Football sideline catching training aid

Abstract

A device which aids the training of football pass receivers, in the desired ball catching and retaining posture, comprising a belt worn around the midsection of the player, attached cables or straps fastened to the belt, and supporting means attached to the cable or strap. The training device is designed for use by backfield players and ends, to aid in their training to remain inbounds when catching a thrown or kicked football, rather than touching or running beyond the sideline mark. The belt, cable or strap and support provided by the coach or trainer, or by a fixed support, allows the pass receiver to learn and practice leaning beyond the sideline marker while catching a thrown or kicked football, while remaining inbounds.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 131,237 filed Jun. 7, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a training aid and, more particularly, to, in combination, a belt worn around the midsection of the player, attached cable or strap attached to the posterior side of the belt having attached handles or fixed support, and a sideline marker strip, which together assist in teaching a player to assume a leaning posture when catching a passed or kicked football which is outside the sideline marker, while keeping the players' feet inside the sideline marker.[0003]The desired posture of a football player who is receiving a passed or kicked football, which has or is likely to pass outside the marked sideline of the football playing field, is to keep both of the players feet inside the marked sideline, without touching the sideline marker, while maximizing the probability of s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An alternative embodiment provides support from a convenient fixed structure, for example a goal post, allowing the trainer or coach to observe the maneuver more effectively.

[0008]Another object of this invention is to provide a training aid, as aforesaid, which is simple in design, readily used and readily portable.

Problems solved by technology

This dynamic situation requires complex coordination of several actions, and is thus one of the most difficult and crucial tasks to successfully accomplish in football.

If the player fails to catch the football, the play is considered void, but if either of the player's feet touches the sideline marker before the player has control of the football, the play is also considered void.

Tracy (U. S. Pat. No. 6,875,132) discloses a device designed to improve the posture of football players, but the described device is elaborate, may restrict the player's ability to run, and does not aid in ball-receiving techniques in relation to the sideline marker.

Meatheringham (U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,017) and others disclose devices designed to encourage desired positioning of football players, but do not provide the combination of aids to training as described above.

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