Abstract: A sports glove includes a wrist portion defining an opening, a palm portion having a palm side and a backside, a thumb stall and a plurality of finger stalls extending from the palm portion. The palm side comprises a fabric layer bordering an interior of the glove, and a resilient polymer layer on an outer surface of the fabric layer. At least first and second grooves are formed into the polymer layer. The finger stalls include an index finger stall, a middle stall, a ring finger stall and a pinky stall. The first groove forms a thumb base bending line extending from at or adjacent to the opening along the palm portion to a juncture of the thumb stall and the index finger stall. The second groove forms an upper mid-palm bending line extending across the palm portion adjacent at least the pinky finger stall and the ring finger stall.

Abstract: An American-style football having a major longitudinal dimension extending about a longitudinal axis and including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned about the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and a thin electronic tag. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing extends along a longitudinal plane extending through the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The tag is positioned between the lining and the cover assembly. The tag is covered by at least one of the first and fourth cover panels but not covered by the second and third cover panels. The tag is configured to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. In another example implementation, the tag is positioned between the lining and the bladder.

Abstract: A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device. The system includes a first sensing bat, at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors. The at least one sensor is configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat. The signals represent the detected characteristics. A non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat. The programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned over the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing, and an electronic circuit positioned between the lining and the cover assembly and generally aligned with the lacing. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and an electronic circuit. The bladder includes a valve assembly and a pocket that are symmetrically spaced about a longitudinal plane. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder. One of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the valve assembly and the other of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the pocket. The lacing extends along the longitudinal plane and coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit is retained by the pocket. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.

Abstract: A sports glove includes a wrist portion defining an opening, a palm portion having a palm side and a backside, a thumb stall and a plurality of finger stalls extending from the palm portion. The palm side comprises a fabric layer bordering an interior of the glove, and a resilient polymer layer on an outer surface of the fabric layer. At least first and second grooves are formed into the polymer layer. The finger stalls include an index finger stall, a middle stall, a ring finger stall and a pinky stall. The first groove forms a thumb base bending line extending from at or adjacent to the opening along the palm portion to a juncture of the thumb stall and the index finger stall. The second groove forms an upper mid-palm bending line extending across the palm portion adjacent at least the pinky finger stall and the ring finger stall.

Abstract: A basketball including a carcass, cover panels, and cover strips. The carcass has an outer surface defining a first set of channels and cover panels regions between the first set of channels. The panels are respectively positioned over the panel regions and are spaced apart from each other. The strips are positioned over the channels. The strips have inner and outer surfaces extending between first and second sidewalls. The strips have a thickness that is measured radially from a centerpoint from the inner to the outer surface, and a width that is measured from the first to the second sidewall. At least one groove is formed into the outer surface. The groove has a width that extends between 20 to 70 percent of the width of the strip and has a maximum depth from the outer surface that is at least 50 percent of the maximum thickness of the strip.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, at least one cover panel surrounding the bladder, a lacing coupled to the at least one cover panel, a flap and an electronic circuit. The flap is coupled to the outer surface of the bladder and is generally positioned to align with the lacing. The electronic circuit is positioned on or beneath the flap. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.

Abstract: An apparatus for engagement with a barrel of a bat includes a cup and at least one cover. The cup is secured for securement to a distal end of the barrel of the bat. The cup defines a cavity and includes a first connector portion. The at least one cover has a second connector portion cooperating with the first connector portion to releasably secure the cover to the cup over the cavity.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable bladder, a cover surrounding the bladder, a battery carried by the football, and a light emitter. The light emitter is carried by the football and is electrically connected to the battery. At least a portion of the cover transmits light from the light emitter.

Abstract: An American-style football having a major longitudinal dimension extending about a longitudinal axis and including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned about the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and a thin electronic tag. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing extends along a longitudinal plane extending through the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The tag is positioned between the lining and the cover assembly. The tag is covered by at least one of the first and fourth cover panels but not covered by the second and third cover panels. The tag is configured to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. In another example implementation, the tag is positioned between the lining and the bladder.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: retrieve a football instructional package from the memory regarding an act with the football; display the football instructional package on the display; instruct the player to perform the act with the football; receive input pertaining to motion of the football; store information related to the input into the memory; and display information relating to the input.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and an electronic circuit. The bladder includes a valve assembly and a pocket that are symmetrically spaced about a longitudinal plane. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder. One of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the valve assembly and the other of the first and fourth cover panels extending over the pocket. The lacing extends along the longitudinal plane and coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit is retained by the pocket. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit being configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football; derive at least one football motion parameter from the input pertaining to the motion of the football; and display information relating to the input. The at least one football motion parameter includes spiral efficiency.

Abstract: A bat including a barrel, a barrel taper, a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper, a handle, and a second connector portion extending from the handle portion. The barrel has a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore. The barrel taper axially engages the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore. The second connector portion cooperates with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football; determine a target accuracy based upon the input; and display the determined target accuracy.

Abstract: A apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: determine at least one football event by comparing the at least one attribute of the football to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of different football events; and an output device to present output to a person based on the determination of the at least one football event.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasable attachment to a handle of a ball bat includes a base fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle of the bat, and at least one knob releasably coupled to the base. The base includes knob-engaging structure. The knob includes base-engaging structure to cooperate with the knob engaging structure to inhibit rotation of the knob with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football resulting from the player performing an act with the football; store information related to the input into the memory; compare the received input with previously stored celebrity information regarding similar football acts performed by a celebrity; and display information relating to the input and the comparison to the celebrity information.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned over the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing, and an electronic circuit positioned between the lining and the cover assembly and generally aligned with the lacing. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.