Ball throwing machine and method

摘要

A ball throwing machine can include a hopper for receiving one or more balls and a ball delivery device. The ball delivery device can be used to throw or pitch a ball from the hopper to a user of the machine. The ball delivery device can include wheels to impart speed to the ball and a direction system to control the projection angle of the ball. The direction system can control at least one of the up and down angle and the side to side angle of the ball as it is thrown, among possibly other throwing parameters. A controller may be provided for controlling operation of the ball throwing machine.

主权项

1. A soccer ball throwing device comprising:
a hopper configured to hold a plurality of soccer balls; a ball delivery device configured to receive the soccer balls from the hopper, the ball delivery device comprising:
one or more wheels configured to impart motion to one of the soccer balls, anda frame attached to the one or more wheels, wherein the frame is positionable to control a trajectory of the ball; a ball delivery control circuit configured to control the position of the frame and the speed of the one or more wheels; and a controller in communication with the ball delivery control circuit, the controller comprising one or more processors configured to at least:
cause the soccer ball throwing device to perform an initial training program that comprises a set of one or more ball trapping drills, wherein the controller causes the soccer ball throwing device to pitch one or more of the soccer balls to a player during said one or more ball trapping drills, enabling the player to practice trapping the ball and thereby improve ball control skills;receive player training data, the player training data comprising information regarding training of the player performed during the initial training program, the player training data being received by one or more of the following:
user input into a user interface, the user input indicating whether the player successfully trapped one or more of the balls; oruser voice input received and electronically converted by voice recognition techniques into an indication of whether the player successfully trapped one or more of the balls;submit the player training data from the controller over a network to a soccer network application along with a request for feedback from a remote coach through the soccer network application; andin response to said submission of the training session data, receive a customized training program from the coach via the soccer network application, the customized training program comprising one or more second drills to be executed by the soccer ball throwing device.