Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods in a Team Sports Environment

Abstract

Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application claims priority benefits based on: (a) U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61 / 200,953 filed Dec. 5, 2008 and entitled “Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods in a Team Sports Environment” and (b) U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61 / 186,740 filed Jun. 12, 2009 and entitled “Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems and Methods in a Team Sports Environment.” These earlier provisional patent applications are entirely incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring player performance during athletic activities (e.g., during a game, a practice session, a workout, etc.), including team oriented athletic activities. Such systems and methods may be useful for evaluating performances of one or more players in various team sporting activities, such as soccer, basketball, American football, hockey, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, cricket, volleyba...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The following presents a general summary of aspects of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention and various example features of it. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but it simply provides a general overview and context for the more detailed description that follows.

[0007]Aspects of this invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media with computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing methods and/or operating user interfaces relating to the monitoring of player performance during athletic activities (e.g., during a game, a practice session, a workout, etc.), including team oriented athletic activities.

[0008]Additional aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like.

[0009]Systems in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include systems for monitoring performance parameters of one or more athletes in a team sport setting. Such systems may include one or more of: (a) a sensor system for monitoring one or more of: (i) a first parameter correlated to a first player's movement speed during a first time period, (ii) a second parameter correlated to a determination of when the first player possesses the ball and when the first player does not possess the ball during the first time period, and (iii) a third parameter correlated to the first player's ball transfer speed, force, or power during the first time period; (b) a data storage system for storing data collected by the sensor system relating to the first, second, and third parameters; (c) a processor system for receiving and processing data stored in the data storage system; and (d) an output device for outputting user perceptible output including athletic performance metric information based on the collected and stored data.

[0010]As some additional examples, athletic performance monitoring systems according to at least some examples of this invention may include: (a) at least one sensor system selected from the group consisting of: a radar based sensor system, a radio or radio frequency based sensor system, a global positioning satellite based sensor system, a magnet based sensor system, a magnetic coil based sensor system, a pressure sensor system, an accelerometer sensor system, a gyroscope based sensor system, a time sensor or clock, and a compass, wherein at least one of the at least one sensor system is provided in or on an article of apparel, an article of footwear, a ball, or a hockey puck; (b) means for receiving output from the at least one sensor system; and (c) processing means program and adapted to determine or sense, based on the output received at the means for receiving, data relating to at least one event, metric, or feature selected from the group consisting of: a player receiving possession of the ball or puck; player possession of the ball or puck; a player's speed while in possession of the ball or puck; one or more characteristics of dribbling the ball; a knock on and sprint event; close control of the ball or puck; dribble foot distribution; control of an incoming ball or puck; a one touch pass event; a tackle avoided event; a successful tackle event; a skin event; a ball or puck possession or proximity heat map; a player intensity metric; boot kick zone information; ball or puck flight path distribution or information; longest kick or hit information; ball or puck flight elevation angle information; kick type distribution information; kick or shot power information; kick or pass style information; kick or shot power information at a predetermined threshold movement speed; pass accuracy information at a predetermined threshold movement speed; volley information; a free kick award event; information distinguishin

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage of such systems is that their use is confined to use with specialized equipment within the “four walls” of the gym or fitness center.

Not all personal exercise and athletic endeavors, however, are limited to walking and running Many individuals participate in team games, such as soccer, basketball, football, and the like.

At present time, there is no easy or convenient system that is useful to automatically collect, compile, and store data that accurately and empirically depicts a player's efforts when participating in these team sports.

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