Football Training Aid

Abstract

A glove comprising a trap or palm area that is designed to receive the end section of a football is provided herein. The shape of the glove has a continuous round edge, which allows the edge to act as a funnel to guide all errant throws into the webbing of the glove. With the rounded shape of the glove, the overall width of the glove will allow for a larger surface area for successfully catching a throw. The overall width and larger surface area of the glove further serves to reduce the chance a caught football will pop out of the glove.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A football training aid comprising:
 a glove with a trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and a thumb compartment;   the outer edge of the glove having a continuous, rounded edge;   the trap being of sufficient depth to capture a football; and   the continuous rounded edge being shaped to create a funnel leading to the trap area.   
     
     
         2 . The football training aid of  claim 1  wherein the trap area comprises one vertical member and two horizontal members. 
     
     
         3 . The football training aid of  claim 1  wherein the outer edge of the trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and thumb compartment are rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The football training aid of  claim 3  wherein the rounded edges of the trap area, palm compartment, hand opening, and thumb compartment together form the rounded edge of the glove. 
     
     
         5 . The football training aid of  claim 3  wherein the distance from the center of the trap to the rounded edge of the thumb compartment is approximately half the length of a football. 
     
     
         6 . The football training aid of  claim 3  wherein the distance from the center of the trap to the rounded edge of the palm compartment is approximately the same as, or slightly less than, the length of a football. 
     
     
         7 . The football training aid of  claim 1  wherein the glove is constructed from a durable, weather-resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . A glove for catching a football comprising:
 an area within the glove for a user's palm and fingers;   an area within the glove for a user's thumb;   a trap area, constructed between the area for the user's palm and fingers and the area for the user's thumb, that is designed to trap a football;   the trap area having a distance to the edge of the area within the glove for a user's thumb that is approximately half the length of a football;   the trap area having a distance to the edge of the area within the glove for a user's palm and fingers of that is approximately the same as, or slightly less, than a football; and   the glove having a continuous rounded edge.   
     
     
         9 . The glove of  claim 8  further comprising an opening for a user to insert their hand. 
     
     
         10 . The glove of  claim 8  wherein the trap area is comprised of a vertical member and at least one cross member. 
     
     
         11 . The glove of  claim 8  wherein the trap area, the area for the user's palm and fingers and the area for the user's thumb have rounded edges. 
     
     
         12 . The glove of  claim 8  further comprising padding that pads the middle phalanx of the index finger. 
     
     
         13 . The glove of  claim 8  further comprising  2  or  4 -way stretch materials that are constructed in the area for a user's palm and fingers. 
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 8  wherein the glove has a funnel shape that directs footballs to the trap area. 
     
     
         15 . The glove of  claim 8  wherein the glove is constructed from leather. 
     
     
         16 . A football training aid comprising:
 a trap area;   a palm compartment;   a thumb compartment;   wherein the trap area is constructed between the palm compartment and the thumb compartment;   the trap area, the palm compartment, and the thumb compartment being attached together such that they have a common, continuous rounded edge;   the trap area being positioned approximately half the length of a football from an edge of the thumb compartment; and   the palm compartment being positioned approximately the length of, or slightly less than, the length of a football from an edge of palm compartment.   
     
     
         17 . The football training aid of  claim 16  further comprising a hand opening having a curved edge. 
     
     
         18 . The football training aid of  claim 16  wherein the trap area comprises at least one vertical member and at least one horizontal member that are attached. 
     
     
         19 . The football training aid of  claim 16  wherein palm compartment and thumb compartment are shaped to create a funnel that leads to the trap area. 
     
     
         20 . The football training aid of  claim 16  wherein palm compartment contains padding.