System and method for objectively measuring a player's ability

Abstract

A system for objectively measuring a player's ability, such as the ability to field a baseball, including a programmable ball machine programmable to throw a ball to a player according to different plays; a back stop sensing unit for receiving a ball from a player; a display unit for displaying cues to a player indicating that the programmable ball machine will be throwing a ball; and a central processing unit for determining for each of the different plays a time period between when the programmable ball machine throws a ball and when the back stop sensing unit receives the ball from the player. The central processing unit uses the determined time period to calculate a score representing the player's ability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for objectively measuring a player's ability, comprising:
 a programmable ball machine programmable to throw a ball to a player according to a plurality of different plays;   a back stop sensing unit for receiving a ball from a player;   a display unit for displaying cues to a player indicating that the programmable ball machine will be throwing a ball; and   a central processing unit, coupled to said programmable ball machine, to said display unit, and to said back stop sensing unit, said central processing unit operable for determining for each of the plurality of different plays a time period between when the programmable ball machine throws a ball and when the back stop sensing unit receives the ball from the player; said central processing unit using the determined time period to calculate a score representing the player's ability; and   an input unit for inputting a unique identifier representing the player, said central processing unit operable for communicating the player's calculated score, and the player's unique identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit calculates the player's score by assigning a predetermined value depending on the determined time period for each of the plurality of different plays. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit calculates the player's score by assigning bonus scores when the determined time period is below a predetermined period. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit communicates the calculated player's score and the player's unique identifier to a server for storage, and wherein the calculated player's score can be retrieved from the server using the player's unique identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit pseudo-randomly selects the order of the plurality of different plays. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the calculated score is an average score based on a plurality of tests, and each test corresponds to the score after performing a plurality of different plays. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the programmable ball machine is operable for throwing a baseball to a player. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the back stop sensing unit receives the baseball after the player has fielded and thrown the baseball. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the calculated score represents the ability of the player to field a baseball. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of plays include infield plays performed by a shortstop in a baseball game. 
     
     
         11 . A method for measuring a player's ability, comprising:
 providing a programmable ball machine for throwing a ball to a player according to a plurality of different plays;   providing a back stop sensing unit for receiving a ball from a player;   displaying cues to a player indicating that the programmable ball machine will be throwing a ball; and   determining for each of the plurality of different plays a time period between when the programmable ball machine throws a ball and when the back stop sensing unit receives the ball; using the determined time period to calculate a score representing the player's ability; and   inputting a unique identifier representing the player, and   communicating the calculated player's score, and the player's unique identifier.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the communicated player's score is stored in a storage location for later retrieval using the player's unique identifier information. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the player's score is calculated by assigning a predetermined value depending on the determined time period for each of the plurality of different plays. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the player's score is calculated by assigning bonus scores when a determined time period is below a predetermined period. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the player's score is an average score.