Basketball training system and method

Abstract

A basketball training system has one or more mobile wireless communication devices for wearing or carrying by players, a backboard carrying a basketball hoop, a video camera associated with the backboard for collecting video of basketball training and transmitting the collected video to a processing device integral with or separate from the mobile device, and motion sensors mounted around the backboard for detecting shot attempts and providing shot attempt data to the device or processing unit. Distance and position of the mobile device relative the backboard is collected for each shot. Score information is detected by sensors or input by the user on the mobile device when a shot is made. An application associated with the processing unit calculates and stores shot and score data and associated position data and calculates shot percentages at different shot locations relative to the backboard for later review by the player or coach.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A basketball training system, comprising:
 at least one mobile wireless communication device for wearing or carrying by a player during training, the wireless communication device including an input for player entry of commands and data and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data;   a basketball hoop device comprising at least a backboard and a hoop projecting from the backboard, and a plurality of position sensors associated with the backboard and configured to detect the location of the mobile wireless communication device relative to the backboard and to produce output signals corresponding to the detected position of the player and distance of the player from the hoop;   a data storage unit; and   one or more processors associated with the data storage unit which receive inputs from the mobile wireless communication device and sensors, detect shots made by a player directed at the hoop during a training session and count each shot which goes through the hoop as a score, determine the location and distance of the player from the hoop at the time of each shot, and store a record of the number of shots, the number of scores, and the location of the player when each shot and score is made in the data storage unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communication device includes the data storage unit and the one or more processors. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input of the mobile wireless communication device includes a score count input for user entry of a score when a shot goes through the hoop, and the one or more processors increment a total score count by one each time user entry of a score is received, and store the player location and time of each score. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an electronic scoreboard associated with the backboard, the one or more processors displaying an updated score count on the electronic scoreboard each time a score is detected. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the basketball hoop device is portable and comprises a base stand, a pole extending upwards from the stand, and a mounting mechanism which secures the backboard to the pole. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the backboard is adjustably mounted on the pole, the mounting mechanism includes a drive device for moving the backboard up and down on the pole, and the mobile communication device includes a wireless control device for actuating and controlling the drive device, whereby the player can remotely control the height of the backboard. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a video camera positioned on the basketball hoop device and associated with the one or more processors to collect video of training sessions and store the training session video in the data storage unit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the portable basketball hoop device is configured for outdoor use, and includes a built-in solar panel and battery for providing power to one or more components of the basketball hoop device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising resistance bands for arm and leg exercises secured to the base stand of the basketball hoop device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable wireless communication device has a wristband for securing around the wrist of a player. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the portable wireless communication device comprises a Bluetooth watch having a display unit and including one or more processors which collect and store score inputs entered by the player and other basketball training data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the display unit includes a clock display and a stop watch function. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising additional portable wireless communication devices for wearing by one or more additional players, the one or more processors further collecting and storing shot location, shot count, and score count information for each additional player separately from other collected player information. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors compute player shot positions and shot percentages for each location based on the stored shot, score and location data for a training session. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors transmit stored player training data periodically or on command to a basketball training data website. 
     
     
         16 . A portable basketball hoop device, comprising:
 a base stand;   a pole extending upwards from the stand;   a backboard including a hoop projecting from the backboard;   a mounting assembly adjustably mounting the backboard on the pole;   a drive device associated with the mounting assembly to move the backboard up and down relative to the pole; and   the drive device having a user actuated control input which controls actuation and direction of the drive device, whereby the height of the backboard and hoop can be adjusted.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the control input is configured for receiving manual and remote wireless control inputs by a user. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a four bar pivot linkage securing the backboard to the pole, wherein the drive device comprises a drive motor and a drive member driven by the drive motor and pivotally linked to at least one bar of the pivot linkage for adjusting backboard height. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a lockable swivel mount connecting the pole and attached backboard to the base stand, whereby the pole and backboard are pivotable between a vertical, operative position and a generally horizontal, storage orientation adjacent the base stand. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of resistance bands for arm and leg exercises secured to the base stand. 
     
     
         21 . A retrofit basketball training kit for a wall or pole mounted basketball hoop backboard, comprising:
 at least one electronic scoreboard and an attachment device for securing the electronic scoreboard to a basketball hoop backboard;   a plurality of motion and position sensors having attachment devices for attachment at selected positions around a hoop on the basketball hoop backboard; and   at least one mobile wireless communication device for wearing or carrying by a player during training, the wireless communication device including an input for user entry of commands and data and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data, a data storage unit; and one or more processors associated with the data storage unit which receive inputs from the user input and the sensors and transmit outputs to the electronic scoreboard, detect shots made by a player directed at the hoop during a training session, count each shot which goes through the hoop as a score, determine the location and distance of the player from the hoop at the time of each shot, store a record of the number of shots, the number of scores, and the location of the player when each shot is made in the data storage unit, and transmit a control output to the electronic scoreboard to update a total points score each time a score is counted during a training session.   
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented ball game training method that uses one or more hardware processors to:
 receive and store positions of a mobile wireless communication device worn or carried by player relative to a scoring hoop or goal during a ball play training session based on inputs from sensor devices associated with the scoring hoop or goal which detect location of the mobile wireless communication device;   detect shots directed at the scoring hoop or goal during the training session and store each shot along with the detected wireless communication device location for each shot;   detect a score when a ball goes through the hoop or into the goal, and store accumulated total scores for each shot location; and   calculate and store a player's percentages of shots scored and missed at each shot location in a training session.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of detecting a score comprises detecting player input of a score on the mobile wireless communication device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the ball game is basketball.