TRAINING DEVICE WITH TOGGLE ACTION TO AID PROPER FORM AND LEG SPEED WHEN PUNTING

Abstract

A training device for punting includes a rigid structure, a moving portion coupled to and operable to rotate relative to the rigid structure, a punting target mounted to the moving portion and configured to move with the moving portion in a curved path relative to the rigid structure in response to a punt from a user, a toggle feature coupled between the moving portion and the punting target and operable to provide a limited range of movement of the punting target relative to the moving portion toward a front side and a back side of the training device, independent of the rotation of the moving portion relative to the rigid structure, and a braking mechanism operable to stop the rotation of the moving portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/466,787 filed on Mar. 3, 2017. The entire contents which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Punting drills are one form of exercise to warm up a player's punting leg, and to reinforce muscle memory to maintain proper punting techniques, before actually punting a football on the practice field as described herein.

The punter places one foot a step away from a football, which is held by a second person. The other leg extends to the backside of the player with the right leg in line with the ball. The eyes are kept on the ball, and the right leg swings forward at the hip as the lower leg bends back at the knee. The toes of the punting leg are pointed away from the lower leg and the ankle locked. The lower leg snaps straight and the knee locked, as the instep of the foot impacts the ball or punting target held by the second person. These are some of the leg lock punting techniques that new and experienced players use to improve or maintain their proficiency to accurately punt a football and maximize the distance or hang time of their punts.

In one leg lock punting drill a second player holds a football at knee height with both hands, and one tip of the ball pointing towards the punter and the other tip pointing at the holder's leg. The punter faces the ball holder, one step away from the holder, and repetitively punts the ball held by the other player. A punting coach supervises the player or group of players, and corrects the improper punting techniques, when punters deviate from proper form. The punter practices with a controlled punting force so the holder does not lose control of the ball.

A second leg lock punting drill has two players squat with one knee on the ground facing the punter. The other leg of the two players has one foot on the ground with the knee bent and upper leg parallel with the ground. A round cylinder shaped dummy is held on top of each player's upper leg in a horizontal position with the center open, the dummy held in place by the hands of the two players. The punter stands one step away from the dummy as the instep of the foot can repetitively punt the center part of the dummy using proper punting techniques. The punter starts with a slow leg swing and increases the speed of the leg speed, under the supervision of a punting coach.

SUMMARY

The training device with a toggle action provides the opportunity for an individual to practice punting technique without the assistance of additional players. The repetitive action of the trainer, with no footballs to chase or retrieve, increases concentration and muscle memory, in following these pre-punt training techniques as directed by a punting coach or instructions with the punt trainer. Weights can be added to keep the trainer from moving, and wheels as well as handle bars added to make the trainer portable.

Further, the training device provides stability and repetitious results, not relying on placement or strength of assistants. The moving portion of the punt trainer travels in the same upward curved path for every punt, and the foot of the player remains in contact with the ball until a braking mechanism stops the movement. The football or punting target moves upward with the moving portion and the ball toggles to the back side of the punt trainer, which is the natural direction of a punt to travel. A punter could also punt the ball with the toe of the foot on the back side of the ball, and the ball would toggle to the front side, which is the wrong direction of the punt and independent of the curved path of the moving portion. The ball can also toggle if a punt does not have an accurate placement of the foot on the ball.

As viewed from the left side of the punt trainer, the axis of the curved path of the player's foot swing is clockwise and opposite to the swing of the axis of the vertical ball holder assembly 52, which is counterclockwise. The toggle feature or movement of the ball or punting target coordinates the paths of the two swings, and eases pressure on the punt trainer and the foot of the punter, especially for new or less experienced players.

A cylinder shaped punting target is wider and can be substituted for a football or soccer ball, and can accommodate football punters as well as soccer ball players and possibly other athletes with the same trainer. The football punter has a gauge to measure the strength of a punt, for new or youth players, who record progress during their punting sessions, as well as more experienced players. Goalies and other soccer players can gauge the strength of the dominant leg and the weaker leg punts, and the progress made to equalize the punting ability in both legs, by practicing more with the weaker leg. The force of the players foot on the ball drives the ball and moving portion upward, and is countered by the resistance force of the braking mechanism, which increases the braking force as the ball travels upward, and finally stops the upward travel. For new and youth players the distance the foot travels with the ball during the repetitive punting cycles, countered by the resisting force of the braking mechanism aids in promoting leg muscle development, and faster leg speed when snapping the lower leg forward, resulting in longer punts.

The invention provides a training device for punting. The training device includes a rigid structure, a moving portion coupled to and operable to rotate relative to the rigid structure, a punting target mounted to the moving portion and configured to move with the moving portion in a curved path relative to the rigid structure in response to a punt from a user, a toggle feature coupled between the moving portion and the punting target and operable to provide a limited range of movement of the punting target relative to the moving portion toward a front side and a back side of the training device, independent of the rotation of the moving portion relative to the rigid structure, and a braking mechanism operable to stop the rotation of the moving portion.

The invention provides a method of practicing punting. A moving portion is mounted to a rigid structure and mounting a punting target to the movable portion. A punting force is applied to the punting target to displace the punting target relative to the moving portion and to rotate the moving portion and punting target upward from a first position to a second position relative to the rigid structure. User contact is maintained with the punting target between the first position and the second position. User contact is then removed from the punting target. The rotation of the punting target is slowed to a stop at or beyond the second position by compressing a braking mechanism relative to one of the moving portion and the rigid structure. The punting target returns back to the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rigid structure of a punt trainer according to one construction of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the punt trainer including a moving portion and the rigid structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the punt trainer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a punt measuring gauge assembly of the punt trainer shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another construction of a punt trainer, shown with a vertical toggle bracket.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the punt trainer of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the punt trainer of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is a front view of a portion of the punt trainer of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a cushion brake assembly usable with a punt trainer.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cushion brake assembly of FIG. 8 in a braking position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the cushion brake assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an adjustable braking and stopping mechanism usable with a punt trainer.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a horizontal ball assembly of another construction of a punt trainer.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the punt trainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the punt trainer of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a sectional front view of a cylinder shaped punting target of the punt trainer of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the punting target of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16A is close-up of the slot shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a magnet assembly usable with a punt trainer.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the magnet assembly of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side view of another toggle bracket assembly usable with the punt trainer.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the toggle assembly of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it is to be understood that features from one embodiment of the invention can be substituted and used in other embodiments of the invention, when suitable. When a structure or mechanism of the invention is described in the context of only one or two specific embodiments, one of skill will appreciate that this structure or mechanism can be used in any other embodiments where suitable, even if that structure or mechanism is not explicitly described in conjunction with those other embodiments herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rigid structure 12 with a vertical portion 18, located at the rear side 22 of the rigid structure 12, and comprised of two vertical side struts 32, a top horizontal strut 33, and a bottom horizontal strut 31. A horizontal portion 34 has two legs 35 that are connected to and extend from the rear side 22 to a front side 20 of the rigid structure 12. A cross strut 38 connects the two legs 35 and two braces 40 strengthen the connection between the vertical portion 18 and the horizontal portion 34. Apertures 48 align to form horizontal axes, at which the moving portion 49, shown in FIG. 2, is assembled.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a punt trainer 10, with a moving portion 49 coupled to the rigid structure 12. The assembly of two pivot “H” brackets 50 is coupled to the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12 at the back side 22 and coupled to the vertical ball holder assembly 52 on the front side 20, with bolts 55, forming a moving portion 49 when the ball is punted. The two pivot “H” brackets 50 are mounted parallel to one another such that the distance between the rigid portion 12 and the vertical ball holder assembly 52 is the same. Though referred to as a ball holder assembly 52, the “ball” can be any punting target including a cushion (like cushion 101), a soccer ball, a football, a portion of a ball, or the like. Further, as the moving portion 49 rotates, the “H” brackets 50 remain parallel to one another. The vertical ball holder assembly 52, at the front side 20, also maintains a parallel position with the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12 at the rear side 22, except as modified by the various toggle assemblies described below with reference to FIGS. 5-7A, 12-16A, and 19-20. The ball 68, shown as a simulated phantom line football 68, is attached to the ball holder 66, which is connected to a ball holder bracket 62. A different moving relationship with the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12 and vertical ball holder 62 would occur if the dimensions between the bolts 55 were changed. The cross bars 41, as part of the pivot “H” brackets 50, keep the moving portion stable so the vertical ball holder assembly 52 does not tilt or swivel during the punting cycles.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the trainer 10; wherein, the vertical ball holder assembly 52 comprises a vertical ball holder 62 and a shaft 109 inserted into the center of a cushion such as a cylindrical cushion 101. The cushion 101 can rotate clockwise 98 or counter clockwise 100 with the shaft 109 as an axis. Removable holding pins 110 inserted on each side of the shaft 109 hold the cushion 101 in place. Multiple apertures 108 are located on the right side 24 and left side 26 of the cushion holder bracket 118 and are aligned in pairs where the shaft 109 can be inserted to raise or lower the height of the cylinder 101 to suit the punter. The cushion 101 has a wider width than a football 68 or soccer ball, having a larger perimeter for inaccurate punts within the width of the cushion 101. A punt measuring gauge assembly 112, with a moving marker 114 abutting the pivot “H” bracket 50, is shown connected to the vertical strut 32 at the rear side 22 of the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a punt measuring gauge assembly 112, which can measure the strength of a practice punt. The gauge assembly 112 is comprised of a gauge holder 113, a moving marker 114, and a template 115 for signifying the distance the moving marker 114 travels, and hardware. The moving marker 114 is lowered to touch the pivot “H” bracket 50 at a first or default position. When the ball 68 or the cushion 101 is punted, the pivot “H” bracket 50 travels upward 54 forcing the moving marker 114 to travel in an upward path 116, during which a braking mechanism 45, to be described later, brings the upward movement 116 to a controlled stop. Due to friction, the marker 114 rests at the highest position achieved by the punt. The player can record the height the marker 114 reaches on the template 115 and can see if there are improvements from previous punts. The punter resets the moving marker 114 against the pivot member 37 and gets set for the next repetitive practice punt.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate a punt trainer 10 with a vertical toggle assembly 67 and a cylindrical shaped cushion 101 rotatably connected to a vertical toggle bracket 118. The vertical toggle assembly 67 is coupled to the front holding bracket 51 as part of the moving portion 49. When the cushion 101 is punted the front holding bracket 51 travels upward 24 in the same curved path for every punt without toggling. When a punt is performed, the cushion 101 attached to the vertical toggle bracket 118 also moves upward 28, and toggles 94 to the front or back side 20, 22, independent of the front holding bracket 51. The normal toggle 94 of the vertical toggle bracket 118 with the ball is to the backside 22, which is away from the punter and upward. The cushion 101 and vertical toggle bracket 118 can also move to the front side 20 of the trainer 10 if the cushion 68 is positioned too high, and the toe of punter impacts the cushion on the rear side 22 of the cushion 101. The proper place to meet the cushion is with the instep of the foot or laces 83 of the shoe 74 as shown in FIG. 7 by the direction of the arrow 82. The cushion 101 has a smaller diameter 91 in the middle of the cushion 101; wherein, the punter has a target to build up muscle memory with accurate repetitive leg swings into the smaller diameter cushion 101 with a narrower width.

Weights 81, with holes to fit on the posts 79, are placed on the right 24 and left side 26 of the horizontal portion 34, to prevent the punt trainer from rising off the ground from the force of a punt. Wheels 121 are coupled to the front side 20 of the horizontal portion 34 for easier moving. Mar and slide resistant rubber or urethane pads 96 keep the trainer 10 from moving during punting sessions. Spacers 122 maintain a space 117 between the wheels 121 and floor 85. Handle bars 119, supported by braces 120; extend from the front side 20 in an upward direction 28 to a convenient height for the player to transport the trainer 10. The handle bars 119 can also be used as support bars for player to use as stabilizers during their punting activities. The handles 119 are pushed down 124 by the player so the wheels 121 contact the floor 85, and act a fulcrum to lift the back side 22 of the trainer 10 off the ground, to be transferred to a different location.

FIGS. 7-7A illustrate an enlarged toggle assembly 67 comprised of a vertical toggle bracket 118, cushion 101, removable shaft 109, removable shaft pins 110, toggle bolt 103, holding nut 99, toggle pin 106, toggle spacer 105, and toggle springs 102. An insert illustration 107 shows toggle pin 106, which is immovably connected to and extending through the vertical toggle bracket 118, continuing through the toggle spacer 105, and into the inside of the front holding bracket 51. A square section of the toggle bolts 103 fit in the square holes 95 in the vertical toggle bracket 118, as shown in FIG. 7A. The square cross-section prevents the toggle bolts 103 from turning when the turn resistant nut 99 is assembled. The toggle bolts 103 hold the vertical toggle bracket 118, toggle spacer 105, front holder bracket 51, and toggle springs 102 in place; wherein, the turn resist nut 99 compresses them together, and does not disconnect from toggle bolts 103. When the cushion 101 is punted, the toggle pin 106, immovably connected to the vertical toggle bracket 118 and moveably connected to the front holder bracket 51, lifts the moving portion 34 in the upward direction 28 during punt and in the downward direction 30 after the punt. The toggle pin 106 removes excess stress and wear away from the toggle bolts 103 vertical toggle bracket 118. This also allows for free movement of the toggle 94 of the vertical toggle bracket assembly 67 to the front side 20 and to back side 22, and for the toggle springs 102 to return the toggle 94 of the vertical toggle bracket assembly 67 to its neutral position for the next punt.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view 28 and FIGS. 9-10 show left side views 26 of a cushion brake assembly 45. When a ball 68 is punted, the upward movement 46 of the moving portion 49 squeezes the braking cushion 43 against the brake stop 42 until the upward movement 46 comes to a controlled stop as described below. A cushion brake assembly 45 is assembled to the pivot “H” bracket 50, and a brake cushion 43 is placed inside the brake cushion holder 44. A cushion brake stop 42 is connected to the vertical struts 32 on the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12. When a ball 68 or cushion 101 is punted, the brake cushion holder 44 and the brake cushion 43 rotate toward the top side 28 in a curved direction 46. Bolt 55 is connected to the rigid structure 12 and is the horizontal axis of the rotation of the cushion brake assembly 45 and the moving portion 49. As the brake cushion holder 44 moves closer to the brake stop 42, as shown in FIG. 9, the compression on the brake cushion 43 increases and slows the moving portion until the force needed to compress the brake cushion 43 exceeds the force of the punt, and the moving portion 49, with the punters foot 74 on the cushion 101 during the punting cycle, is stopped in milliseconds. The addition of the shim 43A in FIG. 10, to adjust the braking mechanism, lessens the distance between the brake cushion 43 and brake stop which increases the braking force of the braking cushion 43 for punters with stronger legs. The spacer shims 43A can also be removed for younger and weaker punting legs so the movement is greater between the brake cushion holder 44 and brake stop 42. This results in a longer more gradual stop for the player, whose foot remains on the ball 68 until the rotation of the ball 68 stops. A dampening cushion 36 is connected to the legs 35 on the horizontal portion 34 as another way to dampen the fall of the moving portion 34 to the starting position, and the player can practice repetitive punt training alone on the practice field or in a remote location.

FIG. 11 shows a left side 26 view of another adjustable braking mechanism assembly 45 moveably connected to the rear side 22 of the rigid structure 12. A bracket extension 31a attached to the bottom strut 31 extends upward 28 at the center of the bottom strut 31, and is movably connected with a fastener 55 to the bottom side 30 of the adjustable stop bracket 27. An adjustable holding bracket 25 is connected with fasteners 23a on the right 20 and left 22 of vertical strut 32, and extends to the front side 20, where it is connected on the right 20 and left side 22 to the adjustable stop 27 with removable fasteners 23. The distance between the brake cushion holder 44 and the adjustable stop 27 is the closest as shown in FIG. 11. This limits the upward travel 28 of the moving portion 49, when the ball is punted, and is used by more experienced players who have stronger punting skills. The braking pressure can be reduced by removing fasteners 23, moving the adjustable stop bracket 27, and replacing the fasteners 23 in a hole 95 closer to the vertical strut 32. This increases the distance between the brake stop 27 and the brake cushion 43, which reduces the braking pressure and a longer gradual stop of the moving portion 49 for young or new punters, who have less punting power.

A stopping plate 56 as shown in FIG. 11, which limits the distance the moving portion 34 travels in an upward 28 direction, and is connected to the stabilizer bar 41, which is part to the lower pivot “H” bracket 50. A stationary spring bolt 58 is connected to the horizontal portion 34 of the rigid structure 12, passes through the stopping plate 56, and holds a stopping spring 60 above and below the stopping plate 56. The stopping spring 61 above the stopping plate 56 acts as a cushion to prevent the moving portion 34 from exceeding its travel limitations, if the punt is stronger than the stopping force of the braking mechanism. As an alternative to the dampening cushion 36 shown in FIG. 10, the lower spring 60 softens the impact of the moving portion 49, when the moving portion 49 returns to its original position, (toward the bottom 30) after the punt.

FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a punt trainer 10 with a rigid structure 12 and moving portion 49, which is similar to FIG. 2. The moving portion 49 includes a pivot “H” bracket 50 at the bottom side 30 and a horizontal ball holder assembly 19 on the top side 28 of the punt trainer 10. The two assemblies are moveably connected to the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12 at the back side 22 and to the vertical “U” bracket 51a at the front side 20 with fasteners 55. The horizontal ball holder assembly 19 is comprised of two horizontal side members 21, two or more stabilizer bars 41, ball holder bracket 66, and simulated football 68. The stabilizer bars 41 keep the horizontal ball holder assembly 19 from twisting and turning when the ball 68 is punted. The addition of the pivot “H” bracket 50 on the bottom side 30 increases the strength of the moving portion 34 and the resistance of the horizontal ball holder assembly 19 to twist and turn.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate another embodiment a punt trainer 10, which has a horizontal ball holder assembly 19 moveably connected to the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12 with fasteners 55, without the secondary support of a pivot “H” bracket 50 on the bottom side 30. A wall holder assembly 86 is secured to a vertical surface or wall 84, at a height where the bottom of the ball would be located at the punter's knees, when the punt trainer 10 is placed on the wall holder assembly 86a. Threaded studs 139 extend out from the wall holder 86 at the top side 28 and bottom side 30 of the wall holder 86, and fit in slots 57 in the vertical struts 32 of the rigid structure 12. Thumb nuts 73 secure the punt trainer 10 to the wall holder bracket 86. By extending the length of the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12, the punt trainer 10 can be used by players when placed on the floor 85, without a horizontal ball holder assembly 86A.

Pivot bolts 55 moveably connect the “U” shaped toggle bracket 137 to the horizontal holding brackets 21 at the front side of trainer 10. A shaft 109 is inserted in the cushion 101 and assembled through apertures in the “U” shaped toggle bracket 137, and held in place with removable cushion pins 110. Toggle stops 138 are attached to the top side 28 or bottom side 30 of the horizontal holding bracket 21 and on the front side 20 and rear side 22 next to the “U” shaped bracket 137 to limit the movement of the toggle bracket 137. When the cushion 101 is punted, using proper form, the force of the punt impacts the “U” shaped bracket 137 at the front side 20 of the cushion 101, and the “U” shaped bracket 137 toggles toward the back side 22 of the trainer 10. The cushion 101 and moving portion 49 then move together in an upward path 46 around the pivot bolt 55. When proper form is not used during the punt, the toe of the foot 74 can impact the cushion 101 on the back side 22 with the toe of the foot 74 on the rear side 22 of the cushion 101, and the “U” shaped bracket 137 can toggle with the cushion 101 biased toward the front side 20 of the trainer.

FIGS. 15, 16, and 16A illustrate a front view 20 and FIG. 16 is a left side view of another embodiment of using a flexible shaft 142 to replaces the rigid shaft 109. The flexible shaft 142 is inserted through the center hole of the cylinder 101. The flexible shaft 142 is placed into slots 146 on the top side 28 of the two horizontal holding brackets 21. A cover 145 over the slot 146 keeps the flexible shaft 142 in place during the punting cycle. The flexible shaft 142 can be a rope, metal chain, or a stretchable, rubber, or urethane cord. Clamps on the outside of each horizontal holding bracket 21 hold the flexible shaft 142 in the slots 146. Circular cavities 143 on each side of the cylinder 101 allow more freedom for the flexible shafts 142 to move the cylinder 101 in an upward direction 46 and to the back side 22 or the front side 20 of the punting device 10 when the ball is punted.

FIG. 17 is a left side view and FIG. 18 is a top view of a magnet holding bar 134. The magnet holding bar 134 keeps the punt trainer 10 from moving or lifting off the floor 85 during a punt. A magnet holding bar 134 is connected to the backside of the two vertical struts 32, which are part of the vertical portion 18 of the rigid structure 12. Fastener 136 holds the magnet 128 and the steel plate 126 connected to the backing board 88, which is secured to a vertical surface or wall 86. When the punt trainer 10 is moved into position against the magnet 128, the backing board 88 is located over the cross strut member 38, which is attached to the legs 35 on the right and left sides 24, 26 of the rigid structure 12. The backing board 88 is positioned to have a minimum space over the cross strut member 38 and keeps the punt trainer 10 from rising up 28. The magnet 128 holds the punt trainer 10 in place, under the backing board 88, during the practice session. The punt trainer 10 can be removed by pulling the trainer 10 away from the wall.

FIGS. 19-20 is a triangular toggle bracket 53 connected to the front side 20 of two horizontal side members 21 of the punt trainer 10. The shaft 109 is placed in the center hole of the cylindrical shaped cushion 101 and into the triangular shaped opening 17 of the toggle bracket 53. The triangular shaped opening 17 of the toggle bracket 53 can also be any shape to allow the shaft 109 to move with the cushion 101 to the back 22 or front side 20 of the horizontal side member 21 when the cushion 101 is punted. The shaft 109 has a central location to rest 11 within the opening 17, which is at the bottom 30 of any shaped opening 17, where the shaft can move to the back 22 or front 20 of the opening 17 when the cushion 101 is punted. Large washers held in by pins 110 (not shown) hold the shaft 109 in place.

Claims

1. A training device for punting, the training device comprising:

a rigid structure;

a moving portion coupled to and operable to rotate relative to the rigid structure;

a punting target mounted to the moving portion and configured to move with the moving portion in a curved path relative to the rigid structure in response to a punt from a user;

a toggle feature coupled between the moving portion and the punting target and operable to provide a limited range of movement of the punting target relative to the moving portion toward a front side and a back side of the training device, independent of the rotation of the moving portion relative to the rigid structure; and

a braking mechanism operable to stop the rotation of the moving portion.

2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the moving portion includes:

a first pivot member rotatable about a first rotational axis at the rigid structure and a second pivot member rotatable about a second rotational axis at the rigid structure, the second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis,

a vertical member interlocking the first and second pivot members such that rotation of the first pivot member results in rotation of the second pivot member; and

a bracket configured to hold the punting target, the bracket spaced apart from the rigid structure.

3. The training device of claim 1, wherein the braking mechanism is operable to provide varying resistance dependent upon the position of the punting target.

4. The training device of claim 3, wherein the punting target is movable between a plurality of positions including a rest position, and wherein the braking mechanism is biased to the rest position.

5. The training device of claim 3, wherein the braking mechanism includes a brake cushion configured to compress in response to the rotation of the moving portion.

6. The training device of claim 3, wherein the braking mechanism includes a spring configured to compress in response to rotation of the moving portion.

7. The training device of claim 3, wherein the braking mechanism includes a brake cushion compressible between the rigid structure and the moving portion, and wherein the braking mechanism further includes a spring operable to limit the overall movement of the moving portion relative to the rigid structure.

8. The training device of claim 1, wherein the toggle feature includes a vertical toggle bracket mounted to the punting target and to the moving portion, wherein the toggle bracket is non-rigidly mounted to the moving portion via a plurality of toggle bolts and toggle springs to provide the limited range of movement of the punting target relative to the moving portion.

9. The training device of claim 8, wherein the vertical toggle bracket includes a plurality of apertures spaced apart along a length of the vertical toggle bracket, wherein the punting target is mountable relative to any of the plurality of apertures.

10. The training device of claim 1, wherein the toggle feature includes a “U” shaped toggle bracket defining a first rotational axis with the moving portion and a second rotational axis with the punting target such that the moving portion is rotatable relative to the rigid structure, the toggle bracket is rotatable relative to the moving portion, and the punting target is rotatable relative to the toggle bracket.

11. The training device of claim 1, wherein the toggle feature is a flexible shaft, and wherein the punting target is mounted about the flexible shaft.

12. The training device of claim 1, wherein the punting target is mounted to a shaft, wherein the toggle feature includes a toggle bracket mounted to the moving portion, the toggle bracket defining an opening or a channel, and wherein the shaft is movable along the opening or the channel toward the front side or the back side within the opening or channel.

13. The training device of claim 1, wherein the rigid structure includes a plurality of vertical side struts, wherein the moving portion includes an upper moving portion and a lower moving portion, wherein the upper and lower moving portions are interlocked such that rotation of the upper moving portion results in rotation of the lower moving portion, the moving portion further comprising a punting target holder bracket mounted to the upper and lower moving portions.

14. The training device of claim 1, wherein the moving portion includes:

a pivot member rotatable a rotational axis at the rigid structure; and

a horizontal bracket configured to hold the punting target, the bracket spaced apart from the rigid structure.

15. The training device of claim 1, further comprising:

a gauge holder mounted to the rigid structure and operable to measure the strength of a punt;

a measuring template attached to the gauge holder;

a marker moveably connected to the gauge holder and positioned over the front of the template,

wherein a member of the moving portion is operable to rotate upward against the marker;

wherein the marker is operable to stop in front of the template to show the distance that the moving portion travelled, and

wherein the distance that the moving portion travelled relates to the force of the punt.

16. The training device of claim 1, further comprising a backing board secured to a vertical surface and a steel sheet attached to the backing board, wherein the rigid structure further comprises a cross strut member positioned under the backing board, the training device further comprising a magnet connected to the rigid structure and magnetically coupled to the steel sheet, wherein the cross strut prevent the rigid structure from moving upward and the magnet connected to the steel sheet prevents the trainer from moving away from the backing board.

17. The training device of claim 2, wherein the rigid structure includes a plurality of slots, wherein the training device further comprises a wall holder bracket having threaded studs extending therefrom, the threaded studs extending through any of the plurality of slots, and further comprising a plurality of fasteners operable to engage the threaded studs to secure the rigid structure relative to the wall holder bracket.

18. A method of practicing punting, the method comprising:

mounting a moving portion to a rigid structure and mounting a punting target to the movable portion;

applying a punting force to the punting target to displace the punting target relative to the moving portion and to rotate the moving portion and punting target upward from a first position to a second position relative to the rigid structure;

maintaining user contact with the punting target between the first position and the second position;

removing user contact from the punting target;

slowing the rotation of the punting target to a stop at or beyond the second position by compressing a braking mechanism relative to one of the moving portion and the rigid structure; and

returning the punting target to the first position.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the punting target is mounted above a standing surface, wherein applying the punting force includes lifting a user's foot above the standing surface.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein displacing the punting target relative to the moving portion includes one of compressing a spring at the moving portion, rotating the moving target relative to the moving portion, stretching a flexible shaft supporting the punting target, or moving the punting target within a channel coupled to the moving portion.