system. The system includes a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football comprising a plurality of strategically disposed magnets, a training wristband worn on a user's wrist, the training wristband comprises a magnetoresistive sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnets within the football when the football is within a predetermined range of the training wristband, a processor configured to activate a timer upon detecting that the football is within the user's grasp and stop the timer when the football is released, a wireless communication module configured to transmit data related to passing plays, and a remote server is communicatively coupled to the training wristband via a mobile electronic device, the remote server configured to store and process passing play data received from the training wristband.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of smart football training system of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The smart football training system 100 of the present invention includes a magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football 120, a magnetic sensor enabled training wristband 130, and at least one mobile device 140. The football 120 is equipped with a plurality of magnets 122, wherein the plurality of magnets 122 are strategically disposed to be detectable by a magnetic sensor 133, such as a magnetoresistive sensor, within the training wristband 130.

The magnetic sensor 133 disposed inside the wristband 130 is configured to detect the presence of the magnets 122 within the football 120. A wireless transceiver 134 of the wristband 130 enables the wristband 130 to communicate with the mobile electronic device 140. A variety of mobile electronic devices may be utilized within the context of the smart football training system 100, including but not limited to a mobile phone, a tablet, an iPad, a laptop, or any other type of mobile electronic device capable of utilizing a training application 142 disposed in the mobile electronic device 140.

The football 120 is adapted to be detected by the training wristband 130 using the interaction between the magnets 122 within the football 120 and the magnetic sensor 133 disposed in the training wristband 130. The training wristband 130 is also in wireless communication with the mobile electronic device 140. The training application 142 provides enables the mobile electronic device 140 to control the training wristband 130 and facilitates data retrieval from the training wristband 130.

In the preferred embodiment, the mobile electronic device 140 may also communicate through a network 110 to a remote or central computer or server 150. The server 150 may include a web server 152 and a records database 154. The web server 152 may provide for remote and/or shared access to the available data collected in the records database 154.

The web server 152 can be realized through various web-based technologies such as, but not limited to, a Java web-framework, a .NET framework, a personal home page (PHP) framework, or any web-application framework. The server 150 may be maintained by a storage facility management authority or a third-party entity that facilitates service enablement and resource allocation operations of the system 100.

The training wristband 130 also includes a processor 131 and a memory 132. The processor 131, together with the memory 132, is utilized to read the magnetic sensor 133 and determine (i.e., detect) the presence or absence of the magnets 122 within the football 120. The processor 131 also operates a timer function to track the length or duration of the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection). The detection of magnets 122 presence by the magnetic sensor 133 is indicative that the football 120 is within the grasp of a quarterback so that a timer clock function embedded in the processor 131 is initiated (timer clock function is also referred to as timer in the present disclosure). When the magnets 122 are not detected, the processor 131 determines that the football 120 is no longer within the grasp of the quarterback and that the football 120 has been thrown, resulting in the timer clock function being stopped (i.e., terminated). The length or duration of the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection) is then made available to the application 142 within the mobile electronic device 140 via the wireless transceiver 134.

The wireless transceiver 134 may provide communication to the mobile electronic device via wireless communication techniques/methods and protocols such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.0, RFID, NFC, or WLAN, or any other wireless technology commonly available for such purposes.

The communication network 110 may be associated with an application layer for implementation of communication protocols based on one or more communication requests. The communication data may be transmitted or received, via the communication protocols. Examples of the communication protocols may include, but are not limited to, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Domain Network System (DNS) protocol, Common Management Interface Protocol (CM IP), Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication protocols, or any combination thereof.

In the preferred embodiment, the training application 142 incorporates advanced data analytics, providing users with more comprehensive feedback on their performance. The application can record and process additional performance metrics such as speed, direction, and more, enabling users to track progress over time and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, the application 142 has Al-powered assistant, which is configured to analyze training data and provides a plurality of personalized training tips and recommended drills to help quarterbacks refine their technique.

The application 142 can also be voice operated by a user. This enables users to start and stop drills, request performance summaries, and receive real-time feedback without needing to manually interact with their mobile device. The voice command functionality ensures that users can focus entirely on their training while still receiving the necessary feedback and guidance.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view showing one embodiment of the magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The football 120 is like a conventional football having a prolate spheroid shape to facilitate both carrying and passing. The football 120 can be constructed from four panels 202 of pebble-grained leather. The leather material helps in protecting the disposed magnets therein from physical damage while retaining the magnetic properties and communication of the magnets. A logo or indicia 204 can also be disposed on the football 120 for marketing and branding purposes.

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of the magnetic sensor enabled wireless training wristband used in the training system of the present invention. As illustrated, the magnetic sensor enabled wireless training wristband 130 is configured to be worn on wrist by a user and is magnetically coupled to the football 120. In the preferred embodiment, the wristband 130 does not have any digital display but in some embodiments, the wristband 130 may have a digital display for displaying additional information such as a duration of a passing play and other vital signs of the wearer of the wristband 130. The wristband 130 can come in different sizes, colors, and designs for accommodating requests of different users.

Referring again to FIG. 2B, the training wristband 130 includes an arrow mark 156 disposed on the face 158 of the wristband 130. The magnetic sensor 133 is disposed below the arrow mark 156 wherein the arrow 156 is indicative of the orientation of the training wristband 130 on the wrist of the quarterback. More specifically, the arrow 156 points in the direction of the magnets 122 to be detected when the football 120 is within the quarterback's grasp. In a typical setup, the arrow 156 is oriented to point toward the palm of a wearer, from the underside of the wrist, and serves as a reminder when securing the training wristband 130 to the wrist.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the magnetically equipped (i.e., magnetically embedded) football illustrating the locations of the magnets within the football in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The magnets 122 are disposed inside the football 120 and are protected by the leather cover of the football 120. Further, the magnets 122 are placed such that the magnets 122 are detectable by a magnetic sensor 133 within the training wristband 130. It should be noted that the magnets 122 can be one or more of Neodymium Magnets (NdFeB) and Samarium-Cobalt Magnets (SmCo). The magnets 122 can be in the form of bar magnets or cylindrical magnets depending on the manufacturing requirements of the football 120.

The strength of the magnets 122 is such that their presence is detectable by the magnetic sensor 133 so long as the magnets are within a predetermined distance (i.e., threshold) of the training wristband 130 that contains the magnetic sensor 133. Preferably, the magnets 122 are detectable by the magnetic sensor 133 when the football 120 is within the grip of the quarterback. When the quarterback releases the football 120, such as when a pass is thrown, the distance between the magnets and the magnetic sensor 133 increases beyond the predetermined threshold and the measurement of the magnitude of the magnetism generated by the magnets 122 decreases below a predefined strength and thus is not detected by the magnetic sensor 133.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart depicting a process for initiating use of the magnetic sensor enabled wireless training wristband for detecting magnets in accordance with the disclosed structure. Once the training wristband 130 has been powered on, the training wristband 130 may be used for the timing of passing plays. Once the training wristband 130 has been secured to the wrist of the quarterback, the quarterback uses the wristband hand to grip the football 120 (Step 402). It should be noted that gripping the football may take multiple forms, such as for example receiving via a toss from a coach or trainer, receiving the football 120 via snap from a center as in an actual play, retrieving the football 120 from a stand or other tee type device. The key component is that the football 120 is within the grip of the quarterback so that the magnets are detected by the magnetic sensor 133 of the training wristband 130.

Once the football 120 is within the grip of the quarterback, the embedded timing functionality in the wristband 130 is automatically activated (Step 404). The timer is utilized to measure the length or duration of the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection). The timer continues until the football is released or thrown by the quarterback.

In the next step 406, the determination is made whether the magnets 122 of the football 120 are still near the magnetic sensor 133. The determination is made based on the measurement of the magnitude of the magnetism generated by the magnets and if it is above the specified threshold so that the magnetic sensor indicates that the football is still within the grasp of the quarterback, the timer continues (Step 408).

When it is determined that the magnets are not near the magnetic sensor 133 such as when the quarterback has thrown the football and when the measurement of the magnitude of the magnetism generated by the magnets drop below, a stop timer is released (Step 410). The stop timer alert stops the timer and also initiates an audible alert. The audible alert, as discussed below may be an air horn or a referee whistle, for example.

Once the timer is stopped, the length or duration of the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection) is recorded at step 412. The length or duration of the passing play (i.e., the elapsed time between detection and lack of detection) is the release time indicating the length of time from the quarterback receiving the snap until the ball was thrown. It should be noted that quicker release times generally result in statistically better plays on average, which is more touchdowns per interception ratio, higher yards gained, and higher passer rating.

Another play is initiated at step 414 where the quarterback grips a magnet equipped football 120 with the wristband hand so that the training wristband 130 is within range to detect the present of the magnets in the football 120. The timer starts again at step 404 and the process is repeated as above. If no further plays are desired, then the process ends at step 416.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a flow of events for initiating and using the training application for the smart football training system 100 as shown in FIG. 1. Initially, for activating the training wristband 130, the training wristband 130 is moved near the football 120 (Step 502).

The training wristband 130 is held near to the football 120 for a predetermined period such as at least two seconds. The initial movement enables the magnets of the football 120 to trigger the powering on the training wristband 130. The LED on the training wristband 130 begins to flash and indicates that successful pairing of the training wristband 130 (Step 504).

To connect to the training wristband 130 via the application 142, the training wristband 130 is moved to the proximity of the mobile electronic device 140 (Step 506). The training wristband can be brought to a predetermined time distance such as within six inches of the mobile electronic device 140. Then, the user may select an option such as the ‘Connect Device’ option at (Step 508). This action syncs the application 142 to the training wristband 130.

Within the application 142, a player selection is performed (Step 510). It should be noted that a plurality of training wristbands 130 can be initialized and synced to the application 142 prior to or after any training activity taking place for a specific player. Specific settings for a selected player may be set within the application 142 for a personalized training and recording of the play of the player (Step 512).

While the player wears the wristband 130, training utilizing the training wristband is continued (Step 514). As noted above, an additional player may be selected at Step 516. The training wristband 130 for another player may be powered on and synced as described above. If there are no other players to be synced with training wristbands 130 the sync process ends at step 518.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary initial user interface displayed by the mobile electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The initial user interface 602 displays no options other than the ‘Connect Device’ option 604. The option, when selected, provides a user interface to set up the mobile device and the wristband.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary user interface showing the setup instructions for syncing the application with the football in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The user interface 702 is displayed when the ‘Connect Device’ option 604 is selected as shown previously in FIG. 6. As shown, the first step (Step 704) is to use the football 120 to power on the training wristband 130. Initially the training wristband 130 is powered on by moving the football 120 near the training wristband 130.

Step 706 indicates to hold the football 120 near the training wristband 130 for a predetermined time period such as at least two seconds. This initial movement enables the magnets of the football 120 to trigger the powering on the training wristband 130.

Step 708 indicates an LED on the training wristband 130 begins to flash to indicate that the training wristband 130 is ready for use. The LED as the indicator for activity of the training wristband is but one example, and other suitable indications may also be utilized.

Step 710 directs moving the training wristband 130 to the proximity (such as within 6 inches) of the mobile electronic device 140 and the select ‘Connect Device’ to connect the training wristband to the application 142. This action syncs the application 142 to the training wristband 130.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary user interface showing the application scanning for training wristbands in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, a plurality of wristbands 130 scanned by the application 142 are displayed on the user interface 802, wherein the wristbands are synced before training activities for the players. The application 142 may use wireless capabilities of the mobile electronic device for pairing with the wristbands.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary mobile device screen image illustrating the results of the scanning process shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, a list including two players 902 and the information 904 (such as identifier) for their corresponding training wristbands 130 is displayed by the interface 900. The user interface 900 enables a user to select a player or select the settings option for a player. In either case, the user can then select the ‘Connect Device’ option (as described above) after selecting either the settings or the player.

FIG. 10 illustrates a mobile application interface showing the selection of settings options for a specific player as selected from the screen of FIG. 9. The screen 1000 is configured to show the time lapsed 1002 from the current action and from the most recent previous action 1004 of the player as received from the paired training wristband 130. The screen 1000 enables a user to select any data from past plays 1006 or to modify the settings 1008 for the configured player. The screen 1000 also displays an option 1010 to select another player for monitoring the training.

FIG. 11 illustrates another mobile application interface showing the specific setting options for the selected player. The application 142 provides various sound settings specific to the selected player. As illustrated for the player, the Referee Sound 1102 can be selected (as indicated in the selection circle 1103). The sound can be changed as per preferences of the user and the user can select the Air Horn Sound 1104. Duration of the timer settings can be adjusted using a slider bar 1106 for tracking length of passing play.

FIG. 12 illustrates a mobile device screen image showing past play history as selected for a specific player in accordance with the disclosed architecture. When ‘Past Plays’ option 1006 as illustrated in FIG. 10 is selected, a list of “Set time” 1202 and list of “Throw time” 1204 for each play for the player. An indicator 1206 for each play indicates whether the player is within the ‘Set Time’ or went beyond for each play. Different colors of the indicator may indicate a comparison of the Set Time and the Throw Time.

FIG. 13 illustrates another mobile application interface showing the selection of settings options for a new or different player. In this instance, the corresponding information is provided for the alternative player (different from the first player in FIG. 10). As previously described, the screen shows the time 1302 from the current action and the most recent action 1304 of that player as provided from the training wristband 130. From the screen, the user may view data from past plays or modify the settings for the player.

FIG. 14 is a mobile device screen image illustrating the specific setting options that are selectable for the new or different player as in FIG. 11. The application 142 provides various sound settings specific to the player. As illustrated for the player, the Referee Sound 1402 can be selected (as indicated in the selection circle). The sound can be changed as per preferences of the user and the user can select the Air Horn Sound 1404. Duration of the timer settings can be adjusted using a slider bar 1406 for tracking length of passing play.

FIG. 15 is a computer architecture diagram showing an illustrative computer architecture for computing devices described in embodiments presented herein and capable of executing software components described herein. The computer architecture 1500 that is shown in FIG. 15 illustrates a conventional server computer, workstation, desktop computer, laptop, network appliance, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), electronic book reader, digital cellular phone, or other computing device, and may be utilized to execute any aspects of the software components presented herein. For example, and without limitation, the computer architecture shown in FIG. 15 might be utilized to implement computer systems that execute software components for implementing the functionality provided by and/or interactions with the training application 142, the web server(s) 152, and records service 154, for example.

The computer 1500 includes a baseboard, or “motherboard,” which is a printed circuit board to which a multitude of components or devices may be connected by way of a system bus or other electrical communication paths. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more central processing units (“CPUs”) 1502 operate in conjunction with a chipset 1504. The CPUs 1502 are standard programmable processors that perform arithmetic and logical operations necessary for the operation of the computer 1500.

The CPUs 402 are configured to perform the necessary operations by transitioning from one discrete, physical state to the next through the manipulation of switching elements that differentiate between and change these states. Switching elements may generally include electronic circuits that maintain one of two binary states, such as flip-flops, and electronic circuits that provide an output state based on the logical combination of the states of one or more other switching elements, such as logic gates. These basic switching elements may be combined to create more complex logic circuits, including registers, adders-subtractors, arithmetic logic units, floating-point units, and the like.

The chipset 1504 provides an interface between the CPUs 1502 and other components and devices on the baseboard. For instance, the chipset 1504 may provide an interface to a random access memory (“RAM”) 1506, used as the main memory in the computer 1500. The chipset 1504 may further provide an interface to a computer-readable storage medium such as a read-only memory (“ROM”) 1508 or non-volatile RAM (“NVRAM”) for storing basic routines that help to startup the computer 1500 and to transfer information between the various components and devices. The ROM 1508 or NVRAM may also store other software components necessary for the operation of the computer 1500 in accordance with the embodiments described herein.

According to various embodiments, the computer 1500 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computing devices and computer systems through the network 110, such as a local-area network (“LAN”), a wide-area network (“WAN”), the Internet, or any other networking topology known in the art that connects the computer 1500 to remote computers. The chipset 1504 includes functionality for providing network connectivity through a network interface controller (“NIC”) 1510, such as a gigabit Ethernet adapter. The NIC 1510 is capable of connecting the computer 400 to other computing devices over the network. It should be appreciated that any number of NICs 1510 may be present in the computer 1500, connecting the computer 1500 to various types of networks and remote computer systems.

The computer 1500 may be connected to a mass storage device 1512 that provides non-volatile storage for the computer 1500. The mass storage device 1512 may also store system programs, application programs, other program modules, and data, which are described in greater detail herein. The mass storage device 1512 may be connected to the computer 1500 through a storage controller 1514 connected to the chipset 1504. The mass storage device 1512 may consist of one or more physical storage units. The storage controller 1514 may interface with the physical storage units through a serial attached SCSI (“SAS”) interface, a serial advanced technology attachment (“SATA”) interface, a fiber channel (“FC”) interface, or other standard interface for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and physical storage devices.

The computer 400 may store data on the mass storage device 1512 by transforming the physical state of the physical storage units to reflect the information being stored. The specific transformation of physical state may depend on various factors, in different implementations of this description. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to, the technology used to implement the physical storage units, whether the mass storage device 1512 is characterized as primary or secondary storage, and the like. For example, the computer 1500 may store information to the mass storage device 1512 by issuing instructions through the storage controller 1514 to alter the magnetic characteristics of a particular location within a magnetic disk drive unit, the reflective or refractive characteristics of a particular location in an optical storage unit, or the electrical characteristics of a particular capacitor, transistor, or other discrete component in a solid-state storage unit. Other transformations of physical media are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present description, with the foregoing examples provided only to facilitate this description. The computer 1500 may further read information from the mass storage device 1512 by detecting the physical states or characteristics of one or more particular locations within the physical storage units.

In addition to the mass storage device 1512 described above, the computer 1500 may have access to other computer-readable storage media to store and retrieve information, such as program modules, data structures, or other data. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable storage media can be any available non-transitory media that may be accessed by the computer 1500. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology. Computer-readable storage media includes RAM, ROM, erasable programmable ROM (“EPROM”), electrically-erasable programmable ROM (“EEPROM”), flash memory or other solid-state memory technology, compact disc ROM (“CD-ROM”), digital versatile disk (“DVD”), high definition DVD (“HD-DVD”), BLU-RAY, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information in a non-transitory fashion.

The mass storage device 1512 may store an operating system 1516 utilized to control the operation of the computer 1500. According to one embodiment, the operating system comprises the LINUX operating system. According to another embodiment, the operating system comprises the WINDOWS® SERVER operating system from MICROSOFT Corporation of Redmond, Washington. According to further embodiments, the operating system may comprise the UNIX or SOLARIS operating systems. It should be appreciated that other operating systems may also be utilized. The mass storage device 1512 may store other system or application programs and data utilized by the computer 400 or other network devices, such as the training application 142, the web server(s) 152, and records service 154.

In one embodiment, the mass storage device 1512 or other computer-readable storage media may be encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when loaded into the computer 1500, may transform the computer from a general-purpose computing system into a special-purpose computer capable of implementing the embodiments described herein. These computer-executable instructions transform the computer 1500 by specifying how the CPUs 1502 transition between states, as described above. According to one embodiment, the computer 1500 may have access to computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computer.

The computer 1500 might also include an input/output controller 1518 for receiving and processing input from a number of input devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a touch screen, an electronic stylus, or other type of input device. Similarly, the input/output controller 1518 may provide output to a display, such as a computer monitor, a flat-panel display, a digital projector, a printer, a plotter, or other type of output device. It will be appreciated that the computer 1500 may not include all of the components shown in FIG. 15, may include other components that are not explicitly shown in FIG. 15, or may utilize an architecture completely different than that shown in FIG. 15.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “smart football training system”, “automated football training and performance tracking system”, “training system”, and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other configurations of the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the automated football training and performance tracking system 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.