Womens Lacrosse Draw Training Apparatus

Abstract

A women's lacrosse draw training apparatus which allows one person, without the benefit of an opponent, to continuously practice the draw in order to become more proficient in this part of the women's game of lacrosse. The device consisting of a base, upright, and horizontal arm is able to replicate the feel and resistance of that which would occur if the user was practicing the draw against another person. The device allows the user to practice on any playing surface that women's lacrosse is played. During the draw training process, the lacrosse stick mounted on the device pivots from the end of the horizontal arm and the stick shaft rides against the upright, thereby providing resistance to the user pushing on the invention's mounted lacrosse stick. The device restricts the practice motion to an upward motion that is mandated by the women's rules of lacrosse.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an athletic training apparatus specifically for the sport of women's lacrosse, and more particularly to a lacrosse draw training apparatus for women's lacrosse which allows a user to practice important skills related to the draw which is taken each quarter and after each successive goal. The device is intended to be portable and capable of being used on either a natural grass or artificial turf surface, as well as on a concrete, carpeted, wood or similar material floor. The device reproduces the action and resistance that would be encountered if the user was performing the draw against an actual opponent. Various adjustments in the apparatus make it useful to any age, size or skill level of the user.BACKGROUND

[0002] The draw takes place at midfield to start each half and after every goal in the sport of women's lacrosse. The draw is used at all levels of competition from junior and youth leagues, through high school and college, and also used in professional and Olympic competition. The draw is a chance to gain possession. Typically, the team that wins the most draws gains the most possessions, and has the better chance to win the game.

[0003] When a draw is taken, opponents each stand with one foot toeing the center line of the field and each opponent must have both of their feet on the same side of the center line behind their stick. The lacrosse sticks, consisting of a stick head and stick shaft, are held in the air, above each player's hip level with the lower side of the lacrosse stick above the center line and back-to-back, so that the players'sticks are between the ball and the goal they are defending. The lower side of the lacrosse stick is defined as the right side of the lacrosse stick as the player looks at it with the open pocket facing them. The entire length of both lacrosse sticks, stick shafts and stick heads, must be contained within the vertical plane of the center line and be parallel to and above the center line. The players must remain set until the whistle is blown by the referee. The players are bound by the rules to draw their stick head up in a vertical direction and away from each other so that the flight of the ball is above their heads. When they draw the ball up and away the user's back hand is on the end of the lacrosse stick and stays relatively stationary and the stick end pivots from this point as the stick head propels upward. The ball must go higher than the player's head or else there is a redraw. Besides the players conducting the draw, 2 additional players from each team stand on the edge of the draw circle to assist gaining possession once the draw is initiated by the referee's whistle.

[0004] It is the goal of the player taking the draw to either direct the ball to themselves or to one of their team mates on the edge of the draw circle so that possession is gained.

[0005] As the draw is such an important part of the game of women's lacrosse in improving the chances of a team winning, it is an important skill to practice and become proficient. This invention provides an apparatus to practice this skill without the benefit of another player or coach. The invention allows the ability of the player to practice various skills and special techniques to direct the ball to themselves, or one their team mates on the draw circle. The apparatus being proposed allows interchangeability of different styles, and lengths of lacrosse sticks. The apparatus allows tailoring the set-up conditions to vary the height, stick head orientation and length of the stick to suit various conditions of practice, and size, age and skill level of the players.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The subject invention comprises an apparatus for simulation of the draw in women's lacrosse in order for a user to continuously practice the draw without the benefit of an additional player, and become more proficient, skilled and productive in a game situation. It is an objective of this invention to make a women's draw training apparatus that is capable of use on a variety of athletic field playing surfaces such as natural grass and artificial turf as well as hard surfaces such as concrete, carpet of wood floors. It is also the objective of this invention to simulate the draw motion of the opponent as experienced by athletes participating in the draw sequence. Another objective of this invention is portability so the device may be disassembled and easily transported to another practice location or storage. Another objective is to allow the user to practice different types of draw technique specific to the game of women's lacrosse such as “the pull”, “the push”, and the self-draw, where the user is able to project the ball vertically and then perform a mid-air catch of the lacrosse ball to gain possession.

[0007] In the first embodiment, the lacrosse draw training apparatus comprises a base, an upright, an approximately horizontal arm secured to the upright to which the butt end of a lacrosse stick can be securely attached at the end of the arm with a clamp. The clamp is rotationally free to pivot about the end of the horizontal arm in the plane parallel to that formed by the horizontal arm and upright, and rotate upward with the lacrosse stick riding against the post. The clamp also is capable of rotating around the axis of the stick shaft. The base is capable of securing weights to the top of the base and has a plurality of pointed cleats, attached to the bottom of the base which contact the ground and resist the rotation and movement of the base that would occur in their absence during the conduct of practice from the forces the user applies to the lacrosse stick mounted on the invention with their own stick.

[0008] In another embodiment, a series of angled holes are provided in the corner of the base to allow the installation of tent pegs or stakes to secure the base on a grass field in lieu of mounting the weights to the base as described in the first embodiment. The plurality of pointed cleats in addition to placement of tent pegs, stakes or dowels into the base provide resistance to movement of the base during the act of practice on a natural grass field.

[0009] In another embodiment, a series of casters is affixed to the base to allow easy transportation of the device when either loaded with weights, or not, to various locations on or off the field of practice.

[0010] In another aspect, a restraining bar is attached to the upright through which the lacrosse stick is installed. The restraining bar insures the upward motion of the lacrosse stick against upright during the act of practice.

[0011] In another aspect, a lubricious material is affixed to the upright in an area of the upright where the stick shaft would contact, to facilitate sliding of the stick against the upright during the act of practice when force is being applied to the player's stick against the invention.

[0012] In another aspect, several features are included in each embodiment to allow adjustment to accommodate players of different height, size, strength, age and skill level. The primary adjustment allows for moving the horizontal arm upwards and downwards against the post to accommodate differing heights of players. Another adjustment can move the attachment point for the lacrosse stick securing clamp along different points at the end of the horizontal arm.

[0013] An attempted solution has mounted a portion of a lacrosse stick to a spring mechanism attached to a post and does not simulate the feel or motion of an opponent taking the draw in women's lacrosse, neither does it guide the draw motion in a vertical direction as dictated by the rules of women's lacrosse, and requires ruinous truncation of a lacrosse stick. The attempted solutions also do not simulate the motion of the opponent's lacrosse stick where the opponent is substantially restraining the butt end of the lacrosse stick as a pivot point as the stick rotates against this point and the head is thrust upward.

[0014] Attempted solutions have been developed to jointly address both a men's faceoff practice device and a women's practice device. These solutions are more effective with practicing the faceoff in men's lacrosse which has a similar purpose as the women's draw but a different execution. In the men's game the faceoff is done with the ball on the ground. Sticks are placed on the ground, stick head to stick head with the ball between and players try to clamp the ball to the ground, pull the ball to an area of the field where the player or a team mate can then scoop the ball to gain possession. In the men's faceoff there is no mandated upward motion of the stick and the ball does not have to travel above their heads. The proposed invention is specifically for women's lacrosse.

[0015] Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the device according to the present application will become apparent from the detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer and more understood by refencing the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view from the top of the first embodiment of the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus comprising the use of circular weights mounted on the base to assist in securing the base against movement during the act of practicing the draw.

[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the first embodiment of the women's training apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view from the top of a second embodiment of the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus comprising the use of tent pegs to secure the base against movement during the act of practicing the draw.

[0020] FIG. 4a depicts a perspective view illustrating the initial position of a players stick when utilizing the invention.

[0021] FIG. 4b depicts a perspective view illustrating the approximate finishing position after a user has directed their lacrosse stick head vertically upward.

[0022] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus from the top showing implementation of casters on the base.

[0023] FIGS. 6a and 6b depict an embodiment of the rotatably mounted attachment mechanism where 6a is the approximate initial position during conduct of the draw and 6b represents the rotatably mounted attachment mechanism after completion of the draw motion.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the first embodiment of a women's lacrosse draw training apparatus designated generally by reference numeral 10 essentially comprising a base plate apparatus 20, an upright 30, a horizontal arm assembly 40, and a rotatably mounted attachment mechanism 41 which secures the butt end of the lacrosse stick 50. Typical barbell weight or weights 22 are secured to the base plate apparatus 20 by placing over an attachment mechanism consisting of a dowel 23 and a weight clamp device 24. The weights 22, plurality of pointed cleats 26 and defined geometry of the invention provide for a secure and stable apparatus during use.

[0025] An upright 30 is coupled through a sub-base apparatus 25 to the base plate apparatus 20. The clamping mechanism 42 securing sub-base 25 to the upright 30 allows for rapid disassembly of the device. The horizontal arm assembly 40 is coupled to the upright 30 and capable of being adjusted at different heights along the upright 30 through another clamping mechanism 42.

[0026] A lacrosse stick 50 consisting of a stick head 52 and stick shaft 51 is secured to the rotatably mounted attachment mechanism 41. The rotatably mounted attachment mechanism 41 allows rotation of the of the lacrosse stick around the A-A and B-B axis both independently and coincidently when a user practices the draw.

[0027] A restraining bar assembly 31 is mounted to the upright 30 to partially restrain the lacrosse stick 50 during the act of practice. A lubricious strip of material 32 is applied to the upright 30 to reduce friction on the lacrosse stick 50 as it rides against the upright 30 during the conduct of practice.

[0028] A second embodiment of the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 3. This women's lacrosse draw training apparatus is essentially identical to the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus according to the first embodiment, except that weights 22 and weight clamp 23 have are removed and a series of tent pegs or stakes 27 are inserted through inclined holes in the base and further into natural grass field to secure the apparatus.

[0029] A third embodiment of the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 5. This women's lacrosse draw training apparatus is essentially identical to the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus according to the first embodiment except caster wheel assemblies 70 are mounted to one edge of the base plate apparatus 20 to allow transport of women's lacrosse draw training apparatus 10 by inclining the device and rolling on the playing surface.

[0030] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are provided to illustrate the approximate motion of the user's lacrosse stick 60 and the lacrosse stick of apparatus 50 during the conduct of practice. FIG. 4A shows a typical starting position for the conduct of practice. A lacrosse ball 53 is placed between the stick head 52 of the approximately horizontal lacrosse stick 50 mounted on the women's lacrosse draw training apparatus 10 and the stick head 62 of the user's approximately horizontal lacrosse stick 60. During conduct of practice the user typically has one hand clutching the end of the stick shaft 61 and one clutching the stick shaft 61 just prior to the stick head 62. The user both applies pressure through their stick head 62 to the stick head 52 of the apparatus 10, and propels their lacrosse stick 60 upwards. This action causes the lacrosse stick 50 of the apparatus, to also move vertically with the stick shaft 51 guided by the upright 30. The lubricious strip such 32 such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape or a Teflon coating facilitates the sliding of the stick shaft 51 against the upright 31 and reduces wear on the stick shaft 51 and upright 31.

[0031] FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b illustrate an embodiment of the rotatably mounted attachment mechanism 41 where the mechanism is free to rotate about the A-A and B-B axis. A tube clamp 44 to secure the stick shaft 51 and a hinge 43 secured to the horizontal arm assembly 40 are illustrated for this purpose but this feature can take on other different combination of mechanisms to achieve the same rotational freedom of movement. Various inside diameter elastomeric inserts in the tube clamp 44 positioned between the tube clamp 44 and stick shaft 51 secure the stick shaft 51 from rotation internal to the tube clamp 44 during conduct of practice. FIG. 6a shows the approximate at rest position of the apparatus prior to conducting practice. FIG. 6b shows the rotation of the hinge 43 about axis A-A and the rotation of the tube clamp 44 attached to the hinge 43 about axis B-B in an approximate finish position after the conduct of practice.

[0032] While attempting in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believe to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A women's lacrosse draw training apparatus comprising an upright;a base plate apparatus coupled with a lower portion of the upright;a horizontal arm assembly where one end is coupled approximately perpendicular with the upright;a rotatably mounted attachment mechanism coupled proximate to the end of the horizontal arm assembly, wherein said rotatably mounted attachment mechanism is coupled with the butt end of a lacrosse stick and capable of rotation in a plane parallel to plane formed by said upright and said horizontal arm assembly.

2. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pointed cleats mounted to said base plate.

3. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism to secure weights to the top of the said base plate apparatus.

4. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a vertical post mounted proximate to the center of said base plate apparatus for mounting barbell weights.

5. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 comprising an attachment mechanism to said base plate apparatus to allow securing to a natural grass surface with earth penetrating tent or anchor pegs.

6. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of angled holes through said base plate apparatus wherein earth penetrating tent or anchor pegs can be installed to secure the invention to a grass field.

7. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 comprising a tacky or abrasive coating or material to the bottom said base to promote adhesion and grippiness on non-artificial turf or non-natural grass surfaces.

8. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lacrosse stick for simulating another player's lacrosse stick.

9. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 wherein a hinge mechanism is rotatably coupled between the said horizontal arm assembly and the said rotatably mounted attachment mechanism to allow lacrosse stick rotation approximately along its stick shaft longitudinal axis.

10. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotatably mounted attachment mechanism can be configured to secure different stick shaft diameters without damaging said stick shaft.

11. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said base plate apparatus comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, fibrous material of a tree, and composite materials.

12. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 wherein a lubricious material is applied to said upright to facilitate sliding of said lacrosse stick against the said upright during use.

13. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 comprising a set of wheels or casters attached to an edge of said base plate apparatus to facilitate movement of the apparatus.

14. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a method to secure said horizontal arm assembly vertically at various heights along said upright.

15. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a bar coupled and offset to the said upright to restrain the lacrosse stick during training.

16. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feature to add rotational stiffness to said rotatably mounted attachment mechanism.

17. The women's lacrosse draw training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electric servo motors attached to the rotatably mounted attachment mechanism to drive motion of lacrosse stick.

Images