Method, apparatus and data processor program product capable of enabling administration of a levels-based athleticism development program

• US 6,746,370 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meridian Asset Management Inc.
• Inventors: Fleming, John C., Mixon, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US09/965,383
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902, 434/247, 733/790--37
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance

Abstract

Various aspects of one or more methods, apparatuses and data processor program products capable of enabling administration of an athleticism development program are disclosed herein. These various aspects include facilitating an athleticism training routine by an athleticism development program subscriber and facilitating a present athleticism level assessment by the athleticism development program subscriber after facilitating the athleticism training routine. After facilitating the present athleticism level assessment, an attained standardized athleticism level corresponding to the present athleticism level evaluation is determined. The implementation of standardized athleticism levels is advantageous as it supports a measurable plan of progress for motivating a subscriber and trainer to meet their individual and mutual goals.

Claims

1. A method for administering an athleticism development program, comprising:

facilitating a present athleticism level assessment by an athleticism development program subscriber; and

determining an attained standardized athleticism level after facilitating the athleticism level assessment, wherein the attained standardized level corresponds to subscriber performance data associated with the present athleticism level assessment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating an athleticism training program by an athleticism development program subscriber prior to facilitating the present athleticism level assessment.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

facilitating the athleticism training program includes selecting the athleticism training program from a group of athleticism level-prescribed athleticism training programs; and

the athleticism training program corresponds to a present standardized athleticism level of the athleticism development program subscriber.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein facilitating the athleticism training program includes determining fitness deficiencies associated with a prior athleticism level assessment.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining fitness deficiencies associated with the prior athleticism level assessment includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report based on the prior athleticism level assessment.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein preparing the athleticism level assessment report includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report including a station-by-station interval time comparison between an athleticism performance evaluation of the present athleticism level assessment and an athleticism performance evaluation of the prior athleticism level assessment.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein facilitating the athleticism training program includes performing a plurality of training set exercises, performing at least one cardio intensive exercise and performing, in at least a non-sequential manner, at least one athleticism performance assessment component.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein performing said at least one athleticism performance evaluation component includes performing an athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes:

facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components; and

facilitating a plurality of training set performance evaluations, wherein each one of the training set performance evaluations is capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein facilitating the athleticism performance evaluation includes recording a composite time for completing all of a plurality of athleticism performance evaluation activities.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein facilitating the athleticism performance evaluation includes recording a time for completing each one of said athleticism performance evaluation activities.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation includes facilitating at least one athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes facilitating an O-course evaluation and facilitating a fitness performance evaluation.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an attained standardized athleticism level includes:

determining an attained score for an athleticism performance evaluation, wherein the athleticism performance evaluation is capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components;

determining an attained score for each one of a plurality of training set performance evaluations, wherein each one of said training set performance evaluations is capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component; and

correlating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation and the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to an attained standardized athleticism levels.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining the attained score for an athleticism performance evaluation includes converting an achieved time to the attained score.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein converting an achieved time to the attained score includes converting a time for completing a prescribed O-course.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein converting the achieved time to the attained score includes applying a scoring factor to the achieved time.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein determining the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations includes converting an achieved time to the attained score for at least at portion of said training set performance evaluations.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein converting the achieved time to the attained score includes applying a scoring factor to the achieved time.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein determining the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations includes converting an achieved number of repetitions to the attained score for at least at portion of said training set performance evaluations.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein converting the achieved number of repetitions to the attained score includes applying a scoring factor to the achieved number of repetitions.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein determining the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations includes converting an achieved physiological parameter to the attained score for at least at portion of said training set performance evaluations.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein converting the achieved physiological parameter includes applying a scoring factor to the achieved physiological parameter.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein correlating includes matching a subscriber age to a corresponding attained athleticism level standards table.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein correlating includes matching a subscriber gender to a corresponding attained athleticism level standards table.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein correlating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation includes associating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation to a minimum entry score for an attained standardized athleticism level.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein associating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation to a minimum entry score includes selecting the minimum entry score from a plurality of O-course level specific minimum entry scores.

29. The method of claim 15 wherein correlating the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations includes associating the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to a corresponding minimum entry score for an attained standardized athleticism level.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein associating the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to the corresponding minimum entry score includes selecting the corresponding minimum entry score for each one of said training set performance evaluations from a plurality of fitness performance component specific minimum entry scores.

31. The method of claim 15 wherein correlating includes:

associating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation to a minimum entry score selected from a plurality of O-course level specific minimum entry scores;

associating the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to a corresponding minimum entry score selected from a plurality of training set level specific minimum entry scores; and

associating each associated minimum entry score to a corresponding evaluation-specific standardized athleticism level, wherein the lowest of corresponding evaluation-specific athleticism levels is the attained standardized athleticism level.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating preparation of a subscriber performance report for the athleticism development program subscriber.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report is initiated in response to receiving a request for preparing the subscriber performance report.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining the attained standardized athleticism level for the specified athleticism development program subscriber.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining an attained standardized athleticism levels for at least a portion of said athleticism development program subscribers.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining a ranking of the attained standardized athleticism level relative to a selected population of the plurality of athleticism development program subscriber.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining a ranking of the attained standardized athleticism level for the specified athleticism development program subscriber relative to a specified population of the plurality of athleticism development program subscribers.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein determining the ranking of the attained standardized athleticism level includes determining the ranking relative to a specified population of the population of the plurality of athleticism development program subscribers selected from a group of comparison populations consisting of subscribers associated with a designated geographic region, subscribers associated with a designated athleticism development program membership base, subscribers associated with a designated age group, subscribers associated with a designated gender, and subscribers associated with a particular athleticism development program background.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes preparing a composite O-course score comparison between a present O-course evaluation and reference O-course evaluations.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes preparing a station-by-station interval time comparison between a present O-course evaluation and reference O-course evaluation.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein preparing the station-by-station interval time comparison includes preparing the station-by-station interval time comparison for a plurality of combined component stations of an O-course.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein preparing the station-by-station interval time comparison includes preparing the station-by-station interval time comparison for a plurality of aerobic intensive stations of an O-course.

43. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining a ranking of a present composite O-course score relative to a population of the plurality of athleticism development program subscribers.

44. The method of claim 32 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes preparing a fitness performance evaluation score comparison between a present fitness performance evaluation and a reference fitness performance evaluation.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an athleticism deficiency associated with the present athleticism level assessment.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein determining the athleticism deficiency associated with the present athleticism level assessment includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report based on the present athleticism level assessment.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein preparing the athleticism level assessment report includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report including a station-by-station interval time comparison between an athleticism performance evaluation of the present athleticism level assessment and an athleticism performance evaluation associated with a prior athleticism level assessment.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

modifying the prescribed athleticism training program in a manner capable of at least partially overcoming the athleticism deficiency.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein modifying the prescribed athleticism training program includes adding at least one fitness training set exercise capable of at least partially overcoming the athleticism deficiency.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein modifying the prescribed athleticism training program includes adding at least one athleticism performance evaluation component capable of at least partially overcoming the athleticism deficiency.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein adding said at least one athleticism performance evaluation component performing said at least one athleticism performance evaluation component includes selecting the athleticism performance evaluation component from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

52. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating preparation of an affiliate performance report, wherein the affiliate performance report includes trainer performance data for a selected group of athleticism development program trainers.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein facilitating preparation of the affiliate performance report includes ranking one of said athleticism development program trainers relative to at least a portion of the selected group of athleticism development program trainers.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein ranking one of said athleticism development program trainers includes basing the ranking on a weighting of at least a portion of said trainer performance data.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein basing the ranking on the weighting of at least a portion of said trainer performance data includes selecting a weighting-based portion of said trainer performance data from a group of said trainer performance data consisting of a number of trainer-trained subscribers, a percent retention of trainer-trainer subscribers, an average improvement in an attained standardized athleticism score for each of said trainer-trained subscribers, a composite score improvement for all of said trainer-trained subscribers, a length of time at each level for each one of said trainer-trained subscribers, a time to record fitness training related data, a time to enter O-course related data, and a trainer-effectiveness parameter.

56. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an attained standardized trainer performance level based on trainer performance standards data associated with a plurality of athleticism development program trainers.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein determining the attained standardized trainer performance level includes:

determining at least one attained score for a trainer performance evaluation, wherein the trainer performance evaluation is capable of assessing a plurality of trainer performance evaluation components; and

correlating said at least one attained score for the trainer performance evaluation to an attained standardized trainer performance level.

58. A method for administering an athleticism development program, comprising:

facilitating an athleticism training program by an athleticism development program subscriber prior to facilitating the present athleticism level assessment;

facilitating a present athleticism level assessment by an athleticism development program subscriber, wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components and facilitating a plurality of training set performance evaluations capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component; and

determining an attained standardized athleticism level after facilitating the athleticism level assessment, wherein the attained standardized level corresponds to subscriber performance data associated with the present athleticism level assessment.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein:

facilitating the athleticism training program includes selecting the athleticism training program from a group of athleticism level-prescribed athleticism training programs; and

the athleticism training program corresponds to a present standardized athleticism level of the athleticism development program subscriber.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein facilitating the athleticism training program includes determining fitness deficiencies associated with a prior athleticism level assessment.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein determining fitness deficiencies associated with the prior athleticism level assessment includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report including a station-by-station interval time comparison between an athleticism performance evaluation of the present athleticism level assessment and an athleticism performance evaluation of the prior athleticism level assessment.

62. The method of claim 58 wherein facilitating the athleticism training program includes performing an athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

63. The method of claim 58 wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes facilitating at least one athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

64. The method of claim 58 wherein facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes facilitating an O-course evaluation and facilitating a fitness performance evaluation.

65. The method of claim 58 wherein determining an attained standardized athleticism level includes:

determining an attained score for an athleticism performance evaluation, wherein the athleticism performance evaluation is capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components;

determining an attained score for each one of a plurality of training set performance evaluations, wherein each one of said training set performance evaluations is capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component; and

correlating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation and the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to an attained standardized athleticism levels.

66. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

facilitating preparation of a subscriber performance report for the athleticism development program subscriber.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes determining a ranking relative to a specified population of a population of the plurality of athleticism development program subscribers selected from a group of comparison populations consisting of subscribers associated with a designated geographic region, subscribers associated with a designated athleticism development program membership base, subscribers associated with a designated age group, subscribers associated with a designated gender, and subscribers associated with a particular athleticism development program background.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes preparing a station-by-station interval time comparison between a present O-course evaluation and reference O-course evaluation.

69. The method of claim 66 wherein facilitating preparation of the subscriber performance report includes preparing a fitness performance evaluation score comparison between a present fitness performance evaluation and a reference fitness performance evaluation.

70. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

determining an athleticism deficiency associated with the present athleticism level assessment.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein determining the athleticism deficiency associated with the present athleticism level assessment includes preparing an athleticism level assessment report including a station-by-station interval time comparison between an athleticism performance evaluation of the present athleticism level assessment and an athleticism performance evaluation associated with a prior athleticism level assessment.

72. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

modifying the prescribed athleticism training program in a manner capable of at least partially overcoming the athleticism deficiency.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein modifying the prescribed athleticism training program includes adding at least one fitness training set exercise capable of at least partially overcoming the athleticism deficiency.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein modifying the prescribed athleticism training program includes adding at least one athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

75. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

facilitating preparation of an affiliate performance report, wherein the affiliate performance report includes trainer performance data for a selected group of athleticism development program trainers.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein facilitating preparation of the affiliate performance report includes ranking one of said athleticism development program trainers relative to at least a portion of the selected group of athleticism development program trainers.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein ranking one of said athleticism development program trainers includes basing the ranking on a weighting of at least a portion of said trainer performance data selected from a group of said trainer performance data consisting of a number of trainer-trained subscribers, a percent retention of trainer-trainer subscribers, an average improvement in an attained standardized athleticism score for each of said trainer-trained subscribers, a composite score improvement for all of said trainer-trained subscribers, a length of time at each level for each one of said trainer-trained subscribers, a time to record fitness training related data, a time to enter O-course related data, and a trainer-effectiveness parameter.

78. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

determining an attained standardized trainer performance level based on trainer performance standards data associated with a plurality of athleticism development program trainers.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein determining the attained standardized trainer performance level includes:

determining at least one attained score for a trainer performance evaluation, wherein the trainer performance evaluation is capable of assessing a plurality of trainer performance evaluation components; and

correlating said at least one attained score for the trainer performance evaluation to an attained standardized trainer performance level.

80. A data processor program product, comprising:

a data processor program processable by a data processor;

an apparatus from which the data processor program is accessible by the data processor; and

the data processor program being capable of enabling the data processor to facilitate;

facilitating a present athleticism level assessment by an athleticism development program subscriber; and

determining an attained standardized athleticism level after facilitating the athleticism level assessment, wherein the attained standardized level corresponds to subscriber performance data associated with the present athleticism level assessment.

81. The data processor program product of claim 80 wherein the computer program is further capable of enabling the data processor to facilitate:

facilitating an athleticism training program by an athleticism development program subscriber prior to facilitating the present athleticism level assessment.

82. The data processor program product of claim 81 wherein:

enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the athleticism training program includes enabling the data processor to facilitate selecting the athleticism training program from a group of athleticism level-prescribed athleticism training programs; and

the athleticism training program corresponds to a present standardized athleticism level of the athleticism development program subscriber.

83. The data processor program product of claim 81 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the athleticism training program includes enabling the data processor to facilitate determining fitness deficiencies associated with a prior athleticism level assessment.

84. The data processor program product of claim 83 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate determining fitness deficiencies associated with the prior athleticism level assessment includes enabling the data processor to facilitate preparing an athleticism level assessment report based on the prior athleticism level assessment.

85. The data processor program product of claim 84 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate preparing the athleticism level assessment report includes enabling the data processor to facilitate preparing an athleticism level assessment report including a station-by-station interval time comparison between an athleticism performance evaluation of the present athleticism level assessment and an athleticism performance evaluation of the prior athleticism level assessment.

86. The data processor program product of claim 81 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the athleticism training program includes enabling the data processor to facilitate performing a plurality of training set exercises, performing at least one cardio intensive exercise and performing, in at least a non-sequential manner, at least one athleticism performance assessment component.

87. The data processor program product of claim 86 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate performing said at least one athleticism performance evaluation component includes enabling the data processor to facilitate performing an athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

88. The data processor program product of claim 80 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes enabling the data processor to facilitate:

facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components; and

facilitating a plurality of training set performance evaluations, wherein each one of the training set performance evaluations is capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component.

89. The data processor program product of claim 80 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation.

90. The data processor program product of claim 89 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the athleticism performance evaluation includes enabling the data processor to facilitate recording a composite time for completing all of a plurality of athleticism performance evaluation activities.

91. The data processor program product of claim 89 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the athleticism performance evaluation includes enabling the data processor to facilitate recording a time for completing each one of said athleticism performance evaluation activities.

92. The data processor program product of claim 89 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating an athleticism performance evaluation includes enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating at least one athleticism performance evaluation component selected from a group of athleticism performance evaluation activities consisting of a component capable of assessing cardio fitness, a component capable of assessing muscular strength, a component capable of assessing muscular endurance, a component capable of assessing flexibility and a component capable of assessing agility.

93. The data processor program product of claim 80 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating the present athleticism level assessment includes enabling the data processor to facilitate facilitating an O-course evaluation and facilitating a fitness performance evaluation.

94. The data processor program product of claim 80 wherein enabling the data processor to facilitate determining an attained standardized athleticism level includes enabling the data processor to facilitate:

determining an attained score for an athleticism performance evaluation, wherein the athleticism performance evaluation is capable of assessing a plurality of athleticism performance components;

determining an attained score for each one of a plurality of training set performance evaluations, wherein each one of said training set performance evaluations is capable of assessing a respective fitness performance component; and

correlating the attained score for the athleticism performance evaluation and the attained score for each one of said training set performance evaluations to an attained standardized athleticism levels.