Football pass catching trainer

Abstract

The football pass catching trainer includes a vest wearable by a receiver and at least one interference pad selectively removable from the vest. The vest and the associated interference pad are configured to require the receiver wearing the vest to catch a football with arms and elbows extended away from the interference pad. The vest may include a retainment mechanism and indicia that enable the receiver to selectively position the interference pad on the vest to practice the proper techniques for catching a football.

1 . A football pass catching trainer, comprising:
 a vest wearable by a receiver; and   at least one interference pad selectively removable from the vest, wherein the at least one interference pad includes a chest pad extending from just above a belly button of the receiver and ending just below a neckline of the vest positioned in a mid-chest level of the receiver, the vest and the associated interference pad configured to require the receiver wearing the vest to catch a football with arms and elbows extended away from the interference pad.   
     
     
         2 . The trainer of  claim 1 , including a pocket attached to the vest and sized to selectively receive the interference pad. 
     
     
         3 . The trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket includes a lid that selectively closes the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The trainer of  claim 1 , including a retainment mechanism that selectively attaches the interference pad to the vest. 
     
     
         5 . The trainer of  claim 4 , wherein the retainment mechanism comprises hook and loop fasteners, a button, a clip or a snap. 
     
     
         6 . The trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the interference pad is selectively positionable on the vest. 
     
     
         7 . The trainer of  claim 6 , including indicia for positioning the interference pad on the vest. 
     
     
         8 . The trainer of  claim 1 , including a side interference pad configured to obstruct inward movement of an elbow of the receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the vest comprises a front section and a back section selectively coupled together by a strap. 
     
     
         10 . The trainer of  claim 9 , wherein the strap comprises an elastic strap. 
     
     
         11 . The trainer of  claim 9 , wherein the strap includes an adjustable fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a foam pad. 
     
     
         13 . A method for training a receiver to catch a football, comprising the steps of:
 fitting a vest to the receiver;   selecting at least one interference pad sized to prevent the receiver from catching the football with the body;   positioning the interference pad on the vest so the vest and the associated interference pad require the receiver wearing the vest to catch the football with arms and elbows extended away from the interference pad; and   removably connecting the interference pad to the vest, where the at least one interference pad includes a chest pad extending from just above a belly button of the receiver and ending just below a neckline of the vest positioned in a mid-chest level of the receiver.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting a primary interference pad configured to obstruct catching the football with a chest of the receiver and a side interference pad configured to obstruct inward movement of an elbow of the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the connecting step includes the step of inserting the interference pad into a pocket attached to the vest. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the positioning step includes the step of aligning the interference pad with indicia on the vest. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fitting step includes the step of adjusting a strap to snugly fit the vest to the receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the strap comprises an elastic strap and includes a fastener. 
     
     
         19 . The trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the chest pad arcuately extends from the vest having a diameter portion and a flat portion. 
     
     
         20 . The trainer of  claim 19 , wherein the chest pad diameter is at least 5 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The trainer of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one interference pad includes a side pad located adjacent to the chest pad located above a rib area underneath a pectoral muscle of the receiver. 
     
     
         22 . The trainer of  claim 21 , wherein the side pad arcuately extends from the vest having a diameter portion and a flat portion. 
     
     
         23 . The trainer of  claim 22 , wherein the side pad diameter is at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chest pad arcuately extends from the vest having a diameter portion and a flat portion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the chest pad diameter is at least 5 inches 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one interference pad includes a side pad located adjacent to the chest pad located above a rib area underneath a pectoral muscle of the receiver. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the side pad arcuately extends from the vest having a diameter portion and a flat portion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the side pad diameter is at least 3 inches.