Football snap training device with motorized ball retraction system
View Patent ↗A portable football snap training device includes a body on legs, a spine supporting a neck that moves linearly relative to the body, a motorized linear drive powered by a battery and controlled by onboard electronics with wireless remote activation, and a strap that secures a regulation football at a bent distal neck portion so the ball hovers near ground level in a ready state; upon activation the drive rapidly retracts the neck to move the ball in a snap-simulating motion visible from 360° to train defensive reaction timing, with embodiments including automatic or spring-assisted reset, optional random-timing mode, and a wireless receiver/transmitter module.
1 . A method of operating a football snap training device by a coach, the method comprising: providing the device, said device having a body supported by legs, a neck supporting a regulation football by a securing strap, and a motorized linear drive coupled to the neck; positioning the device in a vicinity of the coach arming control electronics of the device; transmitting, from a coach-held wireless transmitter, an activation signal to the device; in response to the activation signal, energizing the motorized linear drive to retract the neck toward the body so that the secured football moves in a snap-simulating linear motion; and after the motion, returning the neck to an extended ready state for a subsequent repetition.
2 . A method of operating a football snap training device by a player in a random-timing mode, the method comprising: providing the device, said device having a regulation football secured to a distal end of a retractable neck is visible to the player, and a motorized linear drive coupled to the neck; positioning the device in a vicinity of the player; selecting at the device, by the player, a random-timing operating mode of control electronics; arming the device and assuming a ready stance; generating, by the control electronics, a randomized delay within a preset window; automatically energizing the motorized linear drive upon expiration of the randomized delay to retract the neck and move the football in snap-simulating motion; and after the motion, returning the neck to an extended ready state for a subsequent repetition.