System and method for predicting athletic ability

• US 7,946,960 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smartsport LLC, Smartsports, LLC
• Original Assignee: Smartsport LLC
• Inventors: Scannell, Larry, Vitolo, Corrine
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Sundhara M
• Application Number:
  US11/709,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 434/219, 434257-258, 434/249, 473/151, 473/453, 473/199, 473/452, 473/192, 700 91- 93, 463/1, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 : Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing

Abstract

A system for predicting athletic ability is disclosed. The system includes at least one device for measuring at least a first athletic parameter and a second athletic parameter, and a computer for calculating a performance score based upon the first athletic parameter and the second athletic parameter. The performance score is predictive of athletic ability. Methods of predicting athletic ability based upon a plurality of athletic parameters are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for predicting athletic ability, the method comprising:

measuring a first athletic parameter with a first device at a first area in response to a first stimulus;

measuring a second athletic parameter with a second device at a second area distinct from the first area in response to a second stimulus, wherein the second athletic parameter is different from the first athletic parameter;

calculating a performance score using a computer based upon the first athletic parameter and the second athletic parameter, wherein the performance score is predictive of athletic ability scaling the performance score based on each measured athletic parameter to a scouting scale; and

creating a scouting report based on the scaled performance score.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a third athletic parameter; and

wherein calculating a performance score is based upon the first athletic parameter, the second athletic parameter and the third athletic parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the performance score is predictive of the baseball hitting athletic ability, wherein the first parameter is a speed of a bat swung by a batter, the second parameter is a speed of a ball after the ball is hit with the bat by the batter, and the third parameter is a distance the ball travels after the ball is hit by the batter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first athletic parameter is directed to movement of an athlete.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first athletic parameter is a distance.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first athletic parameter is an angle of rotation.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first athletic parameter is a velocity.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first athletic parameter is a time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first athletic parameter is directed to movement of an object by an athlete.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first athletic parameter is a distance.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first athletic parameter is an angle of rotation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first athletic parameter is a velocity.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first athletic parameter is a time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a performance score includes weighing the first athletic parameter more than the second athletic parameter, such that the resulting performance score is affected more by the measurement of the first athletic parameter than the measurement of the second athletic parameter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a first value is obtained when measuring a first athletic parameter, a second value is obtained when measuring a second athletic parameter, and wherein calculating a performance score includes inputting the first and second values into a formula to generate the performance score.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein calculating a performance score includes weighing the first value more than the second value in the formula, such that the resulting performance score is affected more by the measurement of the first athletic parameter than the measurement of the second athletic parameter.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting the formula for generating the performance score based upon at least the first and second athletic parameters.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the performance score into a database.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a plurality of performance scores for an athlete over a period of time which is representative of the change in athletic ability.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a plurality of performance scores for a plurality of athletes to create a scouting report.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance score is predictive of the baseball pitching athletic ability, wherein the first parameter is a speed of the ball thrown by a baseball pitcher during a pitch, and the second parameter is movement of the ball thrown during the pitch, wherein the movement of the ball during the pitch includes horizontal movement and vertical movement of the ball measured at a location proximate home plate.