PLAY CARD ANNOTATION

Abstract

A computing device has non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the computing device to: display a play card data file at a display of the coach portable computing device; receive, at the coach portable computing device, play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file, the play card data file and the received play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file together comprising an annotated play card data file; and transmit the annotated play card data file to a wearable player portable electronic device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/492,498, filed on Mar. 28, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for play card annotation. Embodiments disclosed herein can, for example, be configured to receive play card annotation(s), for instance to change one or more player execution aspects associated with a given sporting activity play and transmit such received play card annotation(s), for instance to one or more select wearable player electronic devices that are associated with one or more select players and/or to a centralized computing device.

BACKGROUND

Team sports invariably involve a series of practices incorporating a recursive, repetitive learning process in order to maximize performance. During such practices, coaches can keep copies of plays in notebooks and laptop computers. Likewise, during such practices, players can access copies of plays carried on them using a wristband type notebook or other device.

However, creating a template of each such play to be executed over the duration of a practice can require the use of significant resources, usually necessitating inefficient, manual creation by a coach of each such play template to be executed over the duration of a given practice. Moreover, this is compounded further when one or more changes to the play are desired. For instance, during a practice session, it can often be the case that an original play is run and, after a coach sees the execution of that original play in real-time in the practice session, the coach may want to make one or more changes to that original play to improve the desired execution and/or result of that play. Current techniques for changing the original play and then executing the changed play generally require the coach to physically demonstrate the desired change to the play and verbally explain details of the desired play changes to each of the impacted players. In addition to oftentimes resulting in unintended, imprecise changes to the original play, this current technique consumes significant coaching resources and time to explain and implement desired changes to a single play. This, in turn, decreases the throughput of a given practice session and, thus, decreases the utility of what is often limited available practice time.

SUMMARY

In general, this disclosure relates to play card annotation. Embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for play card annotation. For example, such embodiments be configured to receive play card annotation(s) at a play card and transmit the received play card annotation(s). In certain specific such examples, the received play card annotation(s) can annotate a change to one or more player execution aspects associated with a play card and transmit such received play card annotation(s) to a centralized computing device and/or one or more select wearable player electronic devices that are associated with one or more select players that are to execute the change.

Such embodiments disclosed herein can facilitate more efficient and effective use of practice session time by providing the ability to input annotation(s) at a play card to change one or more player execution aspects associated with that play card. The annotated play card can then be transmitted at least to player wearable device(s) at the one or more players who are to implement the change(s) to the corresponding player execution aspects associated with the play card (e.g., to change a direction of a route to be run by the player for the sporing play; to change an execution aspect associated with the play card for the player to execute a block for the sporting play instead of running a route; etc.). In this way, a coach can digitally input one or more annotations to a play card to change one or more player execution aspects for a given play quickly and in real time during a practice session (e.g., while the coach is watching the sporting play, corresponding to the play card, take place live in real time) and the coach can have these play card annotations sent in substantially real time to the impacted players. A player impacted by the play card annotation(s) can then be provided with a visual presentation, at a wearable player electronic device at that impacted player, of the play card annotation so that the impacted player can see the change(s) to be executed by that impacted player in accordance with the coach provided play card annotation(s). This can help to improve the throughput of a practice session as well as increase the implementation accuracy of a change to a play and a player's ability to visualize, learn, and retain changes to a play for later use outside of a practice session (e.g., for later use in an official sporting game). This can be especially useful for relatively more sophisticated levels of a sporting activity where high-volume numbers of plays and ranges of changes to each such play can be used and these can change significantly from one practice session to the next (e.g., as a function of a particular opponent the practice session is geared toward preparing for).

One embodiment includes a computing device. This coach portable computing device has non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to: display a play card data file at a display of the coach portable computing device receive, at the coach portable computing device, play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file, where the play card data file and the received play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file together comprise an annotated play card data file; and transmit the annotated play card data file to a wearable player portable electronic device.

In a further embodiment of this device, the play card data file displayed at the coach portable electronic computing device includes predetermined player positional formation data and player designated play execution data. For example, the predetermined player positional formation data can include a position alignment location for the first player relative to a designated reference point, and the player designated play execution data can include a specified movement pathway for a first player to traverse for a first play and a specified blocking scheme for a second, different player to block for the first play. As one specific such example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive, at the coach portable computing device, the play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file as a change to at least one of the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play and the specified blocking scheme for the second, different player to block for the first play.

In a further embodiment of this device, the coach portable computing device includes an annotation enablement input mechanism. The non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism at the coach portable computing device. For example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, generate an editing layer at a display of the coach portable computing device and can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input at the editing layer at the display of the coach portable computing device. As one specific such example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, generate the editing layer overlaid at the display over display of the play card data file and can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input at the editing layer but not at the play card data file. As another specific such example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to save, at a non-transitory memory and in association with the play card data file, a first data file comprising the editing layer with the play card annotation input and can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit to a centralized computing device the first data file tagged with an association to the play card data file. For instance, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit the annotated play card data file to the wearable player portable electronic device via the centralized computing device that is in data communication with the coach portable computing device and the wearable player portable electronic device.

In a further embodiment of this device, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, to receive non-verbal play card annotation input at the editing layer to change at least one player designated play execution data of the play card data file selected from the group consisting of: a change, relative to the play card data file, to at least one of the specified movement pathway for a first player to run for a first play and a specified blocking scheme for a second, different player to block for the first play. For example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to: first receive a selection of the first player at the display at the coach portable computing device, and following selection of the first player receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device changing the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play relative to that of the play card data file. In one specific such example, the coach portable computing device includes a non-transitory memory, and the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to display a menu comprising a set of predetermined movement pathway edits and to cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device changing the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play relative to that of the play card data file by receiving selection of one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the displayed menu. In some such instances, this can include receiving selection of one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the displayed menu by receiving a user input at the coach portable computing device dragging and dropping the selected one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits at the editing layer.

In a further embodiment of this device, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit the annotated play card data file to the wearable player portable electronic device with the received play card annotation input configured for display in a first visual manner that is visually distinct from display of original data at the play card data file in a second, different visual manner. For example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to: as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, receive a selection of the first player at the display at the coach portable computing device, and following selection of the first player receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device receive actuation on a user input mechanism at the coach portable computing device to activate a microphone at the coach portable computing device to receive verbal annotation input at the microphone. In one example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to process the received verbal annotation input at the microphone and generate corresponding text as the play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file. In another additional or alternative example, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, can cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to prohibit play card annotation input at the coach portable computing device until actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism.

Another embodiment includes a method of annotating a play card. This method embodiment includes the steps of: displaying a play card data file at a coach portable electronic device; receiving, at the coach portable computing device, play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file, where the play card data file and the received play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file together comprise an annotated play card data file; and transmitting the annotated play card data file to a wearable player portable electronic device.

In a further embodiment of this method, the play card annotation input is received at the coach portable computing device after actuation of an annotation enablement input mechanism at the coach portable computing device. And actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism can cause the coach portable computing device to generate an editing layer at a display of the coach portable computing device over a display of the play card data file at the coach portable computing device such that the play card annotation input is received at generated editing layer but not at the play card data file.

In a further embodiment of this method, the method can additionally include the steps of: receiving a selection of a first player at the display at the coach portable computing device; after receiving the selection of the first player, presenting, at the display of the coach portable computing device, a menu that comprises a set of predetermined movement pathway edits; and selecting one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the menu by receiving a user input at the coach portable computing device dragging and dropping the selected one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits at the editing layer to receive the play card annotation input at the coach portable computing device.

The details of one or more examples of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples of the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, though embodiments can include the scale illustrated, and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description wherein like reference characters denote like elements. Examples of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for annotating a play card data file and transmitting the annotated play card data file.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a coach portable electronic device displaying a play card data file.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the coach portable electronic device of FIG. 2 but now additionally displaying play card annotation data input at the coach portable electronic device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computing device having non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the computing device to receive play card annotation data input and send the received play card annotation data input to at least one of a player wearable electronic device and a centralized computing device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of annotating a play card data file.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for implementing examples of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the noted examples have a variety of suitable alternatives.

Embodiments are disclosed herein, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, using football as a non-limiting example of a sporting activity. However, the embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to other types of sporting activities, such as baseball/softball, basketball, hockey, volleyball, as other examples.

FIG. 1 is schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a system 100. As described further herein, the system 100 can be used to receive input at a displayed play card. For example, embodiments of the system 100 can be used for annotating a play card data file and transmitting the annotated play card data file. This can include displaying a play card at a coach portable electronic device and receiving one or more annotations to that displayed paly card at the coach portable electronic device. The annotated play card can then be saved to non-transitory storage and/or transmitted to one or more other select devices, such as transmitted to one or more selected wearable player electronic devices.

The system 100 can include a centralized computing device 110. The computing device 110 can act as a type of data hub and/or server for the system 100. For example, the computing device 110 can store and transmit play card data files and/or receive and store play card annotation(s) associated with a particular play card. The computing device 100 can transmit selected, stored play card(s) to one or more selected electronic devices, for instance, to display the play card(s) at such one or more selected electronic devices. The computing device 110 can include non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the computing device 110, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the computing device 110 to perform one or more actions in relation to play card data files (e.g., annotated play card data files) received from such one or more electronic devices (e.g., coach portable electronic device). In some examples, the non-transitory computer-executable instructions stored at the computing device 110 can, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the computing device 110, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the computing device 110 to receive and store an annotated play card data file from a coach portable electronic device and transmit the annotated play card data file to selected electronic devices (e.g., a selected sub-set of wearable player electronic devices).

In addition to the computing device 110, the system 100 can also include one or more (e.g., a plurality of) wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b and at least one coach portable electronic device 112. The system 100 can be configured to transmit a play card data file from the computing device 110 to the coach portable electronic device 112 and, in some embodiments, additionally to a selected subset or all of the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b for display of the play call data file at the coach portable electronic device 112 and the selected wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b. In particular, the computing device 110 can transmit the play card data file, including a play call data file that specifies player positional formation data and player designated play execution data (e.g., a movement pathway for a route to be run, a blocking scheme for a block to be made, etc.) for a next play to be run, to one or more select ones (e.g., each) of the plurality of wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b, via data communications link 115a, 115b, and/or to the coach portable electronic device 112, via data communications link 120. The plurality of wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b and/or the coach portable electronic device 112 can each include a user interface, for instance including a display 111, that is configured to display the received play card data file at the display 111. As such, the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b and/or the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive the play card data file and display, at the display 111, the play card data file, for instance, such that the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b and/or the coach portable electronic device 112 can display player positional formation data and player designated play execution data for a next play to be run in accordance with the data embedded in the paly card data file.

Each of the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b and the coach portable electronic device 112 can include the display 111 as well as one or more user input mechanisms 121, 122. As noted, the display 111 can display the play card data file, including a play call data file that specifies player positional formation data and player designated play execution data for a next play to be run, for instance, as received from the computing device 110. The one or more user input mechanisms 121, 122 can be configured to allow a user of the device 105a, 105b, 112 to provide user input to the respective device 105a, 105b, 112, for instance to change the content of the display 111 and/or to input one or more annotations to that displayed play card data file. In addition, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be in communication with one or more (e.g., each) of the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b, for instance through the computing device 110, so that the coach portable electronic device 112 can send a data signal to any one or more of the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b. For example, as will be described further herein, the coach can provide input (e.g., annotation(s)) relating to the specified player positional formation data and/or player designated play execution data for a next play to be run using the one or more user input mechanisms 121, 122, and this input at the coach portable electronic device 112 can be sent to select (e.g., each) wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b for display at the display 111 of the one or more wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b.

The coach's portable electronic device 112 can be any one of a variety of device types, such as a cell phone, tablet, or laptop. The coach's portable electronic device 112 can access non-transitory memory having an electronic playbook application stored thereon. The electronic playbook application can include multiple predetermined player positional formation data sets that specify positional locations for one or more players relative to the field of play and player designated play execution data (e.g., a path of movement for a corresponding player to traverse while executing the particular play) which may optionally be linked or segregated with associated notes from the coach and/or segments of the predetermined player positional formation data set being executed. The electronic playbook application can additionally include the ability to add further predetermined player positional formation data set and player designated play execution data and/or modify existing predetermined player positional formation data sets according to a coach user's preferences.

The electronic playbook application can be a software application that enables the coach to provide various inputs, including a transfer input (e.g., at user input mechanism 121) and a review input (e.g., at user input mechanism 122). The electronic playbook application can further include a practice module which may be integrated with or accessed by the coaching computer module so as to receive and store predetermined player positional formation data sets and related input selected by a coach to be practiced, and further may receive and store time stamped and cut predetermined player positional formation data sets which have been called by the coaching computer module and stored. In addition, the electronic playbook application can further include a playbook generation module which can provide a software interface for a coach to generate one or more portions or one or more predetermined player positional formation data sets, either on the coach's portable electronic device 112 or separately, away from practice on any computer device (not shown) which can access the coaching computer module.

The coach's portable electronic device 112 can enable a coach to transmit a selected, predetermined play card that includes player positional formation data set and/or player designated play execution data from a plurality of available/stored play cards that include predetermined player positional formation and execution data sets by actuating the transfer button which will cause the electronic playbook application to transfer the selected play card (e.g., a predetermined player positional formation data and player designated play execution data set for a next play to be run) to all individual players (e.g., and coaches) who are wearing the wearable player electronic device 105a, 105b that is registered with, or otherwise linked to, the coach's portable electronic device 112 and/or the electronic playbook application, such as through computing device 110.

As such, the ability of the computing device 110 to select and transmit (e.g., based on input from the coach device) one or more predetermined play cards, which can include predetermined player positional formation data sets and/or one or more player designated play execution data, as well as annotations to such one or more predetermined play cards, can allow for more efficient and comprehensive management of variables, and related adjustments to be made as those variables in a relatively quick and efficient manner that increases practice session efficiency and play execution throughput during a practice session. For instance, the coach device 112 can: (i) transmit to at least one wearable player electronic device 105a a first predetermined play card data file for a first play to be run; (ii) before, during, or after that first play, corresponding to the first predetermined play card data file, has been run, receive, at the coach device 112, one or more annotations to that play card data file that change one or more aspects of the player positional formation data sets and/or designated play execution data; and (iii) transmit the annotated play card data file, including the one or more changed aspects of the player positional formation data sets and/or designated play execution data, to one or more select wearable player electronic device 105a, 105b. In this way, the coach device 112 can use the input annotations to the displayed play card data file as a way to convey changes to that play card data file, for instance so that one or more select players wearing the wearable player electronic device 105a, 105b can see, or otherwise perceive, the those changes to the play card data file to learn the changes the coach wishes to make to the play (e.g., and re-run the play according to those changes). This process can then be repeated throughput a practice session and, thereby, allow a coach to efficiently provide an improved mechanism for quickly editing plays and practicing those edited plays with minimized down time to move around the practice field and physically demonstrate and verbally explain to each of a number of individual players what those desired changes to the play are.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a block diagram of an embodiment of the coach portable electronic device 112. FIG. 2 shows the coach portable electronic device 112 displaying a play card data file 200, and FIG. 3 shows the coach portable electronic device 112 displayed an annotated play card data file 201. For example, for certain embodiments, the annotated play card data file 201 can be the play card data file 200 plus one or more annotations to the play card data file 200 input at the coach portable electronic device 112.

The play card data file 200 can be displayed at the coach portable electronic device 112. For example, as noted, the coach portable electronic device 112 can include a user interface 205, for instance including the display 111 and the one or more user input mechanisms 121, 122, and the user interface 205 (e.g., display 111) can display the play card data file 200 at the coach portable electronic device 112. The play card data file 200 can include specified player positional formation data 202 and/or player designated play execution data 203 for a play to be run, and thus, when the play card data file 200 is displayed at the display 111, the display 111 can show thereat player positional formation data 202 and player designated play execution data 203 for a next play to be run as specified by the play card data file 200 (e.g., which can received from the computing device 110). The player positional formation data 202 can show a positional alignment location of each player 210 on the field for a given team (e.g., here shown as each offensive player on the field for a team) relative to a designated reference point 209 (e.g., here shown as a football). The player designated play execution data 203 can show a movement pathway 211 for a corresponding player 210 to traverse when that play is run.

For example, the play card data file 200 displayed at the coach portable electronic device 112 can include the player positional formation data 202 for some or all (e.g., each) players 210 on the field for a given team and the player designated play execution data 203 can show the movement pathway 211 for some or all (e.g., each) players 210 on the field for the given team. For the embodiment shown, the play card data file 200 shows player positional formation data 202 for players 210a-210k relative to the designated reference point 209. Also for the embodiment shown, the play card data file 200 shows player designated play execution data 203 for players 210f, 210g, 210h, 210i, 210j, 210k. More specifically, the player designated play execution data 203 of the play card data file 200 shows a movement pathway 211f for player 210f to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200, a movement pathway 211g for player 210g to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200, a movement pathway 211h for player 210h to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200, a movement pathway 211i for player 210i to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200, a movement pathway 211j for player 210j to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200, and a movement pathway 211k for player 210k to traverse during execution of the play shown by the play card data file 200. While the movement pathways shown for the play card data file 200 at FIG. 2 show a dropback pathway for a quarterback (player 211f) and passing routes to be run by eligible receiving players (players 210g, 210h, 210i, 210j, 210k), in other embodiments the player designated play execution data 203 of the play card data file 200 can show additional movement pathways for additional players on the field (e.g., blocking schemes for linemen, other movement pathways relevant to other sports different than football, etc.).

As noted, in addition to the coach portable electronic device 112 receiving and displaying the play card data file 200, one or more select (e.g., each) wearable player electronic devices can similarly receive and display the play card data file 200. As such, both the coach, using the coach portable electronic device 112, and players on the field, using the wearable player electronic devices, can visualize the play to be run, corresponding to the play card data file 200, and then run that play. Oftentimes, whether before start of the play, during execution of the play, or after execution of the play, a coach may want to change, or supplement with additional information (e.g., coach observations while watching the play be run), one or more aspects of the play that corresponds to the play card data file 200. Embodiments disclosed herein are configured to allow a coach, using the coach portable electronic device 112, to input annotations to the play card data file 200. These input annotations to the play card data file can allow using the coach portable electronic device 112 to supplement the play card data file 200 with additional information (e.g., coach observations while watching the play be run) and/or change one or more aspects of the play that corresponds to the play card data file 200 (e.g., change one or more aspects of the player positional formation data 202 and/or the player designated play execution data 203 for that play card data file 200).

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of an annotated play card data file 201 displayed at the coach portable electronic device 112. As will be described further, the annotated play card data file 201 can include one or more annotations to the play card data file 200 received at the coach portable electronic device 112.

As noted, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive play card annotation input thereat. For example, the display 111 can display the play card data file 200. The user input mechanism 121 can be configured to serve as a annotation enablement input mechanism such that when the user input mechanism 121 is actuated (e.g., pressed) at the coach portable electronic device 112, the coach portable electronic device 112 is caused to be enabled for receiving annotation input thereat. In one embodiment, the ability to input annotations at the coach portable electronic device 112 can be prohibited until the user input mechanism 121 (e.g., enablement input mechanism) is actuated. Once the annotation input feature has been enabled at the coach portable electronic device 112 (e.g., as a result of actuating the user input mechanism 121), the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive one or more types of annotation input at the coach portable electronic device 112, for instance to change, or supplement with additional information (e.g., coach observations while watching the play be run), one or more aspects of the play that correspond to the play card data file 200—change or supplement one or more aspects of the player positional formation data 202 and/or the player designated play execution data 203 for that play card data file 200—so as to create the annotated play card data file 201.

For example, to enable input of one or more various types of annotation input at the coach portable electronic device 112, the processing circuitry of the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to generate an editing later 204 at the display 111. In one specific such example, after the annotation input feature has been enabled at the coach portable electronic device 112 (e.g., as a result of actuating the user input mechanism 121), the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to cause processing circuitry of the coach portable electronic device 112 to generate the editing layer 204 at the display 111 (e.g., and over the displayed play card data file 200). This editing layer 204 can be configured to receive one or more annotation inputs provided at the display 111 (e.g., the editing layer 204 can be configured to receive one or more annotation inputs provided at the display 111 while the underlying play card data file does not receive the one or more annotation inputs provided at the display 111). Then the editing layer 204, including the one or more input annotations, can be saved in association with the play card data file 200. In such an embodiment, the annotated play card data file 201 can include both the play card data file 200 (e.g., as predefined and without annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112) and the editing layer 204 that includes the one or more input annotations.

One type of annotation input to the play card data file 200 that the coach portable electronic device 112 can receive can be non-verbal annotation input provided at the display 111 of the coach portable electronic device 112. For example, after the annotation input feature has been enabled and the editing layer 204 has been generated at the coach portable electronic device 112 (e.g., as a result of actuating the user input mechanism 121), the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive non-verbal annotation input provided at the display 111 via the editing layer 204. Then the editing layer 204, including the one or more input non-verbal annotations, can be saved in association with the play card data file 200.

Examples of non-verbal annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112 are shown at the embodiment of FIG. 3. Namely, the annotated play card data file 201 includes non-verbal annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112 to change specified player designated play execution data 203 to differ from that of the play card data file 200. For instance, annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112 can include one or more edits to one or more of the movement pathways 211. As shown here, annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112 includes a revised movement pathway 212g for player 210g and a revised movement pathway 212i for player 210i. The revised movement pathway 212g for player 210g differs from the original movement pathway 211g that was included in the original play card data file 200, and the revised movement pathway 212i for player 210i differs from the movement pathway 211i that was included in the original play card data file 200. In particular, the revised movement pathway 212g for player 210g differs from the original movement pathway 211g in that the revised movement pathway 212g corresponds to a blocking movement pathway while the original movement pathway 211g corresponding to a route running movement pathway. And the revised movement pathway 212i for player 210i differs from the original movement pathway 21 li in that the revised movement pathway 212i corresponds to a different type of passing route than the passing route included for the original movement pathway 211i.

To input such non-verbal annotation input at the coach portable electronic device 112, a user of the coach portable electronic device 112 can provide physical inputs at the user interface 205 of the coach portable electronic device 112. For instance, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to first receive physical input selecting a specific player 210a-210k and then be configured to receive annotation input changing positional formation data 202 and/or play execution data 203 for that selected player 210a-210k. As one such example, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive physical inputs at the display 111. This can include coach portable electronic device 112 being configured to receive annotation input at the display 111 (e.g., at the editing layer 204) in the form of drawn annotation inputs at the display 111. For instance, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to detect a user's finger, stylet, or other input member at the display 111 and generate a drawn annotation input corresponding to the path of movement of the user's finger, stylet, or other input member at the display 111. Referring to the embodiment at FIG. 3, for example, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive (e.g., via the editing layer 204) selection of the player 210g followed by receipt of the revised movement pathway 212g as annotation input drawn by a user at the display 111 and/or selection of the player 210i followed by receipt of the revised movement pathway 212i as annotation input drawn by a user at the display 111. In another additional or alternative example, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to display a menu with a set of predetermined movement pathway edits (e.g., a first subset of route running edits; a second subset of blocking edits), and detect a user's selection of one or more individual predetermined movement pathway edits in the set and placement of that selected one or more individual predetermined movement pathway edits at the editing layer 204 (e.g., and relative to the play card data file 205). Referring to the embodiment at FIG. 3, for example, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive (e.g., via the editing layer 204) the revised movement pathway 212g as annotation input selected from a menu presented at the coach device 212 of predetermined blocking edits and placed at the display 111 (e.g., at the editing layer 204 by dragging and moving the predetermined blocking revised movement pathway 212g) and/or the revised movement pathway 212i as annotation input selected from a menu presented at the coach device 212 of predetermined route running edits and placed at the display 111 (e.g., at the editing layer 204 by dragging and moving the predetermined route running revised movement pathway 212g).

Another type of additional or alternative annotation input to the play card data file 200 that the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive can be verbal annotation input provided at a microphone 125 of the coach portable electronic device 112. For example, after the annotation input feature has been enabled at the coach portable electronic device 112 (e.g., as a result of actuating the user input mechanism 121), the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to receive verbal annotation input provided at the microphone 125 by a user of the coach portable electronic device 112. In certain embodiment, in addition to enabling the annotation input feature and selecting a particular player 210a-210k for whom the input annotation is to apply, the user input mechanism 122 can then be actuated to activate the microphone 125 (e.g., the microphone is activated while the user input mechanism 122 is held down), which may otherwise be set in an inactive state. When the microphone 125 is activated (e.g., as a result of enabling the annotation input feature, e.g., actuating the user input mechanism 121, and actuating the user input mechanism 122), the microphone 125 can be configured to receive verbal annotation input to change or supplement one or more aspects of the play card data file 205. And processing circuitry of the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to associate this received verbal annotation input with the editing layer 204.

Regardless of the type of annotation input to the play card data file 200 at the coach portable electronic device 112, the annotated play card data file 201 can be configured to display the annotation input as visually distinct from the original play card data file data that is displayed. For example, the annotated play card data file 201 can include the received annotation data configured for display in a first visual manner and the original play card data file configured for display in a second, different visual manner. This could include, for example, the annotated play card data file being configured for display using different types of visual indicators for the received annotation data and the original play card data file. For instance, FIG. 3 shows the received annotation data (e.g., in the example at FIG. 3, the revised movement pathway 212g, revised movement pathway 212i, verbal annotation input 220g, and verbal annotation input 220i) displayed in dashed lines while the original play card data file data is displayed in solid lines. In other additional or alternative examples, different colors, typefaces, font sizes, shapes, and other distinguishing visual display characteristics can be used to distinguish the received annotation data and the original play card data file data.

FIG. 3 shows examples of verbal annotation input received at the coach portable electronic device 112. For example, a user of the coach portable electronic device 112 can enable the annotation input feature and then select (e.g., verbally or via a physical input at the device 112) a particular player 210g. The user of the coach portable electronic device 112 can then actuate the user input mechanism 122 and provide verbal annotation input to the microphone 125 for that selected player 210g. In this example, verbal annotation input 220g “block outside defender” is spoken into the microphone 125 for the selected player 210g, and processing circuitry of the coach device 112 is configured to process this received, audible verbal annotation input 220g and output corresponding text at the display 111 (e.g., at the editing layer 204) as supplemental data instructing the player 210g to “block outside defender.” Similarly, in this example, verbal annotation input 220i “accelerate at break” is spoken into the microphone 125 for the selected player 210i, and processing circuitry of the coach device 112 is configured to process this received, audible verbal annotation input 220i and output corresponding text at the display 111 (e.g., at the editing layer 204) as supplemental data instructing the player 210i to “accelerate at the break.”

Once the annotated play card data file 201 has been created, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to save the annotated play card data file 201 (e.g., the original play card data file 200 and associated edit layer 204). And the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to transmit the annotated play card data file 201 to one or more (e.g., all or a select subset of) wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b, associated with one or more players 210a-210k, and/or to the computing device 110. For example, the annotated play card data file 201 includes changes to aspects of the play for player 210g and player 210i, and the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to send the annotated play card data file 201 to at least wearable player electronic device 105a associated with player 210g and wearable player electronic device 105b associated with player 210i. In some embodiments, the coach portable electronic device 112 can be configured to present a menu at the user interface 205 of available wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b, and associated player identifiers of the players 210a-210k currently wearing the corresponding, available wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b so that a user of the coach portable electronic device 112 can select those players 210a-210k the user wishes to send the annotated play card data file 201 to for viewing. The wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b can be configured to receive and display thereat the annotated play card data file 201. As such, the players wearing the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b can see the changes to aspects of the original play card data file 200 when the annotated play card data file 201 is displayed at the wearable player electronic devices 105a, 105b.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the coach portable electronic device 112 as the computing device. The computing device (e.g., coach portable electronic device) 112 can have non-transitory computer-executable instructions (e.g., stored in memory 301) that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry 300 of the computing device 112, cause the programmable processing circuitry 300 to receive play card annotation data input and send the received play card annotation data input to at least one of a player wearable electronic device and a centralized computing device.

The computing device 112 can include programmable processing circuitry 300, non-transitory computer-readable storage article (“memory”) 301 coupled to the programmable processing circuity 300, transceiver 305 coupled to the programmable processing circuity 300, and play card annotation module 310 coupled to the programmable processing circuity 300.

The computing device 112 can have non-transitory computer-executable instructions stored at the play card annotation module 310. And these stored non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry 300 of the computing device 112, can cause the programmable processing circuitry 300 of the computing device 112 to, for example: display a play card at the computing device 112, receive play card annotation input at the displayed play card, and send an annotated play card to at least one of one or more wearable player electronic device and a centralized computing device (e.g., server 110).

The play card annotation module 310 can store non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry 300, can cause the programmable processing circuitry 300 to receive annotation input associated with a predetermined play card data file and, using that received annotation input associated with the predetermined play card data file, create an annotated play card data file that includes the received annotation input and at least some (e.g., all) of the predetermined play card data file. And the programmable processing circuity 300 can cause the transceiver 305 to transmit the created annotated play card data file to at least one wearable player device and/or a centralized computing device. Accordingly, the play card annotation module 310 can store non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry 300, can cause the programmable processing circuitry 300 to carry out any one or more of the aspects relating to annotation input as described elsewhere herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method 500 of annotating a play card data file. In various embodiments, the method 500 can include any one or more of the actions described elsewhere herein relating to annotation input.

At step 510, the method 500 includes displaying a play card data file. The play card data file can be displayed, for instance, at a coach portable electronic device. For example, the displayed play card data file can be similar to, or the same as, the play card data file described elsewhere herein (e.g., in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3).

At step 520, the method 500 includes receiving play card annotation input. The play card annotation input can be received, for instance, at the coach portable electronic device that displays the play card data file. For example, the received play card annotation input can be similar to, or the same as, the play card annotation input(s) described elsewhere herein (e.g., in reference to FIGS. 2 and 3). In receiving the play card annotation input, an annotated play card data file can be created that includes the received annotation input and at least some (e.g., all) of the original, displayed play card data file.

At step 530, the method 500 includes sending the annotated play card data file. The annotated play card data file can be sent, for instance, at least to a player device. For example, the annotated play card data file can be sent to one or more wearable player electronic devices for display of the annotated play card data file thereat and/or to a centralized computing device (e.g., a server). In one particular example, the method 500 can include a step of selecting particular players to send the annotated play card data file to, and then sending the annotated play card data file for display at those wearable player electronic devices corresponding to the selected particular players who are to receive the annotated play card data file. In this way, the method 500 can facilitate quick and efficient modification to a play card data file and visually sharing such modification to the play card data file to at least those players impacted by the modification to the play card data file.

Various examples of the disclosure have been described. Any combination of the described systems, operations, or functions is contemplated. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A coach portable computing device having non-transitory computer-executable instructions that, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to:

display a play card data file at a display of the coach portable computing device;

receive, at the coach portable computing device, play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file, the play card data file and the received play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file together comprising an annotated play card data file; and

transmit the annotated play card data file to a wearable player portable electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the play card data file displayed at the coach portable electronic computing device comprises predetermined player positional formation data and player designated play execution data.

3. The device of claim 2,

wherein the predetermined player positional formation data includes a position alignment location for the first player relative to a designated reference point, and

wherein the player designated play execution data includes a specified movement pathway for a first player to traverse for a first play and a specified blocking scheme for a second, different player to block for the first play.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive, at the coach portable computing device, the play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file as a change to at least one of the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play and the specified blocking scheme for the second, different player to block for the first play.

5. The device of claim 1,

wherein the coach portable computing device comprises an annotation enablement input mechanism, and

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism at the coach portable computing device.

6. The device of claim 5,

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, generate an editing layer at a display of the coach portable computing device, and

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input at the editing layer at the display of the coach portable computing device.

7. The device of claim 6,

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, generate the editing layer overlaid at the display over display of the play card data file, and

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive the play card annotation input at the editing layer but not at the play card data file.

8. The device of claim 6,

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to save, at a non-transitory memory and in association with the play card data file, a first data file comprising the editing layer with the play card annotation input, and

the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit to a centralized computing device the first data file tagged with an association to the play card data file.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit the annotated play card data file to the wearable player portable electronic device via the centralized computing device that is in data communication with the coach portable computing device and the wearable player portable electronic device.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to, as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, to receive non-verbal play card annotation input at the editing layer to change at least one player designated play execution data of the play card data file selected from the group consisting of: a change, relative to the play card data file, to at least one of the specified movement pathway for a first player to run for a first play and a specified blocking scheme for a second, different player to block for the first play.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to: first receive a selection of the first player at the display at the coach portable computing device, and following selection of the first player receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device changing the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play relative to that of the play card data file.

12. The device of claim 11,

wherein the coach portable computing device comprises a non-transitory memory,

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to display a menu comprising a set of predetermined movement pathway edits, and

wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device changing the specified movement pathway for the first player to run for the first play relative to that of the play card data file by receiving selection of one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the displayed menu.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to receive selection of one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the displayed menu by receiving a user input at the coach portable computing device dragging and dropping the selected one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits at the editing layer.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to transmit the annotated play card data file to the wearable player portable electronic device with the received play card annotation input configured for display in a first visual manner that is visually distinct from display of original data at the play card data file in a second, different visual manner.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to: as a result of actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism, receive a selection of the first player at the display at the coach portable computing device, and following selection of the first player receive annotation input at the coach portable computing device receive actuation on a user input mechanism at the coach portable computing device to activate a microphone at the coach portable computing device to receive verbal annotation input at the microphone.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to process the received verbal annotation input at the microphone and generate corresponding text as the play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the non-transitory computer-executable instructions, when executed by programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device, cause the programmable processing circuitry of the coach portable computing device to prohibit play card annotation input at the coach portable computing device until actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

displaying a play card data file at a coach portable electronic device;

receiving, at the coach portable computing device, play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file, the play card data file and the received play card annotation input associated with the displayed play card data file together comprising an annotated play card data file; and

transmitting the annotated play card data file to a wearable player portable electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the play card annotation input is received at the coach portable computing device after actuation of an annotation enablement input mechanism at the coach portable computing device, and

wherein actuation of the annotation enablement input mechanism causes the coach portable computing device to generate an editing layer at a display of the coach portable computing device over a display of the play card data file at the coach portable computing device such that the play card annotation input is received at generated editing layer but not at the play card data file.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a first player at the display at the coach portable computing device;

after receiving the selection of the first player, presenting, at the display of the coach portable computing device, a menu that comprises a set of predetermined movement pathway edits; and

selecting one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits from the menu by receiving a user input at the coach portable computing device dragging and dropping the selected one of the set of predetermined movement pathway edits at the editing layer to receive the play card annotation input at the coach portable computing device.