Football training apparatus and method

Abstract

A football training apparatus, system and method utilizes a microcontroller-LED display, located on a football-type projectile, wherein a visual display is displayed by a display element during spiral motion of the projectile. The visual display may be, for example, a word, symbol or color. To train a receiving player's ball-watching skills, the player is instructed to call out the visual display while the ball is spiraling and in flight in his direction.

1 . A football training apparatus comprising, in combination:
 a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown;   a display element positionable on the projectile;   wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED's;   wherein the LED's are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the visual display is a word. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the visual display is a color. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the visual display is a symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile. 
     
     
         8 . A football training system comprising, in combination:
 at least one substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown;   first and second display elements positionable on the projectile;   wherein each of the display element comprises a plurality of LED's;   wherein the LED's are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and   wherein the first and second display elements display different visual displays.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first visual display is a word and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first visual display is a color and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first visual display is a symbol and the second visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile. 
     
     
         15 . A football training method comprising:
 providing a substantially football-size projectile capable of having a spiral imparted thereto when thrown having a display element positionable on the projectile, wherein the display element comprises a plurality of LED's, and wherein the LED's are adapted to illuminate, in response to commands by the microcontroller and based on rotation, so that a visual display is displayed over and over during spiral motion of the projectile; and   instructing a receiving player to audibly identify the visual display as the projectile is in spiral motion in a direction toward the receiving player.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the visual display is one of a word, color and a symbol. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the display element is a band adapted to be removably positioned over the projectile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the display element is integrated into the projectile. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the display element is adhesively affixed to an outer surface of the projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising instructing a receiving player to audibly identify a second visual display, after attempting to identify a first visual display, during spiral motion of a second throwing of a projectile in the direction toward the receiving player.