Color coded teaching system

The invention relates to a sport training device that includes a leg marker adapted to be removably placed on a walking surface for indicating placement of a user's leg on the walking surface, the leg marker having a color. The invention also includes a shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's shoe and having a same color as the leg marker for indicating placement of the user's leg proximate to the leg marker. Further, the invention has an arm marker adapted to be removably placed on a striker for indicating placement of a user's arm on the striker, the arm marker also having a color. The invention also includes a glove marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's hand and having a same color as the arm marker for indicating placement of the user's hand proximate to the arm marker, where the shoe marker is placed proximately to the leg marker by matching the colors of the shoe marker and the leg marker for facilitating proper form of a user's lower body and where the glove marker is placed proximately to the arm marker by matching the colors of the glove marker and the arm marker for facilitating proper form of a user's upper body.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for a color coded sport teaching device.

Often when a novice begins to play a sport, such as baseball or softball, the novice learns through experimentation how to best strike a ball or position his/her body for optimum performance. Sports that seem to involve both striking a ball and positioning a body in proper form include cricket, stickball, baseball, softball, and the like. Usually, learning proper form for the body and how to strike the ball may involve a lot of practice and time in order to improve because the novice may need to coordinate the feet, hands, and eyes so that the he/she may strike a ball, which is typically moving. Moreover, the novice may need to learn to properly hold the equipment use to strike the ball.

Further, throwing a ball may be as difficult to master as hitting the ball with the bat. Some novices throw the ball side arm while others may throw the ball with an overhead motion. Still others may throw the ball in a motion in between the side arm and overhead position. Throwing the ball properly may be critical to succeed as a player, particularly for players who wish to be pitchers.

Likewise, fielding a ball is sometimes difficult to master, particularly the position of the feet as the ball approaches the player. Some players may incorrectly have their legs open, which may lead to a ball passing through them. Hence, fielding a ball may involve practice and time for a player to improve.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,164 to Martin appears to disclose interlocking batting gloves worn by a batter to help the batter hit a baseball. The interlocking gloves inhibit a batter from rotating his hands while holding a bat and to help maintain proper alignment of a batter's knuckles throughout the swing. However, the patent does not seem to facilitate the coordination of the feet with the hands or eyes. Moreover, the reference may not assist the user in improving his/her ability to field or throw a ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,845 to Canelas seems to disclose a combination of soccer shoes and a soccer ball where each shoe has an exterior surface marked with selected areas that correspond with selected areas of the ball. In this fashion, the user may strike the ball at particular areas of the ball with particular areas of the shoe to have the ball move in a desired direction. However, Canelas does not usually involve positioning the feet and hands so that a user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball. Additionally, Canelas normally uses special color-coded shoes. Other shoes may not work with the invention of Canelas.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,828 to Sinton seems to relate to a golf training system for aligning both hands on a glove club. The upper hand glove may have indicia or color coding for positioning the lower hand on the golf club with respect to the upper hand and for aligning the thumb along the centerline of the club. Sinton does not usually involve positioning the feet and hands so that a user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball. Sinton also does not appear to relate to having markings on the golf club corresponding to the markings on the gloves.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,880 to Wiseman seems to disclose a training mat to teach a baseball batter to utilize a proper batting position. The training device is typically a mat marked with a first indicia designating home plate and a plurality of second indicia showing sequential segments for the batter to place his/her feet. Wiseman normally includes color coding to match one of a plurality of front-foot markings with one of a plurality of back-foot markings, and to match the foot markings with markings on a tee. The invention may not involve aligning a designated foot with a particular indicia, in which case a wrong foot may be placed on a desired indicia. Wiseman does not appear to facilitate hand placement or proper throwing and/or fielding the ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,126 to Harvanek typically includes a glove with markings for providing the wearer with a visual indication of the proper gripping position of an implement, such as a golf club or baseball bat. By aligning the implement with markings on the glove, a proper gripping position can be obtained. However, Harvanek may not use the markings to match the color of these portions with the same color somewhere else, such as the golf club, but uses the color to establish a visual contrast so these portions can easily be identified. Harvanek may fail to assist a user position his/her feet so that the user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball in cooperation with the position of the feet.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,280 to Dickerson often includes a golf training device comprising a glove used on the leading hand of the golf swing with a diagonal strip for the purpose of showing the placement of the golf club and, on the back of the thumb and running the length of the thumb, a strip of material carrying a plurality of hook like members to be hooked with a corresponding strip of material on a half glove on the other hand. Dickerson usually does not involve positioning the feet and hands so that a user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball.

U.S. Patent No. 5,244,233 to McCraney and U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,858 to Cariffe both relate to attachments, such as paint or stickers, that designate left and right shoes so that a wearer would know which shoe to apply to which foot. The patents do not relate to sport training devices

U.S. Pat. No. 5,290. 043 to Vidinic may disclose a target with sections of different colors and a shoe with corresponding colored sections directing the player which portion of the foot to use to kick the ball into the corresponding section of the target. The patent may also describe a special shoe or adapting an ordinary shoe such as by applying stickers or Velcro attachments but may not address the use of the invention for positioning the feet and hands so that a user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,344 to Masstab seems to include a glove and handle with self-adhesive surfaces which permit the glove to be secured to the handle of a golf club to prevent relative movement of the glove and handle. The patent does not teach using color codes, and does not usually involve positioning the feet and hands so that a user may hit a ball with a bat or throw and/or field the ball.

What is desired, therefore, is a sport training device that assists a user in positioning a lower part of the body with an upper part of the body. Another desire is to provide a sport training device that assists the user in properly positioning the hands on a club and that assists the user in properly positioning the feet on a walking surface. A further desire is to provide a sport training device that assists the user in throwing and/or fielding the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a sport training device that helps position a user's lower body and upper body so that the lower body and upper body may cooperate with each other to more easily hit, field, and/or throw a ball.

These and other objects are achieved by a sport training device that includes a leg marker adapted to be removably placed on a walking surface for indicating placement of a user's leg on the walking surface, the leg marker having a color. The sport training device also includes a shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's shoe and having a same color as the leg marker for indicating placement of the user's leg proximate to the leg marker. Further, the invention has an arm marker adapted to be removably placed on a striker for indicating placement of a user's arm on the striker, the arm marker also having a color. the invention also includes a glove marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's hand and having a same color as the arm marker for indicating placement of the user's hand proximate to the arm marker, where the shoe marker is placed proximately to the leg marker by matching the colors of the shoe marker and the leg marker for facilitating proper form of a user's lower body and where the glove marker is placed proximately to the arm marker by matching the colors of the glove marker and the arm marker for facilitating proper form of a user's upper body.

In a further embodiment, the sport training device may include a second leg marker having a second color different from the color of the leg marker and wherein the second leg marker is adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg.

Similar to the second leg marker, the invention may also have a second arm marker which has a second color different from the color of the arm marker and wherein the second arm marker is adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's second arm proximate to the second arm marker.

The color of the leg marker and arm marker need not be the same and may be different from one another. In some embodiments, the striker is an elongated shaft for striking a ball, or a bat. In other embodiments, the walking surface is a mat or a ground surface.

In further embodiments, the glove marker and second glove marker each have an indicator for facilitating placement of the glove marker relative to the second glove marker.

In another aspect of the invention, the sport training device includes a first leg marker adapted to be removably placed on a walking surface for indicating placement of a user's first leg on the walking surface and a first shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's first shoe, the first shoe marker having the same color as the first leg marker for indicating placement of the user's first leg proximate to the first leg marker. The invention also includes an arm marker adapted to be removably placed on a striker for indicating placement of a user's arm on the striker and a glove marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's hand for facilitating placement of the user's hand proximate to the arm marker, the glove marker having the same color as the arm marker. the invention also has a second leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg and a second shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's second shoe, the second shoe marker having the same color as the second leg marker for indicating placement of the user's second leg proximate to the second leg marker. The first shoe marker is to be placed proximately to the first leg marker by matching the colors of the first shoe marker and the first leg marker for facilitating proper form of a user's lower body and the second shoe marker is to be placed proximately to the second leg marker by matching the colors of the second shoe marker and the second leg marker for facilitating proper form of the user's lower body. The glove marker is to be placed proximately to the arm marker by matching the colors of the glove marker and the arm marker for facilitating proper form of a user's upper body and the user, for facilitating placement of the user's first and second legs during the act of throwing a ball, slides the second shoe marker until the second shoe marker touches the first shoe marker before releasing the ball.

In still another aspect of the invention, a sport training device is provided to properly position the lower body. The device includes a first leg marker adapted to be removably placed on a walking surface for indicating placement of a user's first leg on the walking surface and a first shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's first shoe, the first shoe marker having the same color as the first leg marker for indicating placement of the user's first leg proximate to the first leg marker. The invention also includes a second leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg on the walking surface and a second shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's second shoe, the second shoe marker having the same color as the second leg marker for indicating placement of the user's second leg proximate to the second leg marker. The first and second leg markers are of different colors, wherein the user, for facilitating placement of the user's first and second legs during the act of throwing a ball, slides the second shoe marker until the second shoe marker touches the first shoe marker before releasing the ball and wherein the user moves the second shoe marker from a first position being proximate to the second leg marker to a second position being proximate to the first leg marker.

The first shoe marker may include an instep and the second shoe marker may include a heel. During the act of fielding a ball, the first and second leg markers are placed in select locations on the walking surface to position the user's first and second legs for proper fielding.

In a further aspect of the invention, a sport training device is provided for positioning an upper part of the body on a striker. The device includes a first arm marker adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's first arm on the striker, the first arm marker having a color. A first glove marker is adapted to be removably placed on the user's first arm and has a same color as the first arm marker for facilitating placement of the user's first arm proximate to the first arm marker. Similar to the first arm marker and first glove marker, a second arm marker is provided having a second color different from the color of the first arm marker and wherein the second arm marker is adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's second arm proximate to the second arm marker. A second glove marker is adapted to be removably placed on the user's second arm and has a same color as the second arm marker for facilitating placement of the user's second arm proximate to the second arm marker, and wherein the first and second arm markers are removably secured to select areas the striker depending upon whether the user is right handed or left handed. In some embodiments, the sport training device is for facilitating positioning the user's arms on a bat used for striking a ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the sport training device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 more particularly depicts the leg marker shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 more particularly depicts the shoe marker shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 more particularly depicts the glove and glove marker shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 more particularly depicts the striker shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 more particularly depicts the leg marker shown in FIG. 1 for pitching the ball.

FIG. 7 more particularly depicts the leg marker shown in FIG. 1. for fielding and throwing the ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts sport training device 10 in accordance with the invention. Device 10 includes leg marker 20, which is adapted to be removably placed on walking surface 30 for indicating placement of a user's leg on the walking surface. Although walking surface 30 is shown to be a mat that is movable to any location where the user may desire to play the sport, such as the user's home or at a public field, further embodiments may provide that the walking surface be a ground and that leg marker 20 is be placed directly on the ground.

Device 10 further includes shoe marker 40, which is adapted to be removably placed on a user's shoe. Both leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40 should have the same color so that the user may more easily place the user's leg proximate to the leg marker by matching the colors. Therefore, by proper placing leg marker 20 in a proper position, and by the user placing his/her leg proximate to leg marker 20 by matching the color of shoe marker 40 with leg marker 20, the user's leg is also in the proper position.

Although leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40 have the same color in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is not a requirement. In other embodiments, leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40 may be of different colors. All that is necessary is that a user, upon viewing leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40, be able to place shoe marker 40 proximate to leg marker 20 based on visually identifying a relation between leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40. In some cases, where brown and green may be the user's favorite colors, these colors may be employed as opposed to having the same colors for both leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40. Shoe marker 40 may be a sticker, pin, sign, or any indicator removably placed on a shoe for indicating shoe marker 40 corresponds with leg marker 20 due to a color of shoe marker 40 and leg marker 20. In further embodiments, other indicators may correspond leg marker 20 with shoe marker 40, such as a shape or design common to both leg marker 20 and shoe marker 40. Such shape or design may be a triangle, logo, or other indicia placed on shoe marker 40 and leg marker 20. Shoe marker 40 is more particularly depicted in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, device 10 further includes arm marker 60, which is adapted to be removably placed on striker 50 for indicating placement of a user's arm, which may be a hand, fore arm, or upper arm, on striker 50. Arm marker 50 may be any tape or elastic secured to striker 50 so that the user may place glove marker 70, which is placed on glove 71, in a proper position on striker 50 by matching colors of glove marker 70 with arm marker 50. Glove 71 and striker 50 may be a bat used to strike a ball.

Arm marker 60 may be moved to different locations on striker 50 as a user grows or as striker 50 is utilized by different users with different gripping styles, such as users that are right handed or left handed. Glove marker 70 is any indicator that corresponds with arm marker 60. Glove marker 70 and arm marker 60 have the same limitations as shoe marker 40 and leg marker 20 in that glove marker 70 and arm marker 60 may be a sticker, pin, sign, or any indicator removably placed on glove 71, which may be a batting glove, or striker 50 and that indicators include any color, shape, logo, or design. In some embodiments, arm marker 60, glove marker 70, shoe marker 40, and leg marker 20 all have the same color. However, this is not a requirement on the invention provided glove marker 70 corresponds with arm marker 60 and shoe marker 40 corresponds with leg marker 20, in which case glove marker 70 and arm marker 60 are of a first color and shoe marker 40 and leg marker 20 are of a second color.

Moreover, glove marker 70 and arm marker 60 may be applied to glove 71 and striker 50, respectively, using any known or novel means, such as adhesive, elastic bands, pins, fasteners, and the like.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, device 10 may also include arm marker 60′, glove marker 70′, shoe marker 40′, and leg marker 20′for the opposite hand and foot. Arm marker 60′, glove marker 70′, shoe marker 40′, and leg marker 20′ all include the same limitations as their respective counterparts, arm marker 60, glove marker 70, shoe marker 40, and leg marker 20, respectively. In further embodiments, glove marker 70, 70′ may be placed proximate to the knuckle area of glove 71, 71′, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, so that the left and right hands may be aligned properly on striker 50. In a variation of these embodiments, glove markers 70, 70′ may be placed on glove 71, 71′ and another indicator may be placed at the knuckles. Still further, glove marker 70, 70′ may be a color of glove 71, 71′ and shoe marker 40, 40′ may be a color of a shoe.

As shown in FIG. 2, a right handed batter has leg marker 20, for placement of a right leg, placed further away from a pitcher than left leg marker 20′, which indicates placement of a left leg. The left handed batter has his/her leg positions reversed. For the purposes of simplicity, it should be known that the descriptions for FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, and 7b are that of a right handed player. For a left handed player, the movement of the feet are merely reversed.

The act of pitching is more particularly shown in FIG. 6a, 6b, and 6c. Device 10 includes a different use of leg markers 20, 20′ than shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 6a, the starting position is where feet are shoulder width apart. Leg marker 20 is half on the pitching rubber and half in the dirt, where leg marker 20′ is half on the pitching rubber and half of the dirt behind the pitching rubber. The pitcher needs to be relaxed at this point, and a deep breath can assist to get the young pitcher to relax their muscle. The ball must be presented to the hitter, and then the ball can go into the pitcher's glove. At this time, the rest of the presentation should remain as simple as possible. After ball and glove are brought together, the ball and glove shoulder come in front of the pitcher's face, at the top of the pitcher's circle (assuming this is a softball windmill pitch), the ball and glove will split. The arm & ball will continue in the arm slot and go up by the ear. The glove arm will then go down toward the left leg as the ball hand comes in its downward motion to wrist snap and release point.

At this time, the user's foot on leg marker 20 will simultaneously pivot and the user's foot on leg marker 20′ along with the hip and body move into an open powerphase, or X position (see FIG. 6b). This position will create the most power from the pitcher's body by utilizing his/her lower body leg drive and then the resistance on the user's foot standing on leg marker 20′. The foot on leg marker 20′ will plant at a 45 degree angle. This is creating resistance on the front side, so that the opposite leg (positioned at leg marker 20) can drive against the leg on leg marker 20′.

The back leg (leg marker 20) will drag on the instep of the foot, to prevent a double plant (crow hopping). The leg on marker 20 will drag and then the foot will push off to the opposite leg's heel and turn the body to complete a figure 4 position with the body. The body will remain balanced and rest on the front leg until the pitching motion is completed. The leg formerly on marker 20 will then finish next to the other foot (shown by leg marker 20′) in a balanced fielding position shown in FIG. 6c. The arm circle will finish in a loose position in front of the body with the hand saying Hi! The pitching hand should not touch the shoulder when completed, or this will create a tight arm circle and will cause control and arm problems in the future. The arm should never follow past the shoulder on follow through or we have wasted energy. The above finished position shown in FIG. 6c is that of a softball windmill pitch. In baseball, the leg indicated by leg marker 20 would actually end slightly in front of leg marker 20′ and is shown in dashed lines.

FIGS. 6b-6c may be described as the PowerPhase & Lower Body Leg Drive. PowerPhase−slide & turn =red tape to blue tape. Start with the red foot (leg marker 20 or right foot) straight with the pitching rubber, and blue foot (leg marker 20′ or left foot) at a 45 degree angle. Drag on the instep of red foot (Place red tape on the instep of the red foot and blue tape on the hell of the blue foot. Player will be dragging red tape to blue tape to create the slide & turn, and complete the leg drive in a FIG. 4 position). Belly button will finish at the catcher, the red foot will be placed next to the blue foot upon completion of the leg drive and hip close. The blue foot (left foot) remains planted in a 45 degree angle. This is using the concept of resistance against a firm front side as is done in hitting.

FIGS. 7a and 7b depict the act of fielding and, more particularly, the positions of the feet during fielding. The start position is shown by FIG. 7a, where the left and right feet are facing the ball at the top of the figure (ball not shown). Leg marker 20′ is for the left foot and leg marker 20 is for the right foot. Once the player positions the feet as shown in FIG. 7a to await the ball that is hit to the player, and once the player fields or receives the ball is fielded, the player places the right leg, indicated by leg marker 20, forward in the direction she/he wishes to throw the ball, such as to a base, and finishes by planting the left leg, or front leg indicated by leg marker 20′, ahead of leg marker 20. See FIG. 7b. This is similar to the pitching diagram shown in FIGS. 6a-6c where the back leg is used to push off against the front leg.

In a further embodiment, the invention shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b have a triangle painted on a mat for facilitating positioning of leg marker's 20 and 20′. The player matches the first colored shoe marker with the first colored leg marker, then the second colored shoe marker with the second colored leg marker. The player then places his/her hands at the top of the triangle, which forces the player to bend the body over to reach t he top of the triangle as the lower body is properly placed according the shoe and leg markers.

Although leg markers 20, 20′ are shown and described to be movable and placed in different positions whether for hitting (FIG. 2), pitching (FIGS. 6a-6c), and/or fielding (FIGS. 7a and 7b), leg markers 20, 20′ may be duplicated and placed on a single mat in any combination. For example, one mat may have leg markers 20, 20′ for a right handed hitter as shown in FIG. 2 on one side and leg markers 20, 20′ for a left handed hitter as shown in FIG. 2 on an opposite side as the right handed hitter. Another mat may employ what is shown in FIGS. 6a-6c on one side of the mat and what is shown in FIGS. 7a-7b on an opposite side of the mat. In this manner what is shown in FIG. 2 is on a first mat and what is shown in FIGS. 6a-6c and 7a-7b is on a second mat.

In a further embodiment, a single mat may employ what is shown in FIG. 2 on one side of the mat (both right and left handed hitter positioning on the same side of the mat) along with what is shown in FIGS. 7a-7b on the same side of the mat. On the opposite side of this single mat, what is shown in FIGS. 6a-6c may be depicted. In this further embodiment, a single mat may depict all that is sown in FIGS. 2, 6a-6c, and 7a-7b.

EXAMPLE 1 Hitting Positioning (Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2)

Lower Half of Body

    • Right & Left Handed Batter: red color=red foot leg marker 20 and blue color=left foot leg marker 20′
    • Feet Spread: Slightly wider than shoulder width. Leg markers 20, 20′ placed on mat 30 at shoulder′ s width.
    • Weight on the balls of the feet and relaxed knees.
      Upper Half of Body
    • Hand grip: knuckles lined up according to line across knuckles of gloves 71, 71′. Line across knuckles may be red and blue (red color=right hand and blue color=left hand) glove markers 70, 70′ or gloves themselves may be red and blue and line across knuckles may be any colored line or indicator for lining the knuckles of the gloves 71, 71′ together.
    • Right handed Hitter:
      • Red Color (Right hand)=Top hand of the bat handle
      • Blue Color (Left hand)=Bottom hand of the bat handle
    • Left handed Hitter:
      • Red Color (Right hand)=Bottom hand of the bat handle
      • Blue Color (left Hand)=Top hand of the bat handle
    • Bat on Shoulder & lift bat straight off shoulder, like a telephone.
    • Head Straight, two eyes focused on pitcher: Looking at release point.

EXAMPLE 2 Hitting (Refer to FIGS. 1 and 5)

Swinging the Bat (striker 50)

    • “Knob bat to the ball”.
    • Barrel of bat hits the ball.
    • Red foot pivots or turns.
    • Belly button of hitter finishes at the pitcher. (pitcher throws the ball to the hitter/offensive player)
    • Head down on contact—watching ball hit the bat “think spitting on the ball”.
    • Bat follows through with two hands to the back.
    • The bat is placed down on ground and hitter runs to first base.
      Hitting Drills Utilizing the Color coded Hitting Training Mat (leg markers 20, 20′ on mat 30)

1. Knob Bat Drill

    • a. Kneeling
      • Set Up: Place the right knee down on the red footprint (leg marker 20). Place the left foot straight out in front towards the white batter box line. Place the tee close to the player's body at their left (blue) knee. Line the red batting glove (glove 71 with glove marker 70) with the red grip (glove marker 70) on the bat (striker 50) and the left hand with the blue grip (glove marker 70′ on the bat (striker 50). Place the bat on & off the shoulder like a telephone. The player will not move their body. The knob of the bat will knock the sponge ball off the top of the tee.
    • b. Standing
      • Set Up: place the right foot on the red foot print (leg marker 70) and the left foot on the blue footprint (leg marker 70′). Place the tee close to their body line up with the front of their blue leg. Line the red batting glove with the red grip on the bat and the left hand with the blue grip on the bat. Place the bat on & off the shoulder like a telephone. The player will not move their body. The knob of the bat will knock the sponge ball off the top of the tee.

2. One Handed Drill

    • a. Hit the papers w/bare hands at the coach on the bucket
      • Set Up: place the right foot on the red foot print (leg marker 20) and the left foot on the blue Footprint (leg marker 20′). Using no bat. Player places hands together by lining up the colored lines on the batting gloves (refer to hitting stance upper body). The coach throws rolled up papers with rubber bands around them at the player's hands. The player will use one hand at a time, and hit the papers back at the coach, with out moving their feet off the mat. Only the hands move in this drill. This drill isolates the hands movement going to the ball.

3. Bat Behind Back Drill:

    • a. Ball Behind the Back Pivot Foot
      • Set Up: place the right foot on the red foot print (leg marker 20) and the left foot on the blue footprint (leg marker 20′). Place a ball on the outer side of the right (red) heel. The player then practices pivoting on the red (right) foot. The blue (left) foot does not move. When done the belly button should be facing the pitcher.
    • b. Off the Tee
      • Set Up: place the right foot on the red foot print and the left foot on the blue footprint. Move the tee with a sponge ball on top so that it is close to players body and even with the players belly button. Place the bat behind the players back. The player then pivots on the red foot, and as a result of the rotation of the body the bat will move to hit the ball on the tee.

4. Mirror work (Dry Swings with instant visual feedback)

    • Set Up: Using the Colored Hitting Mat (leg markers 20, 20′ on mat 30) setting the movable mirror in front at a distance far enough a way that the bat will not hit the mirror or the side of player so that the player's body is in the middle of the mirror. Using the Hitting Training Mat place the right foot on the red foot print and the left foot on the blue footprint. Line the red batting glove with the red grip on the bat and the left hand with the blue grip on the bat. Place the bat on & off the shoulder like a telephone. Lead with the knob of the bat to the ball, then the barrel is extended. Red foot pivots, the belly button finishes at the pitcher, and bat follows to the back. Two hands remain on bat at all times.

5. Tee Work

    • a. High/Low

6. Front Toss

    • a. Big ball
    • b. Regular ball

EXAMPLE 3 Throwing Positioning (Refer to FIGS. 7a and 7b)

Lower Half of Body

    • Balance: Feet spread and weight on balls of feet, “Bottom of the Triangle”(Refer to FIG. 7a)
      • i. Red (right foot) and blue (left foot)
    • Rotate Body & Belly Button Opens: While taking first step (refer to FIG. 7b)
      • i. Right handed Thrower . . . “Red (right foot)-Blue (left foot)”
      • ii. Left Handed Thrower. . . “Blue (Left Foot)-Red (right foot)”
        Upper Half of Body
    • Front Shoulder/Glove : Pointed to target
    • Throwing Elbow: Shoulder Level: “L position”
    • Belly Button open (step from top of triangle to red blue on throwing mat matching the colored dots on the shoes Red=right & Blue=Left)
    • Throwing Hand goes by the ear
    • Throwing Hand follows to the blue knee (right handed) and red knee (left handed)
      Partner Towel Drill

Step #1“Stance in L Position”

    • Using the throwing & Fielding Mat stand in front of triangle
    • Place Body in Open Position on Red (right) and blue (left) foot prints
    • Point your glove arm at target
    • Throwing Arm in an L Position as high as the shoulder

Step #2: Partner Set Up

    • Partner holds glove out in front
    • Partner needs to have enough room for the arm to be able to extend

Step #3“Pivot/Throw/Snap Towel into Glove of Partner”

    • Throw “over the top”, not sideways. (Sideway throws can cause elbow and shoulder injuries.)
    • Release ball as your throwing, at the top of the arc.
    • Pivot body as you throw. Lead with the elbow and snap towel into the glove
    • As you pivot the body, back hip should rotate so belly button faces target
    • Chest is over the glove on follow through
      Knee Drill
    • Using the throwing & Fielding Mat (Use the line above the fielding triangle).
      • For right handed throwers, put blue knee up and place blue foot on blue foot print, red knee down on red foot print.
      • For left handed throwers, put red knee up and place the red knee on the red footprint, blue knee down on the blue foot print.
    • The knee that is up, points toward target.
    • Belly is in the open sideways position in line with the line that the colored feet are on
    • Elbow goes by the ear (on top of the ball)
    • Release ball at top of arc-“think about hitting the person on top of the head
    • Follow through to opposite knee (infielders) or ankle (outfielders)
    • Glove hand ends down by the hip.

EXAMPLE 4 Fielding Positioning (Refer to FIG. 7a)

Ready Position For Fielding Ground Balls (refer to FIG. 8) Glove Hand: Out front at the : “Top of the Triangle”

    • Throwing Hand: Palm up: “Alligator Hands” not a “Seal”
    • Flex at knee and hips
    • Ready position begins with the pitcher's wind-up
      Fielding Position
    • Feet: Wider than shoulders using the, “Bottom of the Triangle” on the throwing mat
    • Red (right foot) & Blue (left foot)
    • Glove Foot Forward & knees bent with flat back
    • “Alligator Hands”: Eats the ball
    • Head down on the ball see ball into glove
    • Field the ball out front & the ball into the “Belly Button”
      Approach to Ball
    • Left hander→left foot first
    • Right hander→right foot first
      Catching the Ball Above the Waist
    • Two Hands & Fingers to the sky like waving hi
    • At the chest (not covering the face)
    • Cover the ball with the bare hand after ball is in the glove
    • Back of the glove should face the body
      Fielding Drills
    • Knee/Cradle Drill—Students are on their knees on the throwing mat (right on the red footprint and left knee on the blue footprint), have them first use their bare hands and then use their gloves to fielding the ball at the mid line (belly button) of their body with two hands and cradle the ball into their body.
    • Triangle/ Fielding Position:
      • 1) Fielding A Ground Ball: Using color coded fielding & throwing mat set the players feet on the bottom of the triangle (red=right foot and blue=left foot), and hands on the top of the triangle where the pitcher of the glove is. Roll ball to players. Keeping ball in the “belly button” and hold fielding the ball in the cradled position.
      • 2) Teaching Throwing Foot Work From Triangle—using a line with tape: Players are set up in proper fielding position using the triangle as stated above in fielding a ground ball. Roll the ball to the player and have then practice proper foot work using the color system on the fielding & throwing mat in matching the correct colored pin on the players shoes (Refer to Throwing Fundamentals for the directions on the color pattern to use depending on if your player is a right or left handed thrower). If is important to freeze the player at the open position, so that they understand how to get open. Their feet should be in the proper colored foot print.
    • 2 Ball Drill—Player is in proper fielding position, coach is rolling a ball lateral the opposite direction as soon as the first ball is being fielded. Coaches must vary this drill based on player ability, and try to push each player to work on quicker feet and adjusting their movement lateral cone to cone.
    • Colored Ball Drill—This drill will force the player to focus on the ball on the way into the glove and work on player concentration skills. Setting the player up on the fielding mat in the proper fielding position listed above in “Fielding a Ground Ball.” Using two balls that are different colors. Each time the player fields a ground ball they must call out the color of the ball.
    • Self Toss
      • 1. Game: who can catch most in a row with out dropping the ball.
    • Paddle Drill
      • 1. Fielding Ground Balls
      • 2. Catching Pop-ups
    • Fielding & Throwing Games Using The Color Coded Throwing Mat
      • 1. Point system for hitting certain targets
      • 2. Hit the Coach Drill
      • 3. Balloon Games
        • Target Drill
        • Softhands partner toss
    • 5 Ball Drill in Proper Fielding & Throwing Position

2 Coach Line Drill

    • Partner Toss w/ Colored Coded Throwing Mats
      • Ground balls
      • One Hops

4 Corner Throwing Drill

EXAMPLE 5 Windmill Pitching (Refer to FIGS. 6a-6c)

Phase #1 (Grip & Wrist Snap)

    • 1. Wrist Snaps in Open Position
      • 45 Degree Angle on Both Feet
        • a) Using Spinner & Ball
    • 2. Arm Circle Only (No Legs)
      • 45 Degree Angle on Both Feet
        • a) Using Ball, and Wiffle® Ball
          Key Terms

Grip: Four seam grip across the “C” of the ball is recommended for the beginning pitcher. As the pitcher gains more control, the two seam grip can be used, as the two seam grip will give the ball more movement. Once the young pitcher learns proper wrist snap, release point balance, and leg drive this can be used as another pitch to provide a different ball movement using the core fundamentals of the four seam fastball.

Wrist Snap: This occurs before the hip. The ball should be held in the finger & not the palm (proper grip) then upon the release of the ball the wrist snap will create a tight 12 to 6 spin.

Arm Circle: A proper arm circle will pass by the EAR, (the arm should be long, but the elbow should not be locked), then the arm goes to the HIP, and before the hip the WRIST SNAP occurs, the hand then will follow through past the hip in front of the body, with the HAND SAYING HI. The key on the follow through is to make sure that the elbow goes pas the hip. If the elbow stops at the hip, then the arm circle has slowed down and lost its speed on the downward swing.

Powerline: This is a straight line from the middle of the pitching mound to the catcher. This powerline is the focus for the pitchers balance and foot placement through out the windmill pitching motion. Represented by the yellow line.

Claims

1. A sport training device for positioning an upper part of the body on a striker and a lower part of the body on a walking surface, comprising:

a leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's leg on the walking surface;
said leg marker having a color;
a shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's shoe and having a same color as said leg marker for indicating placement of the user's leg proximate to said leg marker;
an arm marker adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's arm on the striker;
said arm marker having a color;
a glove marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's hand and having a same color as said arm marker for indicating placement of the user's hand proximate to said arm marker;
wherein said shoe marker is placed proximately to said leg marker by matching said colors of said shoe marker and said leg marker for facilitating proper form of a user's lower body; and
wherein said glove marker is placed proximately to said arm marker by matching said colors of said glove marker and said arm marker for facilitating proper form of a user's upper body.

2. The sport training device of claim 1, further comprising a second leg marker having a second color different from said color of said leg marker and wherein said second leg marker is adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg.

3. The sport training device of claim 1, further comprising a second arm marker having a second color different from said color of said arm marker and wherein said second arm marker is adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's second arm proximate to said second arm marker.

4. The sport training device of claim 1, wherein said color of said arm marker is different from a color of said leg marker.

5. The sport training device of claim 1, wherein said striker is an elongated shaft for striking a ball.

6. The sport training device of claim 1, wherein said walking surface is a mat.

7. The sport training device of claim 1, wherein said walking surface is a ground.

8. The sport training device of claim 1, wherein said glove marker and said second glove marker each have an indicator for facilitating placement of said glove marker relative to said second glove marker.

9. A sport training device for positioning an upper part of the body on a striker and a lower part of the body on a walking surface, comprising:

a first leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's first leg on the walking surface;
said first leg marker having a color;
a first shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's first shoe and having a same color as said first leg marker for indicating placement of the user's first leg proximate to said first leg marker;
an arm marker adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's arm on the striker;
said arm marker having a color;
a glove marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's hand and having a same color as said arm marker for facilitating placement of the user's hand proximate to said arm marker;
a second leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg;
said second leg marker having a color;
a second shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's second shoe and having a same color as said second leg marker for indicating placement of the user's second leg proximate to said second leg marker;
wherein said first shoe marker is placed proximately to said first leg marker by matching said colors of said first shoe marker and said first leg marker for facilitating proper form of a user's lower body;
wherein said second shoe marker is placed proximately to said second leg marker by matching said colors of said second shoe marker and said second leg marker for facilitating proper form of the user's lower body;
wherein said glove marker is placed proximately to said arm marker by matching said colors of said glove marker and said arm marker for facilitating proper form of a user's upper body; and
wherein the user, for facilitating placement of the user's first and second legs during the act of throwing a ball, slides said second shoe marker until said second shoe marker touches said first shoe marker before releasing the ball.

10. The sport training device of claim 9, wherein said striker is an elongated shaft for striking a ball.

11. The sport training device of claim 9, wherein said walking surface is a mat.

12. A sport training device for positioning a lower part of the body on a walking surface, comprising:

a first leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's first leg on the walking surface;
said first leg marker having a color;
a first shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's first shoe and having a same color as said first leg marker for indicating placement of the user's first leg proximate to said first leg marker;
a second leg marker adapted to be removably placed on the walking surface for indicating placement of a user's second leg on the walking surface;
said second leg marker having a color different from said color of said first leg marker;
a second shoe marker adapted to be removably placed on a user's second shoe and having a same color as said second leg marker for indicating placement of the user's second leg proximate to said second leg marker;
wherein the user, for facilitating placement of the user's first and second legs during the act of throwing a ball, slides said second shoe marker until said second shoe marker touches said first shoe marker before releasing the ball;
wherein the user moves said second shoe marker from a first position being proximate to said second leg marker to a second position being proximate to said first leg marker.

13. The sport training device of claim 12, wherein said first shoe marker includes an instep.

14. The sport training device of claim 12, wherein said second shoe marker includes a heel.

15. The sport training device of claim 12, wherein said first and second leg markers are placed in select locations on the walking surface to position the user's first and second legs for fielding a ball.

16. A sport training device for positioning an upper part of the body on a striker, comprising:

a first arm marker adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's first arm on the striker;
said first arm marker having a color;
a first glove marker adapted to be removably placed on the user's first arm and having a same color as said first arm marker for facilitating placement of the user's first arm proximate to said first arm marker;
a second arm marker having a second color different from said color of said first arm marker and wherein said second arm marker is adapted to be removably placed on the striker for indicating placement of a user's second arm proximate to said second arm marker.
a second glove marker adapted to be removably placed on the user's second arm and having a same color as said second arm marker for facilitating placement of the user's second arm proximate to said second arm marker; and
wherein said first and second arm markers are removably secured to select areas the striker depending upon whether the user is right handed or left handed.

17. The sport training device of claim 16, wherein the sport training device is for facilitating positioning the user's arms on a bat used for striking a ball.

Patent History
Publication number: 20060211522
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 18, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 21, 2006
Inventor: Jennifer Hapanowicz (Madison, CT)
Application Number: 11/083,587
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 473/452.000
International Classification: A63B 69/00 (20060101);