Lacrosse training apparatus and method

Abstract

A lacrosse training apparatus is disclosed and includes a head, a first rod, a second rod and a mass. Each of the rods has a length and is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the head. The mass is configured for movement with respect to the rods in response to a desired motion of the head. A length between a proximal portion of the rods is smaller than a length between a distal portion of the rods.

1 . A lacrosse training apparatus, comprising: 
 a head;    a first rod and a second rod, each rod having a length and being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the head; and    a mass configured for movement with respect to the rods in response to a desired motion of the head,    wherein a length between a proximal portion of the rods is smaller than a length between a distal portion of the rods.    
   
   
       2 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass is configured to move at least partially along the length of the rods between a proximal portion of the head and a distal portion of the head in response to a desired motion of the head.  
   
   
       3 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass is configured not to move along the entire length of the rods in response to a non-desired movement of the head.  
   
   
       4 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the non-desired movement of the head includes a throwing velocity below a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       5 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to engage a shaft adjacent a proximal portion of the head.  
   
   
       6 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first shuttle and a second shuttle, each shuttle being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the mass, the first shuttle being slidable along the first rod and the second shuttle being slidable along the second rod.  
   
   
       7 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mass includes at least one biasing element in mechanical cooperation therewith, the at least one biasing element configured to bias at least one shuttle towards the mass.  
   
   
       8 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass is the approximate weight of a lacrosse ball.  
   
   
       9 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the head, the first rod, the second rod and the mass.  
   
   
       10 . A lacrosse training apparatus, comprising: 
 a head;    at least one rod having a length and being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the head;    a weight sub-assembly configured for movement with respect to the at least one rod in response to a desired motion of the head; and    at least one biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the weight sub-assembly and being configured to bias at least a portion of the weight sub-assembly away from the at least one rod.    
   
   
       11 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 10 , further including at least one shuttle, the shuttle being slidingly disposed with respect to the at least one rod and being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the weight sub-assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one shuttle includes at least one bearing disposed in mechanical cooperation therewith, the at least one biasing element being configured to bias the at least one bearing towards its respective rod.  
   
   
       13 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one rod includes a first rod and a second rod.  
   
   
       14 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the weight sub-assembly includes a first weight half and a second weight half, each weight half including a cross bar and a biasing element, and wherein the biasing element of each weight half is configured to bias its respective cross bar towards a center of the weight sub-assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The lacrosse training apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a length between a proximal portion of the rods is smaller than a length between a distal portion of the rods.  
   
   
       16 . A method of training a user to throw a lacrosse ball, comprising: 
 providing a lacrosse training apparatus, including: 
 a head;  
 a rod having a length and being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the head; and  
 a mass being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the rod, at least a portion of the mass being biased away from the rod; and  
   providing feedback, including: 
 moving the mass at least partially along the length of the rod in response to a desired movement of the head.  
   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing feedback further includes impeding movement of the mass along the rod in response to a non-desired movement of the head.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further including a second rod having a length and disposed in mechanical cooperation with the head, the second rod being substantially parallel to the first rod, and wherein a length between proximal portions of the rods is smaller than a length between distal portions of the rods.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including a first shuttle and a second shuttle, the shuttles being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the mass, the first shuttle being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the first rod and the second shuttle being slidable along at least a portion of the length of the second rod.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further including providing an accelerometer disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lacrosse training apparatus.