Athletic apparatus and game

Abstract

An athletic apparatus and method of gameplay may be provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an athletic apparatus may include a height-adjustable center pole and at least one net running from the center pole to the ground. A variety of games may be played using the athletic apparatus, including variations of common sports involving a ball or birdie.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An athletic apparatus comprising:
 a height-adjustable center pole;   an anchoring member disposed at a top of the center pole, the anchoring member having a plurality of holes disposed therein; and   at least one net having a line configured to secure to a hole disposed in the anchoring member and run to a ground anchor, wherein the at least one net divides a playing surface into zones.   
     
     
         2 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , the center pole further comprising a base tube having at least one hole disposed perpendicularly there-through, an adjustable section having at least one hole disposed perpendicularly there-through, and at least one pin configured to be inserted through holes in the base tube and the adjustable section to secure a desired height of the center pole. 
     
     
         3 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring member is substantially disc-shaped and the plurality of holes are disposed around a perimeter thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , the ground anchor further comprising at least one of a spike, a recessed anchor, or a sand anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , the center pole further comprising a base. 
     
     
         6 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the base is weighted. 
     
     
         7 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the center pole is secured in the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The athletic apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the number of nets is determined to create a number of zones corresponding to a number of players. 
     
     
         9 . A method of playing a game comprising:
 setting up an athletic apparatus for a desired number of players;   starting a game by having a player serve from behind a back line;   scoring a point against a player;   rotating the serve to a next server after a point is scored;   continuing gameplay until a player has reached a predetermined maximum number of points; and   determining a winner as the player with the least amount of points scored against them.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein setting up an athletic apparatus for a desired number of players further comprises setting up a height-adjustable center pole with an anchoring member disposed at a top of the center pole, the anchoring member having a plurality of holes disposed therein, and setting up at least one net having a line configured to secure to a hole disposed in the anchoring member and run to a ground anchor, wherein a number of nets is chosen to divide a playing surface into a number of zones correlating to a number of players. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a point may be scored against a player when the player allows the ball or birdie to land within the player's zone, the player hits the ball or birdie more than once in a single play, the player contacts a net or line, or the player crosses into another player's zone over a net or line. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the serve rotates in a clockwise direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the game is played with a ball or birdie.