Systems and methods for improving basketball shooting performance

Abstract

A basketball training hoop includes a rim having a connecting piece for affixing the rim to a supporting structure. A net is attached to the rim. A plurality of aiming indicators is disposed around the circumference of the rim. The aiming indicators are of at least two visually distinguishable colors.

1 . A basketball training hoop comprising:
 a rim having a connecting piece for affixing the rim to a supporting structure;   a net attached to the rim; and   a plurality of aiming indicators affixed to an inner circumference of a mounting ring, each aiming indicator corresponding to each one of all of a plurality of attachment loops on the net disposed around the entire circumference of the rim and extending only below an upper surface of the rim, the mounting ring shaped to fit on an upper surface of the rim and disposed around the entire circumference of the rim, the aiming indicators being of at least two visually distinguishable colors, the aiming indicators attachable to the rim in a first configuration wherein a pair of diametrically opposed aiming indicators is disposed along a plane bisecting the rim and a second configuration wherein the plane is straddled by at least one pair of adjacent aiming indicators.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The training hoop of  claim 1  wherein the aiming indicators comprise a plurality of tags affixed to an inner circumference of a mounting ring, the mounting ring shaped to fit on an upper surface of the rim. 
     
     
         4 . The training hoop of  claim 1  wherein the colors of the aiming indicators are arranged such that a same color is used for pairs of the aiming indicators disposed on circumferentially opposed sides of the rim. 
     
     
         5 . The training hoop of  claim 1  wherein the aiming indicators each comprise a light source operable by a controller in signal communication with each light source, the controller configured to illuminate selected ones of the light sources depending on a position of a user on a playing court. 
     
     
         6 . The training hoop of  claim 5  further comprising a user electronic device in signal communication with the controller, the user device operable to determine the user position. 
     
     
         7 . The training hoop of  claim 1  further comprising a user electronic device operable to execute a computer program, the computer program operable to drive a display on the user electronic device to indicate a plurality of user positions on a playing court and to indicate selected ones of the aiming indicators corresponding to each user position. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A basketball training hoop comprising:
 a rim having a connecting piece for affixing the rim to a supporting structure;   a net attached to the rim;   a plurality of aiming indicators disposed around the circumference of the rim, each aiming indicator extending only below an upper surface of the rim, each aiming indicator corresponding to each one of all of a plurality of attachment loops on the net disposed around the entire circumference of the rim, the mounting ring shaped to fit on an upper surface of the rim and disposed around the entire circumference of the rim, the aiming indicators being of at least two visually distinguishable colors; and   a user electronic device operable to execute a computer program, the computer program operable to drive a display on the user electronic device to indicate a plurality of user positions on a playing court and to indicate selected ones of the aiming indicators corresponding to each user position.   
     
     
         16 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the aiming indicators comprise coloring applied to each of a plurality of upper loops formed in the net, the upper loops attached to the rim. 
     
     
         17 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the aiming indicators comprise a plurality of tags affixed to an inner circumference of a mounting ring, the mounting ring shaped to fit on an upper surface of the rim. 
     
     
         18 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the colors of the aiming indicators are arranged such that a same color is used for pairs of the aiming indicators disposed on circumferentially opposed sides of the rim. 
     
     
         19 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the aiming indicators each comprise a light source operable by a controller in signal communication with each light source, the controller configured to illuminate selected ones of the light sources depending on a position of a user on a playing court. 
     
     
         20 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the computer program is operable to display selected ones of the aiming indicators based on user input to the user electronic device comprising at least one of user basketball playing position and user skill level. 
     
     
         21 . The training hoop of  claim 1  wherein the computer program is operable to display selected ones of the aiming indicators based on user input to the user electronic device comprising circumferential alignment and configuration of loops suspending the net from the rim and the aiming indicators. 
     
     
         22 . The training hoop of  claim 15  wherein the computer program is operable to display selected ones of the aiming indicators based on user input to the user electronic device comprising a shooting practice plan.