Abstract: A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.

Abstract: A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.

Abstract: A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.

Abstract: A bullpen mound includes a first mound section, a second mound section, and bridge section that couples to the first and second mound sections. Each of the first and second mound sections includes a base piece, an H-piece, a nose piece, a drive tray, and a landing tray. The base piece and the H-piece, when coupled together, form a first drive tray receptacle for receiving the drive tray. The H-piece and the nose piece, when coupled together, form a first landing tray opening for receiving the landing tray.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: An athletic shoe includes an upper section, an athletic specific bottom section, and an athletic positioning sole. The athletic positioning sole has a geometric shape that, when the athletic shoe is worn on a foot of an athletic and the athlete is standing, positions a heel of the foot above the toes of the foot and positions an outer edge of the foot above an inner edge of the foot.

Abstract: A bullpen mound includes a first mound section, a second mound section, and bridge section that couples to the first and second mound sections. Each of the first and second mound sections includes a base piece, an H-piece, a nose piece, a drive tray, and a landing tray. The base piece and the H-piece, when coupled together, form a first drive tray receptacle for receiving the drive tray. The H-piece and the nose piece, when coupled together, form a first landing tray opening for receiving the landing tray.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.

Abstract: A modular pitching mound includes a removable drive area, a removable landing area, a modular level and sloped section, and a modular mound skirt section. The removable drive area includes an area for a pitching rubber. The modular level and sloped section that, when assembled, supports the removable drive area in a first position and at least encircles the removable landing area. The removable drive area and/or the modular level and sloped section includes a removable mechanism for assisting with removal of the removable drive area from the modular level and sloped section. The modular mound skirt section couples to and encircles the modular level and sloped section.

Abstract: A leg protection system includes a kneepad, a knee relief pad, a foot relief pad, and a coupling mechanism. The kneepad is secured to a knee covering position on the coupling mechanism, the knee relief pad is secured to a calf position on the coupling mechanism, and the foot relief pad is secured to a shin-foot position on the coupling mechanism. When the leg protection system is worn, the kneepad is positioned over a knee of a wearer, the knee relief pad is positioned over a portion of a calf of the wearer, the foot relief pad is positioned over at least one of a portion of a shin or a portion of a foot of the wearer. The coupling mechanism secures the leg protection system on the wearer.

Abstract: An outsole for an athletic shoe that includes a heel section and a forefoot section. The heel and forefoot sections are on the outer surface of the outsole. The forefoot section includes a tread pattern that provides first and second ground friction forces. The first ground friction force promotes rotation in a first rotational direction about a rotation point of the forefoot section. The second ground friction force restricts rotation in a second rotational direction about the rotation point. The second rotational direction is opposite of the first rotational direction and the second ground friction force is greater than the first ground friction force.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as at least part of a sole of a shoe or as at least part of an insole of the shoe, the apparatus comprises a fixed section that provides a positioning of a big toe area at a lower position than a heel area and/or at a lower position than an outer edge area, and an adjustable section associated with the fixed section, wherein the adjustable section adjusts at least one of the lower positioning of the big toe area with respect to the heel area and the lower positioning of the big toe area with respect to the outer edge area.

Abstract: A shoe includes a midsole, an outsole, and an upper section. The upper section includes a top cap section, a vamp section, a quarter section, and a metatarsal-phalange joint flex area. The toe cap section covers a toe area of the shoe and is constructed of a first material. The vamp section covers a portion of a midfoot area of the shoe and is constructed of the first material or a second material. The quarter section provides a rear portion of the upper section and is constructed of the first material, the second material, and/or a third material. The metatarsal-phalange joint flex area covers a metatarsal-phalange joint section of the shoe and is constructed of a fourth material. The fourth material is more flexible than both of the first and second materials.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

Abstract: A method includes collecting, for a pitch, per pitch data that includes a plurality of first arm orientation data points and a plurality of second arm orientation data points. The method further includes analyzing the per pitch data to determine a release point arm orientation and an effort level. The method further includes calculating a per pitch stress level based on the release point arm orientation and the effort level. The method further includes calculating, for a set of pitches, a fatigue level based on the per pitch stress level of each pitch of the set of pitches.

Abstract: A baseball shoe includes an upper section and a sole section. The sole section includes a sole and a plurality of cleats. The sole includes a cleat pattern section and a no-cleat section, wherein the no-cleat section is positioned at a mid toe section of the sole. The cleats are attached to the sole within the cleat pattern section and are grouped into three groups: a heel group of cleats, an outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats, and an inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats. The inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats and/or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats are substantially aligned, such that, when a pitcher wears the baseball shoe, the inner mid foot-to-toe group of cleats or the outer mid foot-to-toe group of cleats engages a pitching rubber.

Abstract: A modular pitching mound includes a removable drive area, a removable landing area, a modular level and sloped section, and a modular mound skirt section. The removable drive area includes an area for a pitching rubber. The modular level and sloped section that, when assembled, supports the removable drive area in a first position and at least encircles the removable landing area. The removable drive area and/or the modular level and sloped section includes a removable mechanism for assisting with removal of the removable drive area from the modular level and sloped section. The modular mound skirt section couples to and encircles the modular level and sloped section.