Lacrosse stick, training device for a lacrosse stick

Abstract

A lacrosse stick has four discrete optically discernible colored zones at specified positions along the shaft of the lacrosse stick corresponding to preferred hand positions for different lacrosse stick maneuvers. Zone stops are disposed between the different colored zones and are formed from a material that provides a unique tactile feel as compared to the colored zones. A coach can issue training instructions consisting of two colors corresponding to the colors of the zones to identify preferred hand positions for a lacrosse training exercise.

1 . A lacrosse stick having a shaft with opposite top and bottom ends and a plurality of discrete optically discernible zones at different positions along the shaft between the top and bottom ends. 
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1 , further comprising zone stops at demarcations between the zones, the zone stops providing a tactile feel that is different than a tactile feel provided by the zones. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 2 , wherein each zone has a specified color, the color of each zone being different from the color of each other zone. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 3 , wherein the colors of the zones alternate between dark and light colors along the shaft so that at least one of the zones defines a light-colored zone adjacent to two dark colored zones having two different dark colors. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of discrete optically discernible zones consists of four zones. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 3 , wherein the zones are printed on a sheet of material removably adhered to the shaft, the sheet of material having opposite side edges disposed substantially in edge-to-edge relationship on the shaft, the zone stops defining strips of fabric adhered to the sheet of material, each of said strips of fabric having opposite ends secured in end-to-end relationship at positions registered with the edges of the sheet so that the sheet and the zone stops can be removed simultaneously from the shaft and reapplied to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A lacrosse training assembly for use with a lacrosse stick with a shaft having a specified length and a specified circumference, the training assembly comprising a sheet of flexible material having opposite first and second surfaces, opposite top and bottom edges spaced from one another by a distance substantially corresponding to the specified length of the shaft and opposite side edges spaced from one another by a distance substantially corresponding to the specified circumference of the shaft, the first surface of the sheet material having an adhesive thereon, the second surface of the sheet being printed to define a plurality of discrete optically discernible zones at different respective positions between the top and bottom edges of the sheet, wherein the first surface of the sheet is adhesively attachable to the shaft of the lacrosse stick so that the second surface of the sheet provides the discrete optically discernible zones along the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 7 , wherein demarcations are defined between the respective zones, the demarcations being aligned substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a release liner removably attached to the adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive is a removable and repositionable adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the sheet of flexible material is a polyester fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of zone stops, each of the zone stops having a first surface with an adhesive thereon, a second surface opposite the first surface and being configured to provide a tactile feel different than the second surface of the sheet, each of the zone stops having a length substantially equal to the circumference of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of zone stops defines a number that is one less than the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of the zones has a length measured perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the sheet, the zone adjacent the top edge of the sheet defines a top zone that has a length that is less than the lengths of the other respective zones. 
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of zones includes an upper intermediate zone adjacent the top zone, the upper intermediate zone having a length greater than the lengths of the other respective zones. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the zones are different respective colors arranged in an alternating dark color-light color pattern extending from the bottom edge to the top edge. 
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse training assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of zones consists of four zones. 
     
     
         18 . A lacrosse training method comprising:
 providing a lacrosse stick having a shaft with opposite top and bottom ends;   removably attaching a sheet of material around the shaft, the sheet of material having four differently colored zones at specified positions between the top and bottom ends of the shaft;   issuing instructions identifying two of the colored zones corresponding to hand placements for a selected lacrosse training exercise.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising attaching zone stops to the sheet at positions corresponding to demarcations between the differently colored zones, the zone stops providing a different tactile feel than the zones. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of removably attaching the sheet of material around the shaft comprises having opposite side edges of the sheet disposed in substantially edge-to-edge relationship, and wherein the step of attaching the zone stops comprises having opposite ends of each of the zone stops disposed in substantially edge-to-edge relationship and substantially registered with the edges of the sheet so that the sheet and the stops can be removed simultaneously from the shaft.