Basketball and soccer training device and associated method

Abstract

A basketball or soccer training device has a base, a body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion with the lower body portion overlying the base. The upper body portion has a first pair of arms projecting generally outwardly in generally-opposite directions and a second pair of arms projecting generally upwardly in relative spaced relationship. The lower body portion may have a pair of legs terminating in weighted feet. The base may be hollow and be dimensioned and structured to receive an inflatable, basketball training device when in deflated condition. A corresponding method is provided.

1 . A training device comprising:
 a base,   a body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion,   an upper body portion having a first pair of arms projecting generally outwardly in generally-opposite directions, a second pair of arms extending generally upwardly in relative spaced relationship with respect to each other,   a first pair of spaces defined between said first pair of arms and said lower body portion,   a second pair of spaces defined between said first pair of arms and said second pair of arms, and   a third space defined between said second pair of arms.   
   
   
       2 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said lower body portion having a pair of legs.   
   
   
       3 . The training device of  claim 2  including:
 said lower body portion secured to said base.   
   
   
       4 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said first, second, and third spaces being of such size as to permit a basketball to pass therethrough.   
   
   
       5 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said upper body portion and said lower body portion being inflated.   
   
   
       6 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said base being hollow and being structured to receive said body in uninflated condition.   
   
   
       7 . The training device of  claim 2  including:
 said lower body portion having a pair of feet, and   said feet being weighted to resist undesired movement of said body.   
   
   
       8 . The training device of  claim 7  including:
 said base being tapered generally upwardly.   
   
   
       9 . The training device of  claim 7  including:
 said base and said weighted feet structured to resist undesired upsetting of said device when contacted by a basketball.   
   
   
       10 . The training device of  claim 6  including:
 said base having a movable wall to facilitate opening said base to permit access to the interior thereof.   
   
   
       11 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said body approximating in the size of a human being.   
   
   
       12 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said upper body portion having an upwardly-projecting head disposed generally in the space between said second arms.   
   
   
       13 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said third space having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       14 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said first pair of spaces each having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       15 . The training device of  claim 1 , including:
 said second pair of spaces each having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       16 . The training device of  claim 12  including:
 said head having the general shape of a basketball.   
   
   
       17 . The training device of  claim 11  including:
 said body being a crouched, defensive basketball player.   
   
   
       18 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said body composed of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.   
   
   
       19 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said body being secured to said base.   
   
   
       20 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said base having a lower wall with an opening therein to permit entry of the upper portion of a second base for stacking during storage.   
   
   
       21 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 said base having a partition wall for cooperating with exterior walls of said base to define a recess for receipt of a portion of said body during storage.   
   
   
       22 . The training device of  claim 1  including:
 a bladder having a suitable valve secured to a portion of said body and to said base to facilitate inflation of said body and deflation of said body.   
   
   
       23 . A method of practicing basketball skills comprising:
 providing a base, a body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion, an upper body portion having a first pair of arms projecting generally outwardly in generally-opposite directions, a second pair of arms extending generally upwardly in relative spaced relationship with respect to each other and spaced from each other, a first pair of spaces defined between said first pair of arms and said lower body portion, a second pair of spaced defined between said first pair of arms and said second pair of arms, a third space defined between said second pair of arms,   periodically shooting a basketball over said body or through said third space,   periodically passing a basketball through said first pair of spaces or said second pair of spaces, and   periodically dribbling a basketball around said body.   
   
   
       24 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said third space having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       25 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said first pair of spaces each having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       26 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said second pair of spaces each having a dimension of at least about 18 to 22 inches.   
   
   
       27 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said body is inflated.   
   
   
       28 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said body being a crouched, defensive basketball player.   
   
   
       29 . The basketball-practicing method of  claim 23  including:
 said body being secured to said base.   
   
   
       30 . A method of practicing soccer skills comprising:
 providing a base, a body having a lower body portion and an upper body portion, an upper body portion having a first pair of arms projecting generally outwardly in generally-opposite directions, a second pair of arms extending generally upwardly in relative spaced relationship with respect to each other and spaced from each other, a first pair of spaces defined between said first pair of arms and said lower body portion, a second pair of spaced defined between said first pair of arms and said second pair of arms, a third space defined between said second pair of arms,   periodically kicking a soccer ball over said body or through said third space, and   periodically kicking a soccer ball through said first pair of spaces or said second pair of spaces.   
   
   
       31 . The soccer-practicing method of  claim 30  including:
 periodically passing a soccer ball through at least one space from said first pair of spaces,   at least one space of said second pair of spaces, and   said third space.