Sports Training And Testing Methods, Appartaus And System

• US 20070213126A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fusion Sport International Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fusion Sport International Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Moore, Douglas Joseph, Deutsch, Makus
• Application Number:
  US10/564,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213126A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/03 Athletic drills or obstacles for sport training, other than foot obstacles for skipping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 : in connection with sports or games

Abstract

A sports training and testing apparatus for at least one athlete (50), said apparatus including a control unit (11) adapted to implement a predetermined protocol; a plurality of remote units (12) for providing a series of stimuli for said at least one athlete in accordance with the protocol; at least one sensor (14) for providing to said control unit feedback information associated with said at least one athlete'"'"'s response to the stimuli; and a communications network (10) providing communications between the control unit and the plurality of remote units including said at least one sensor (14).

Claims

1. :

A method for sports training and testing of at least one athlete, said method comprising the steps of;

initiating within a control unit a predetermined protocol for training and testing, which protocol comprises layout information for locations of a plurality of remote units and at least one sensor, and route or game plan information for said at least one athlete relative to the plurality of remote units;

instructing said plurality of remote units by the control unit to produce a series of stimuli for said at least one athlete in accordance with the route or game plan information;

receiving feedback information from said at least one sensor associated with at least one remote unit, said feedback information associated with said at least one athlete'"'"'s response to the stimuli;

transmitting the feedback information to said control unit; and

automatically modifying further stimuli of the series of stimuli having regard to the route or game plan information and the response.

2. :

The sports training and testing method according to claim 1 wherein the route or game plan includes one or more pre-programmed or user defined stimuli activation patterns for physical activities required of said at least one athlete.

3. :

The sports training and testing method according to claim 1 wherein the protocol further includes information about sequencing of the series of stimuli and desired actions in response required of said at least one athlete.

4. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 2 wherein said protocol is a reactive sprinting and agility protocol and the method further comprises the steps of;

measuring said at least one athletes reaction time upon starting the protocol; and

measuring said at least one athletes sprint times over a random course defined by said activation patterns.

5. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 2 wherein said protocol is a reactive offensive/defensive training protocol wherein said at least one athlete includes players and the method further comprises the step of;

instructing at least one offensive player through a plurality of defensive players over a random course defined by said activation patterns, wherein the plurality of defensive players are required to react to said at least one offensive player'"'"'s movements without knowledge of the random course.

6. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 2 wherein said protocol is a group reactive training protocol wherein said at least one athlete includes a group of players that are subjected to stimuli to complete a series tactical patterns or combinations of play over a random course defined by said activation patterns.

7. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 6 wherein said group reactive training protocol further comprises the step of;

instructing a first player from said group of players to move to a randomly selected remote unit thereby prompting remaining players within the group to initiate the most appropriate tactical move or pattern of play in response to the instructed movement.

8. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 2 wherein said protocol is a grid training protocol and the method further comprises the steps of;

placing an array of remote units in a grid type configuration;

directing a group of athletes, simultaneously or separately by stimuli specific to respective athletes, through a course indicated by said remote units wherein the course is a random course defined by said activation patterns.

9. :

The sports training and testing method of claim 1 wherein the feedback information is forwarded to one of said plurality of remote units before forwarding said information to the control unit.

10. :

A sports training and testing apparatus for at least one athlete, said apparatus comprising;

a control unit adapted to implement a predetermined protocol, wherein the protocol comprises layout information for remote units and sensors and route or game plan information for said at least one athlete;

a plurality of remote units disposed in accordance with the layout information for providing a series of stimuli for said at least one athlete in accordance with the route or game plan information;

at least one sensor disposed in accordance with the layout information for providing feedback information associated with said at least one athlete'"'"'s response to the stimuli to said control unit; and

a communications network providing communications between the control unit and the plurality of remote units including said at least one sensor, wherein further stimuli in said series of stimuli are automatically modified having regard to the route or game plan information and the response.

11. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the control unit is selected from the group of portable processing devices including a portable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a palm top device, and a mobile telephone device.

12. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in either claim 10 wherein the remote units receive instructions for producing the stimuli for said at least one athlete in accordance with the protocol from said control unit via the communications network.

13. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the remote units include means for identifying said at least one athlete.

14. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the remote units are adapted to provide stimuli including any one or more of audio stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli or a combination thereof.

15. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein means for producing the stimuli are mounted on said remote units.

16. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein means for producing the stimuli are mounted separately of said remote units.

17. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the remote units further include a data capture sub-unit having a memory.

18. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the data capture sub-unit is adapted to receive said feedback information from the sensors before forwarding the information to said control unit.

19. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one sensor is a biometric sensor.

20. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group including a timer, a pressure sensor, a pedometer and an accelerometer.

21. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one sensor is integral with or coupled to one of said plurality of remote units.

22. :

The sports training and testing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one sensor is worn by said at least one athlete.

23. :

A sports training and testing system for at least one athlete, said system comprising;

an on-field network having the sports training and testing apparatus of claim 10;

and

a communications link coupling the on-field network to an off-field network, the off-field network having;

a terminal for receiving from said control unit via the communications link data containing the feedback information for post processing; and

a memory for storing the post processed data.

24. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 23 wherein the communication link includes a wireless link.

25. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 23 wherein the communication link includes a wired connection.

26. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 23 wherein the remote terminal is a computer workstation running software means for processing the data containing feedback information.

27. The sports training and testing system according to claim 26 wherein the remote terminal includes an Internet connection.

28. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 26 further comprising a protocol development suite for developing or modifying protocols for specific training needs of different athletes.

29. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 23 wherein the processed data is stored in a database to enable later retrieval and analysis by a trainer or coach.

30. :

The sports training and testing system according to claim 23 wherein a trainer receives intermediate reports regarding said at least one athlete'"'"'s responses compared with the responses required by the predetermined protocol.

31. :

The sports training and testing system according to 30 wherein the trainer modifies the protocol in real time based on said intermediate reports.

32. :

A sports training and testing method for a user, said method comprising the steps of;

initiating within a control unit a predetermined protocol for training and testing the user;

instructing a plurality of remote units to produce a series of stimuli to the athlete in response to the predetermined protocol;

receiving feedback information from at least one sensor, which feedback information is associated with the user'"'"'s response to the stimuli;

automatically modifying further stimuli of the series of stimuli having regard to the feedback information;

transmitting the feedback information across a communications link to a remote terminal;

processing the received information within the remote terminal; and

storing the processed information in a memory.

33. :

A sports training and testing system for a user, said system comprising;

an on-field network having;

a control unit adapted to implement a predetermined protocol for training and/or testing the user;

a plurality of remote units for providing a series of stimuli to said user in accordance with the predetermined protocol;

at least one sensor for providing feedback information associated with said user'"'"'s response to the stimuli to said control unit, wherein further stimuli in the series of stimuli may be automatically modified having regard to the feedback information; and

a communications link coupling the on-field network to an off-field network, the off-field network having;

a terminal for receiving from said control unit via the communications link the feedback information for post processing; and

a memory for storing the post processed data.

34-58. -58. (canceled)