Face-off training device and method of use

Abstract

A training device and methods for training a person for face-offs in athletic activities and games. The device includes a base connector, a resilient elongated cord or strap, and a stick wrap. The stick wrap is connected to the distal end of the cord. The base connector is connected to the proximal end of the cord. The stick wrap is a foldable member that is configured to be readily connected to the heel of the stick and once so connected be resistant to displacement therefrom. The base connector is configured to be connected to a stationary structure. The resilient member provides a desired level of resistance to a face-off motion of the stick by the user. The training device may be part of a kit of plural devices, each constructed to provide a different level of resistance for the user of the device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A training device for training a person to accomplish a battle for a puck or a ball in a sport making use of a stick having a heel, said training device comprising:
 a base connector configured to connect said device to a base, said base being in a form of a stationary member;   an elongated resilient member having a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion being connected to said base connector, said resilient member being configured to stretch from a unstretched state to a stretched state when a first force is applied to it, and to automatically return to said unstretched state when the first force is released, whereupon it provides resistance to a movement of the stick replicating a face-off motion; and   a stick wrap configured to be releasably connected to said distal end portion, said stick wrap being formed of a blank of flexible material having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first section, a second section, and a third section, said first and second sections being secured together and forming a hollow pocket between said inner surface of said first and second sections, said hollow pocket being configured to receive the heel with one portion of the stick on a first side of the heel extending out of said pocket on a first side of said pocket and a second portion of the stick on a second and opposite side of the heel extending out of the pocket on a second and opposite side of said pocket, said third section being foldably connected to said second section by a foldable line and configured to be folded along said foldable line into releasable securable engagement with said first section to enclose the heel and releasably secure said stick wrap to the heel, whereupon said stick wrap is resistant to accidental displacement from the heel.   
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein said pocket is lined with a slip-resistant liner. 
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein said base connector is in a form of a loop configured to encircle the base. 
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein said base connector comprises an elongated base strap having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a distal connector, and a proximal connector, said distal end portion of said elongated base strap being connected to said proximal end of said resilient member, said distal connector being secured to said elongated base strap adjacent said distal end portion of said elongated base strap, said proximal connector being connected to said proximal end portion of said elongated base strap, said distal connector and said proximal connector being releasably securable to each other to form said loop. 
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 4 , wherein the distal end portion of the elongated base strap includes a stop configured to engage a door jamb to releasably secure said base strap to said door jamb. 
     
     
         6 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein said releasably securable engagement of said third section to said second section achieved by a first releasably securable connector located on said outer surface of said first section and by a second releasably securable connector located on said inner surface of said third section. 
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein said first section comprises an upper section, said second section comprises an intermediate section, said third section comprises a lower section, and said foldable line comprises a lower fold line, said upper section being foldably connected to said intermediate section along an upper fold line, said upper section and said intermediate section having a first side edge and a second side edge, said first side edge being located opposite said second side edge, said first side edge forming a first wrapping portion, said second side edge forming a second wrapping portion, said wrap being foldable along said lower and upper foldable lines, whereupon said first wrapping portion is wrapped about the first portion of the stick on said first side of the heel and said second wrapping portion is wrapped about the second portion of the stick on the second side of the heel, with portions of the inner surface of said stick wrap engaging a portion of the heel. 
     
     
         8 . The training device of  claim 7 , wherein said upper section is of a generally trapezoidal shape having congruent sides, and wherein said intermediate section is of the same shape and size as said upper section. 
     
     
         9 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein said training device comprises one training device of a kit of plural training devices, wherein each of said training devices is of similar construction, but whose elongated strap provides a different amount of stretchability than the elongated strap of others of the plural training devices of the kit. 
     
     
         10 . A training device for training a person to accomplish a battle for a puck or a ball in a sport making use of a stick having a heel, said training device comprising:
 a base connector configured to connect said device to a base, said base being in a form of a stationary member;   a elongated resilient member having a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion being connected to said base connector, said resilient member being configured to stretch from a unstretched state to a stretched state when a first force is applied to it, and to automatically return to said unstretched state when the first force is released, whereupon it provides resistance to a movement of the stick replicating a face-off motion; and   a stick wrap configured to be releasably connected to said distal end portion, said stick wrap including a first wrapping portion, a second wrapping portion, an intermediate portion, and releasably securable connectors, said intermediate portion interconnecting said first and second wrapping portions and holding said first wrapping portion spaced apart from said second wrapping portion, said intermediate portion being connected to said distal end of said resilient member between said first wrapping portion and said second wrapping portion, said first wrapping portion being configured to be wrapped about and brought into engagement with a first portion of the stick on a first side of the heel, said second wrapping portion being configured to be wrapped about and brought into engagement with a second portion of the stick on a second side of the heel, the second side of the heel being opposite the first side of the heel, whereupon when said stick wrap is wrapped about the stick said releasably securable connectors are brought into engagement with each other to thereby releasably secure said stick wrap to the heel, whereupon said stick wrap is resistant to accidental displacement from the heel.   
     
     
         11 . The training device of  claim 10  wherein said base connector is in a form of a loop configured to encircle the base. 
     
     
         12 . The training device of  claim 10 , wherein said base connector comprises an elongated base strap having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a distal connector, and a proximal connector, said distal end portion of said elongated base strap being connected to said proximal end of said resilient member, said distal connector being secured to said elongated base strap adjacent said distal end portion of said elongated base strap, said proximal connector being connected to said proximal end portion of said elongated base strap, said distal connector and said proximal connector being releasably securable to each other to form said loop. 
     
     
         13 . The training device of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end portion of the elongated base strap includes a stop configured to engage a door jamb to releasably secure said base strap to said door jamb. 
     
     
         14 . The training device of  claim 10 , wherein said stick wrap is formed of a blank of flexible material having an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper section, an intermediate section, and a lower section, said lower section being foldably connected to said intermediate section along a lower fold line, said upper section being foldably connected to said intermediate section along an upper fold line, said upper section and said intermediate section having a first side edge and a second side edge, said first side edge being located opposite said second side edge, said first side edge forming said first wrapping portion, said second side edge forming said second wrapping portion, said wrap being foldable along said lower and upper foldable lines, whereupon said first wrapping portion is wrapped about the first portion of the stick on the first side of the heel and said second wrapping portion is wrapped about the second portion of the stick on the second side of the heel, with portions of the inner surface of said wrap engaging a portion of the heel. 
     
     
         15 . The training device of  claim 14 , wherein said releasably securable connectors comprise a first releasably securable connector located on said interior surface of said upper section, and a second releasably securable connector located on said exterior surface of said lower section. 
     
     
         16 . A method of training a person to accomplish a battle for a puck or a ball in a sport making use of a stick having a heel and a shaft, said method comprising:
 providing a training device including a base connector, a resilient member and a stick wrap, said resilient member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said proximal end portion being connected to said base connector, said resilient member being configured to stretch from a unstretched state to a stretched state when a first force is applied to it, and to automatically return to said unstretched state when the first force is released, whereupon it provides resistance to the movement of the stick replicating a face-off motion, said stick wrap including a first wrapping portion, a second wrapping portion, and an intermediate portion connected to said first and second wrapping portions, said intermediate portion being connected to said distal end of said main resilient member;   utilizing said base connector to secure said training device to a stationary base;   bringing said first wrapping portion into engagement with a portion of said stick, bringing said second strap portion into engagement with another portion of said stick, whereupon said stick wrap is wrapped about said stick with a portion of said first strap portion being located on a first side of the heel and a portion of said second strap portion being located on a second side of the heel to thereby releasably secure said stick wrap to said heel, whereupon said stick wrap is resistant to accidental displacement from the heel; and   the person grasping the stick by the handle moving said stick to replicate a face-off motion to cause said resilient member to stretch, whereupon the stretching of said resilient member provides resistance to the face-off motion of the stick.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sport is hockey and wherein the stick is a hockey stick having a blade connected to the shaft by the heel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said base connector is in the form of a loop configured to encircle the base. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stationary base comprises a door jamb, and said base connector includes a stop, and wherein said method comprises locating said stop with respect to the door jamb to engage the door jamb to releasably secure said base strap to said door jamb. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said training device is provided as a portion of a kit of plural training devices, each of said training devices of said kit providing a different amount of resistance to the movement of the stick.