Football training sled and device

Abstract

A training system and method for a football blocking sled having a plurality of vertically extending, laterally spaced apart pads supported on a base. At least one sensor is provided for each pad and a communications link is provided from each sensor to a control and display device. A player is positioned in front of each pad, and a common start signal is generated, prompting the players to simultaneously contact the respective pads. The sensors measure the elapsed time between the prompt signal and the respective contacts. The device displays a figure of merit commensurate with the measured elapsed times, indicating deviation from simultaneous contact. In a preferred embodiment, differences of impact force and blocking power among players can also be displayed.

1 . A football training sled comprising:
 a horizontal base adapted to slide on turf;   a plurality of vertically extending, laterally spaced apart pads supported on the base as impact targets for players to simulate blocking an opponent;   at least one sensor associated with each pad, for generating a data signal commensurate with the impact on the respective pad; and   a display device which receives the data signals and displays a figure of merit commensurate with the impact on each pad.   
     
     
         2 . The training sled of  claim 1 , wherein
 one said sensor associated with each pad generates a data signal when the pad is displaced from a stationary condition;   the display device includes a time counter that can be started when a start signal is transmitted to a plurality of players while they are spaced from a respective plurality of pads; and   the figure of merit is a time interval between the start signal and the data signal generated by movement of the pad the moment each player impacts the respective pad.   
     
     
         3 . The training sled of  claim 1 , wherein
 one of said the sensors is responsive to an applied force; and   the figure of merit is force of impact by each player on the respective pad.   
     
     
         4 . The training sled of  claim 2 , wherein
 a first of said sensors associated with each pad generates a data signal when the pad is displaced from a stationary condition;   a second of said sensors associated with each pad is responsive to an applied force; and   the display device selectively displays a plurality of figures of merit, including
 a time interval between the start signal and the moment each player impacts the respective pad, 
 force of impact by each player on the respective pad, and 
 time-dependent force during sustained impact on the respective pad. 
   
     
     
         5 . The training sled of  claim 1 , wherein
 the sensor associated with each pad generates a data signal indicative of the moment a player impacts the pad; and   the display device compares the data signals to a reference timeline, and displays a figure of merit commensurate with the timing of the impact for each player.   
     
     
         6 . The training sled of  claim 5 , wherein
 the base extends longitudinally in a first direction;   each pad is mounted on a post that is supported by the base;   at least five pads are laterally spaced apart along said first direction, whereby sustained impact on the pads will slide the base in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and   the figure of merit is a time interval between a start signal for initiating a common reference time line when a plurality of players are spaced from a respective plurality of pads, and the moment each player impacts the respective pad.   
     
     
         7 . The training sled of  claim 6 , wherein each sensor is secured to a respective pad. 
     
     
         8 . The training sled of  claim 6 , wherein each sensor is secured to a respective post. 
     
     
         9 . The training sled of  claim 5 , wherein
 another sensor is associated with each pad, for generating another data signal commensurate with force of impact on the respective pad; and   the display device receives the other data signal and selectively displays more than one figure of merit, including force of impact by each player on the respective pad.   
     
     
         10 . The training sled of  claim 1 , wherein the figure of merit is commensurate with difference in when each player contacts the respective pad. 
     
     
         11 . A stand-alone training kit for use on a football sled having a plurality of blocking targets including pads supported by respective posts, comprising the combination of:
 a plurality of sensors mountable on a respective plurality of targets, each sensor of the type that generates a data signal when the target is displaced from a stationary condition;   a display device receptive to each of said plurality of generated signals substantially simultaneously; and   means for delivering a generated signal from each sensor to the display device;   wherein the display device includes means for displaying a figure of merit commensurate with differences among said data signals received from said sensors.   
     
     
         12 . The training kit of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors are mountable on the pads. 
     
     
         13 . The training kit of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors are mountable on the posts. 
     
     
         14 . The training kit of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors generate a data signal when the sensors are displaced from a stationary position. 
     
     
         15 . The training kit of  claim 11 , wherein
 a first set of at least five sensors are mountable on a respective at least five targets, with each sensor of a type that generates a first data signal when the target is displaced from a stationary position;   a second set of at least five sensors are mountable on a respective at least five targets, with each sensor of a type that generates a second data signal commensurate with the force applied to the target;   the display device includes a time counter that can be started when a start signal is transmitted to a plurality of players while they are spaced from a respective plurality of pads; and   the display device selectively displays a plurality of figures of merit, including   a time interval between the start signal and the moment each player impacts the respective pad,   force of impact by each player on the respective pad, and   time-dependent force during sustained impact on the respective pads.   
     
     
         16 . A method of training football players comprising:
 providing a sled having a horizontal base and a plurality of targets including vertically extending, laterally spaced apart pads supported on the base;   providing a sensor for each target and a communications link from each sensor to a display device;   positioning a plurality of players in front of a respective plurality of pads;   prompting the players to simultaneously contact the respective pads;   with the sensors, measuring the elapsed time between the prompt and the respective contacts; and   displaying a figure of merit on the display device commensurate with the measured elapsed times.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including
 measuring the duration of contact between each player and the respective pad; and   in dependence on said measurement, displaying a figure of merit on the display device commensurate with the respective durations of contact.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each player contacts the respective pad with a force and the method includes,
 measuring the force of contact between each player and the respective pad; and   from said respective measurements of force, displaying a force-related figure of merit on the display device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the force related figure of merit is dependent on a combination of force of sustained impact over a specified duration of contact with the pad.