Lacrosse ball and stick practice apparatus and method of making same

Abstract

An apparatus and method of making same is disclosed including a portable lightweight lacrosse practice device having a lacrosse ball connected to a lacrosse stick with a return cord in such way that during return of the ball to a player conducting skill building drills the player experiences true ball roll and bounce consistent with game play without the device slipping off of the lacrosse stick and without the ball becoming entangled in the elastic cord.

1 . A lacrosse stick and ball practice apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a ball having a bore through the center thereof;   a band having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end, a second end, a front side and a back side, the band being structured and arranged to be removably secured to a shaft of the lacrosse stick; and   a return cord with a first end and a second end, the first end secured to the ball and the second end secured to the band at a point positioned substantially equidistant from the top and bottom edge of the band.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , where the front side of the band releasable connects to the back side of the band when overlapped. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , where the band is structured and arranged such that when the front side overlaps the back side during engagement with the shaft of the lacrosse stick, the band is secured to the shaft by friction forces that prevent the band from moving axially downward along the shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  where the cord is made from an elastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  where the cord secured to the ball with a loop and knot combination. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  where the loop and knot combination comprises the first end threaded through the bore at least once and secured to cord with a single knot. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  where the loop and knot combination comprises the first end through threaded through the bore at least once and secured to the cord with a pinch connection device. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  where the loop and knot combination comprises the first end through threaded through the bore at least once and secured to cord with an eye bolt. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  where the second end is rotatably secured to the band. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  where the second end is secured to the band with a swivel joint connection. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  where the front side of the band includes a plurality of hook connections and the back side of the band includes a plurality of latch connections, such that when the front side overlaps the backs side, the hook and latch connections engage securing the band about the shaft of the lacrosse stick. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  further comprising a circular gasket thread through the bore. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , where the cord is secured to the gasket. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  where the gasket has a circumference of about 8 times the radius of the ball. 
   
   
       15 . A method for making a lacrosse ball return apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 boring a hole through a lacrosse ball;   connecting the ball to a first end of a return cord;   connecting a band to a second end of the cord; and   releasably connecting the band to a shaft of a lacrosse stick such that the band is frictionally engaged with the shaft.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of threading a gasket through the bore and connecting the first end of the ball to bore.