Abstract: A sheath for an article of athletic equipment having a shaft, which includes a cap and a rolled sheath. The cap is mounted on the free end of the athletic equipment and the sheath is unrolled onto the shaft to the desired length or the entire length of the shaft. The cap and sheath are preferably made from injection molded rubber, neoprene of other polymers that permit production in various thickness, colors and lengths. The elasticity of the material preferably gives it memory and durability. The diameter of the sheath is preferably smaller than the diameter of the shaft of the athletic equipment so that it stretches to a tight fit. After the sheath is unrolled to the desired length, excess material may be cut off, if desired.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a rotatable life size cut out of a lacrosse goalie target made of plastic, foam rubber, or other material, and preferably a foam rubber, adapted to absorb the shock of repeated impacts of lacrosse balls, holding a lacrosse stick. The target is placed in front of (and optionally attached to by a coupler) a goal net to assist lacrosse players in their practice sessions. The practice goalie can be disposed in a first orientation holding a lacrosse stick such that the net of the lacrosse stick is to the right of the practice goalie's head or in a second orientation wherein the lacrosse stick is to the left of the practice goalies head, and can preferably be rotated to any angle therebetween the first and second configurations. Players can use either positioned practice goalie to practice their shooting using both of their hands.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a feeding net including a backstop net affixed to a frame connected to a base that may be mounted on wheels. The net includes a plurality of drop pockets which can catch lacrosse ball. The drop pockets can be numbered sequentially with indicia, as desired. The wheeled base can include a removable plastic drop bucket for retaining lacrosse balls that are not caught inside the drop pocket or that bounce off the backstop net. The wheeled base can also include an integral deflector shield situated across the backstop net. The deflector shields helps ensure that balls that bounce of the net can be deflected into the drop bucket.

Abstract: A golf course bunker drainage system has been developed that is a modular structure taking the form of a plurality of porous bunker paver blocks formed of material exhibiting vertical and horizontal infiltration rates at least the same as bunker sand. The plurality of porous bunker paver blocks is disposed as a boundary layer between a bunker subsoil bottom surface and overlying bunker sand, allowing rainwater to drain into the subsoil, with excess rainwater directed away from the bunker sand. The use of bunker paver blocks also maintains the integrity of the bunker shape and prevents movement of sand and other materials along steeply sloping bunker sidewalls.

Abstract: A screen baseball game apparatus without temporal and spatial limitations includes a pitching machine unit pitching a ball according to a pitch type selected by a defense, a batting detection unit detecting batting of a batter, a game management unit registering a user personal bank, periodically checking screen baseball devices, performing a simulation along the trajectory of a batted ball converted from received batting detection data, and outputting simulation information, a game photographing unit photographing batting of a batter, a screen displaying pitching, the simulation information, and the batting image, a screen driving unit receiving the batting image and the simulation information and reproducing them on the screen, a game server matching stores having available screen game devices, a database storing the periodic check data, an available game schedule, the batting image, and game information, and a device control unit receiving the control instruction for integral monitoring and controlling.

Abstract: A weaponry target mechanism has a base, an arm pivotally connected to the base to pivot about a lower arm axis, a platform pivotally connected to the arm to pivot about a target axis, an elongated target attached to the platform, a drive mechanism connected to the base at a first connection location and the platform at a second connection location, wherein the platform is movable with respect to the base such that the target assumes an upright position in which the target is in a first pivotal orientation and a dropped position in which the target is in a second pivotal orientation pivotally offset from the first pivotal orientation; and wherein the platform is rotationally moveable with respect to the base such that the platform is parallel to the base in the upright position and the platform is not parallel to the base in the dropped position.

Abstract: A ball safety netting system includes a net comprising a plurality of openings, a plurality of elongated poles having a lower end operably attachable to the ground in spaced-apart relationship, and a plurality of safety devices operably attachable to the plurality of poles and operably attachable to the net. The plurality of poles and the plurality of safety devices are operably sized and configured for use in supporting the net in a generally fixed upright relationship relative to the ground, and when a force exerted on the safety device exceeds a breaking point of the safety device, a portion of the net is detaches from the pole to reduce the likelihood of pole failure.

Abstract: A shaft lock for interconnection of an elongate tubular lacrosse handle and a plastic lacrosse head. The shaft lock comprises an elastomeric insert compression-fitted inside the handle. The insert has a compressible body portion which, in an uncompressed form generally conforms to the interior walls of the handle and is defined by a plurality of co-planar ribs that span the interior walls of the handle. A hard screw-anchor is embedded within the elastomer insert, and the insert is anchored inside the handle by at least one screw threaded through the handle into the screw-anchor from top-to-bottom, the screw(s) engaging the screw anchor and compressing it against the elastomeric insert. The threaded engagement of the screw(s) through the wall of the handle and into the screw-anchor compresses the elastomeric insert, maintaining a constant tension against the screw(s) and against the interior walls of the handle.

Abstract: A reinforced hockey stick blade and a related method of manufacture are provided. The hockey stick blade can include a core element defining one or more longitudinal channels bounded by an upper core portion, a lower core portion, and a bridge portion interconnecting the upper and lower core portions. The hockey stick blade can additionally include a plurality of fiber-reinforced plies substantially encapsulating the core element and a reinforcing material received within the one or more longitudinal channels. The reinforcing material can extend longitudinally from a first channel end portion to a second channel end portion, and can include woven or unidirectional fiber-reinforced plies. The reinforcing material can additionally extend transversely across the channel to form a blade structure having increased blade strength and durability over existing composite hockey stick blades.

Abstract: The disclosure provides embodiments of a goal frame and net suitable for use in the sport of lacrosse and other sports. An upper frame portion typically includes a top horizontal crossbar connecting two vertical front posts. A second piece of the goal structure typically includes a base frame portion which can be formed from, for example, two elongate structural members (e.g., flat metal bars) connected to and terminating at a hinge which can be selectively opened into a “V” shape. A plurality of rods can pass through a number of pockets sewn around the perimeter of the net and tubular sleeves of the upper and lower frame portions about the perimeter of the frame creating an assembled goal with a net.

Abstract: A net boundary indicator can comprise a strap comprising an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the inside surface. A reinforcing member can comprise a top end and a bottom end, the reinforcing member being attached along a length of the inside surface of the strap. A top clip can be coupled to the strap adjacent the top end of the reinforcing member. A bottom clip can be coupled to the strap adjacent the bottom end of the reinforcing member. A first sleeve can be attached along a length of a surface of the strap. An aligning device can be coupled to the surface of the strap below the first sleeve and in-line with the first sleeve, and a bubble level can be coupled to the strap.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to an illuminated sports system. In certain embodiments, the system includes a device configured to be worn by a user that includes a first portion having a first illumination source and a second portion having first control circuitry configured to at least transmit or receive data associated with the device. The system also includes a movable piece of sports equipment including a second illumination source and second control circuitry configured to at least transmit or receive data associated with the movable piece of sports equipment. At least one of the first and second control circuitries is configured to sense when the user possesses the movable piece of sports equipment and modify an emission of at least one of the first and second illumination sources based on the user possessing the movable piece of sports equipment.

Abstract: A lacrosse stick for reducing the rebound of a ball caught therein. The head of the lacrosse stick has a socket for receiving the shaft, and incorporates one or a plurality of flexible elastomer pads within or as part of the handle or socket, where the head and handle meet, to damp impact and rebound. The flexibility of the damping pads produces a “give” that minimizes the rebound of a pocket after being impacted by a ball. This pocket dampening limits the movement of the ball and makes the ball easier to control and to retain in the pocket. The precise location of the dampening material on the lacrosse head may be varied to control the degree of pocket “give” in response to, for example, the force on the pocket created by a ball impacting the pocket during a catch or swinging in the pocket during cradling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for securing a movable soccer goal to a fixed football goal or other vertical post. When in use, the apparatus functions to prevent the soccer goal from being overturned, thereby, making it considerably safer than an unsecured soccer goal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of at least one stick (10) and a ring device (30) configured for throwing and catching the ring device with the stick, wherein: —the stick comprises: —a main section (12) configured to be held by the hands of a user, a ring launching member (14) provided at one end (25) of the stick and configured to launch and catch the ring device, —the ring device comprises a central opening (72) and is constructed to fit on the ring launching member and be launched from the ring launching. At take-off, the ring device is launched in a rotary manner.

Abstract: A butt-end apparatus for a lacrosse stick or other sport implement. The butt-end apparatus comprises a hand abutment comprising: a handle-facing surface to face a handle of the lacrosse stick or other sport implement; and a hand-engaging surface to engage a hand of a player when holding the lacrosse stick or other sport implement. A position of the hand-engaging surface along the handle relative to a longitudinal end of the lacrosse stick or other sport implement is adjustable. An end cap may be mountable to a longitudinal end of a shaft of the lacrosse stick or other sport implement to define the longitudinal end of the lacrosse stick or other sport implement.

Abstract: A method of making a lacrosse head is provided. The method includes providing a lacrosse head design to a 3D printer, providing a first printing material to the 3D printer, the first printing material including carbon fiber or fiberglass, and printing the lacrosse head with the 3-D printer using the lacrosse head design and the printing material.

Abstract: A system for playing a ball game. The system includes a cable and an attachment, the attachment configured to attach the cable to a stationary object. The system also includes a ball assembly, the ball assembly configured to move along the cable. The system further includes a hitting device for moving the ball assembly along the cable.

Abstract: A batting training device having a track defining a track path extending to each side of a batter's strike zone. The path may be arcuate. A trolley supporting a vertically adjustable post is movable along the path. The vertically adjustable post is movable between a lower end of the batter's strike zone and an upper end of the batter's strike zone, wherein the trolley movable along the path and the vertically adjustable post cooperate such that the ball is capable of being positioned substantially anywhere in a batter's strike zone for batting training.

Abstract: A trampoline court has a trampoline frame providing a frame for multiple trampolines arranged in a regular pattern including a first player section, and a second player section. The first player section includes a first player middle trampoline bounded by a pair of first player side trampolines. A first player right trampoline extends to the right of the first player middle trampoline and a first player trampoline extends to the left of the first player middle trampoline. The first player middle trampoline is generally horizontal. The first player side trampolines are angled toward each other relative to the first player middle trampoline.