Sports training tools, devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

A sports training level system is disclosed including a set of training level cards associated with a sport, wherein each of the training level cards correlate to a different training level and identify a set of training skills catagories for that training level. The training level cards including a training level identifier printed on a first side of each of the training level cards; and a list of specific training skills for each of the training skills catagories printed on a second side of each of the training level cards, wherein the list of specific training skills correlate with the training level identified on the training level card; and wherein the specific training skills become more advanced at each progressive training level. A training device and kit is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training level card system, comprising:
 a. a set of training level cards associated with a sport, wherein each of the training level cards correlate to a different training level and identify a set of training skills catagories for that training level, the training level cards comprising:
 i. a training level identifier printed on a first side of each of the training level cards; and 
 ii. a list of specific training skills for each of the training skills catagories printed on a second side of each of the training level cards, wherein the list of specific training skills correlate with the training level identified on the training level card; and 
 wherein the specific training skills become more advanced at each progressive training level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The training level card system of  claim 1  wherein a first training level card correlates to a training level one (1), a second training level card correlates to a training level two (2), a third training level card correlates to a training level three (3), . . . a N training level card correlates to a training level N′. 
     
     
         3 . The training level card system of  claim 1  wherein the training level cards further comprise a differentiating color and/or design pattern from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The training level card system of  claim 2  wherein the differentiating color and/or design pattern is disposed on a border region of the first and/or second side of the training level cards. 
     
     
         5 . The training level card system of  claim 1  further comprising a completion indicator associated with each of the listed specific training skills, wherein a player and/or coach/trainer can mark each of the completion indicators as the associated training skill is completed by the player. 
     
     
         6 . The training level card system of  claim 5  wherein the completion indicator comprises one of a check box or line. 
     
     
         7 . The training level card system of  claim 1  further comprising training level completion indicators, wherein each of the training level completion indicators correlate to an associated training level identified on the training level cards. 
     
     
         8 . The training level card system of  claim 7  wherein the training level completion indicators are of substantially the same color and/or design pattern as that of their associated training level card. 
     
     
         9 . The training level card system of  claim 7  wherein the training level completion indicators comprise any one of wrist bands, pins, buttons, badges, and patches. 
     
     
         10 . The training level card system of  claim 1  further comprising a training level app, wherein the training level app comprises a series of displayable screens corresponding to the training level cards. 
     
     
         11 . The training level card system of  claim 10  wherein the training level app is loaded on one or more computing devices. 
     
     
         12 . The training level card system of  claim 10  wherein one or more of the one or more computing devices comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The training level card system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more mobile computing devices are in communication with one or more other computing devices having the training level app loaded thereon, wherein training information from the one or more mobile computing devices is capable of being communicated to the one or more other computing devices. 
     
     
         14 . The training level card system of  claim 10  wherein the training level app is configured to allow a player and/or trainer/coach to record a player's progress with regard to specific training skills associated with a particular training level. 
     
     
         15 . The training level card system of  claim 1  wherein the set of training skills catagories comprise one or more of juggling, speed and agility, ball control, and passing and receiving. 
     
     
         16 . The training level card system of  claim 1  wherein the sport comprises soccer. 
     
     
         17 . A training device, comprising:
 a. a substantially flat elongated member having a first surface and a second surface;   b. a center coupling mechanism; and   wherein the center coupling mechanism is partially fitted into a through-hole in the elongagted member such that a portion of the center coupling mechanism protrudes upward from the first surface of the elongagted member and a cavity is formed in the second surface of elongagted member at the side of the center coupling mechanism that is in the through-hole.   
     
     
         18 . The training device of  claim 17  wherein the substantially flat elongated member is about 30 inches in length, about 2.5 inches in width, and about 0.25 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         19 . The training device of  claim 17  wherein the center coupling mechanism comprises any of a magnet, a metal protrusion, a protruding alignment feature, pin, bolt, and screw. 
     
     
         20 . The training device of  claim 19  wherein the magnet is in the range of about 1 to 2 inches in diameter and about 0.25 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The training device of  claim 17  wherein two training devices can be pivotably coupled together via their center coupling mechanisms. 
     
     
         22 . The training device of  claim 21  wherein the center coupling mechanisms comprise one or more of a magnet, a metal protrusion, a protruding alignment feature, pin, bolt, and screw. 
     
     
         23 . The training device of  claim 17  further comprising one or more proximity sensors arranged along the length of the substantially flat elongated member. 
     
     
         24 . A training kit, comprising:
 a. training levelcard system, comprising:
 i. a set of training level cards associated with a sport, wherein each of the training level cards correlate to a different training level and identify a set of training skills catagories for that training level, the training level cards comprising:
 a training level identifier printed on a first side of each of the training level cards; and 
 a list of specific training skills for each of the training skills catagories printed on a second side of each of the training level cards, wherein the list of specific training skills correlate with the training level identified on the training level card; and 
 
 wherein the specific training skills become more advanced at each progressive training level; 
   b. training level completion indicators, wherein each of the training level completion indicators correlate to an associated training level identified on the training level cards; and   c. one or more training devices, comprising
 i. a substantially flat elongated member having a first surface and a second surface; 
 ii. a center coupling mechanism; and 
 iii. wherein the center coupling mechanism is partially fitted into a through-hole in the elongagted member such that a portion of the center coupling mechanism protrudes upward from the first surface of the elongagted member and a cavity is formed in the second surface of elongagted member at the side of the center coupling mechanism that is in the through-hole. 
   
     
     
         25 . The training kit of  claim 24  further comprising a training level app, wherein the training level app comprises a series of displayable screens corresponding to the training level cards. 
     
     
         26 . The training level card system of  claim 25  wherein the training level app is loaded on one or more computing devices. 
     
     
         27 . The training level card system of  claim 26  wherein one or more of the one or more computing devices comprises a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         28 . The training kit of  claim 24  wherein the training level completion indicators comprise any one of wrist bands, pins, buttons, badges, and patches.