A training apparatus for use in tackle training, comprises an elongate contact pad having a front surface; and at least two laterally extending elongate members disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the elongate contact pad, wherein the laterally extending elongate members are disposed to the rear of the elongate contact pad, which provides an effective training apparatus for improvements in collisions, tackles and especially the ‘grapple’ tackle in rugby, thereby improving point of contact, height of approach and arm grip strength.
1. A training apparatus for use in tackle training, the apparatus comprising:
an elongate contact pad having a front surface; and
at least two laterally extending elongate members disposed in general longitudinal alignment with the elongate contact pad, wherein the laterally extending elongate members are disposed to the rear of the elongate contact pad, wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members and elongate contact pad are disposed about and secured to a core elongate supporting member, wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members are moveable relative to the core elongate supporting member, and wherein the elongate contact pad has a larger width or diameter than each of the at least two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member.
2. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad has a lateral width and the at least two laterally extending elongate members each extend laterally beyond the elongate contact pad.
3. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the elongate contact pad has a lateral width of from 20 cm (7.87 in) to 40 cm (15.75 in).
4. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad is cylindrical or partially cylindrical.
5. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members are disposed to define a cumulative lateral extent of at least 1.5× a width of the elongate contact pad.
6. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members are centred about a position from 25 cm (9.84 in) to 50 cm (19.69 in) to the rear of the front surface of the elongate contact pad.
7. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members have a depth from front to rear, in a portion laterally disposed beyond the elongate contact pad, of from 10 cm (3.94 in) to 25 cm (9.84 in) cm.
8. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least two laterally extending members are cylindrical or partially cylindrical.
9. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core supporting member is cylindrical or partially cylindrical.
10. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core supporting member has a lateral width of from 15 cm to 25 cm (9.84 in).
11. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core supporting member has a depth, from front to back, of from 10 cm to 25 cm (9.84 in).
12. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises an elongate contact pad member, two laterally extending elongate members and an elongate core supporting member, wherein one or more of the elongate contact pad, the two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member comprises one or more of:
A) a movable guiding flange member disposed about the surface thereof which is capable of being moved to multiple longitudinal positions along the length of the one or more elongate members;
B) an elongate enclosed cavity within the one or more elongate members, which cavity contains or may contain a mobile material occupying a portion of the cavity; and
C) an interchangeable core, core assembly or internal layer of the one or more elongate members whereby the elongate member is configured such that one or more core elements or internal layers may be removed from the elongate member and substituted with alternative core elements or internal layers having alternative features.
13. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises an elongate contact pad member, two laterally extending elongate members and an elongate core supporting member, wherein each of the elongate contact pad member, the two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member are formed of a foam material.
14. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises an elongate contact pad member, two laterally extending elongate members and an elongate core supporting member, wherein each of the elongate contact pad member, the two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member are cylindrical.
15. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises an elongate contact pad member, two laterally extending elongate members and an elongate core supporting member, wherein each of the elongate contact pad member, the two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member are mobile or moveable relative to one another within a flexible outer coating or flexible case.
16. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad member, the at least two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member are provided in a single flexible outer coating or outer cover.
17. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the elongate contact pad member, the at least two laterally extending elongate members and the elongate core supporting member are provided with an individual flexible outer coating or flexible cover.
18. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the individually coated or covered elongate contact pad member, at least two laterally extending elongate members and elongate core supporting member are stitched together and separated by a length of flexible outer coating or flexible cover material.
19. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein there is disposed to the rear of the elongate core supporting member one or more stabilizing members.
20. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the one or more stabilizing members are elongate cylindrical stabilizing members.
21. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein there is just a single elongate stabilizing member disposed to the rear of the elongate core supporting member.
22. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises an arrangement of five cylindrical members, each cylindrical member mounted adjacent to at least one other cylindrical member, wherein at least one cylindrical member is the elongate contact pad and at least two cylindrical members are the at least two laterally extending elongate members.
23. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad is cylindrical and has a diameter of from 25 (9.84 in) to 35 cm (13.78 in), the elongate core supporting member is cylindrical and has a diameter of from 15 (5.91 in) to 25 cm (9.84 in), the elongate contact pad being moveable relative to the elongate core supporting member, wherein the at least two laterally extending elongate members comprise two laterally extending cylindrical members having a diameter of from 15 (5.91 in) to 25 cm (9.84 in) and wherein the training apparatus further comprises an elongate cylindrical stabilizing members disposed to the rear of the elongate core supporting member and moveable relative thereto and having a diameter of from 15 (5.91 in) to 25 cm (9.84 in).
24. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad and optionally the at least two laterally extending elongate members are provided with sensors to record point of contact and optionally strength and duration of contact.
25. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the elongate contact pad comprises distinguishing indicia.