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Post by bulldog on May 9, 2006 9:56:49 GMT -6
Has anyone seen the TV show American Inventor and the Receiver Training Pole? I am kind of shocked he made it to the finals, and I'd love to hear what you guys think. The inventor is one of four finalists and he is in the running for $1,000,000! Here is a link to a picture of his product (it basically forces a receiver to use his hands and catch the ball out in front of him): abc.go.com/primetime/americaninventor/images/gallery/106/gallery.html?photo=7 |
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Post by coachjblair on May 9, 2006 10:01:47 GMT -6
I have not seen the show, but anything that will make my WR’s catch the ball with their hands and not their body I am in favor of.
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moose18
Junior Member
"If it didn't matter who won or lost, they wouldn't keep score"
Posts: 284
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Post by moose18 on May 9, 2006 10:22:08 GMT -6
Just saw the picture, awesome idea and great invention. Would love to buy a dozen of those some day.
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Post by cqmiller on May 9, 2006 10:26:44 GMT -6
looks like it will keep all the "Chesters" from NEVER catching with their hands.
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roomc
Sophomore Member
Posts: 102
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Post by roomc on May 9, 2006 10:28:08 GMT -6
Yeah, it is a great idea! We do a drill exactly like it but with an old volleyball standard! Why I did not think of it....I have no idea! I know one thing...I would buy five or more of those things right now if they were on the market! It is amazing if you force kids to catch with their hands...how much they improve in a matter of days!
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Post by bulldog on May 9, 2006 10:34:59 GMT -6
I know most of you probably don't watch much TV, but America votes on the winner. . . . The other three finalists invented a new baby seat, a word game for kids, and two-person bike. I love the baby seat (absolutely brilliant idea), but I am pulling for the Training Pole.
And if some of you have not yet discovered TiVo - it is my favorite invention in recent history . . . absolute must as a way to catch college football.
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Post by amikell on May 9, 2006 10:36:17 GMT -6
something ou could do that doesn't cost money is just have you kids stand behind a flag pole and throw balls to them. Make them catch the ball with the flag pole (or any other pole) in between them and their hands. it's cheaper and you don't have to have anyone "suit up" in the vest to do it. just a thought. I got that from a special teams book as a drill for punters. shoudl also transfer to WR skills.
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Post by SAcoach on May 9, 2006 10:50:04 GMT -6
Cement poles in the ground (like texas tech)
or cement poles into buckets so you can move them around
seems more practical
I guess we should all patent it and make 1 millllllllllllllliooooooooooonnn dollars each
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Post by blb on May 9, 2006 11:16:52 GMT -6
Use a goal post on practice field, volleyball standard in the gym. Been doing that for 20+ years. I guess if I were business-smarter or more entrepreneurial I could've made some $$.
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Post by wingtol on May 9, 2006 11:35:32 GMT -6
We used the goal posts and all that stuff to. The nice thing about this guys invention is that the kids can run routes with it on and it forces them to use their hands while actualy running not standing still. If you watched the show his orginal was just a pool noodle with a wire inside it duck taped to some kind of vest. You could prob make some yourself if you had a few hours to mess around. Good product, can't believe I never thought of something like that after 10 years coaching WR's
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Post by groundchuck on May 9, 2006 13:29:17 GMT -6
I have seen that show and saw his invention. Even if he does not win the contest he will be able to sell that thing at clincs like mad IMO. Depending on the price I would buy several for my recievers to use. Currently we use the goalpost but we can only work 2 guys at a time. Buy just 2 of those things and now we can double our efficiency.
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Post by mudslinger on May 9, 2006 14:18:01 GMT -6
The goal post idea has been around awhile.........a good drill to use is to have your reciever with his back to you and goal post in between you and him.......put the ball in the air and blow whistle, he turns around and reacts to find the ball in different locations.......will get a few laughs during practice but the goalpost plays the part of a defenders arm or body....will also help pick the ball up quicker while in flight..............
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Post by airman on May 9, 2006 15:02:50 GMT -6
I am crushed. i have had this idea for a number of years now. I however do not have a vest. I am some think similar.
you take pvp pipe, a adjustable belt, some drilling and bam you have the rec pole. works as goodas anything he is making. you attach it to a player and he can move around. you can make a bunch for just a few hundred dollars.
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Post by bulldog on May 9, 2006 15:42:57 GMT -6
There are a lot of homemade versions, but this guy took it a step further. His version has rubber stanchions that attach to the vest and the pole. If the receiver falls down, the rubber bends and allows him to fall naturally. It is nothing like a goalpost or volleyball post - it is much more slender, so it doesn't obstruct the view, - and it is at a fixed distance from the WR's chest, so his hands and arms have to extend to the proper distance. The pole also works if balls are thrown low or high. Plus as another poster mentioned, the WR can actually run routes with this invention - unlike a pole in a bucket or planted in the ground.
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Post by airman on May 9, 2006 17:35:34 GMT -6
i like what he did, the only problem I see with it is, you cannot wear a set of pads with it. it would be great wtih helmets and shorts.
i wanted some thing which a kid could strap on over his pads so you get used to catching the ball with pads on and using the hands.
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Post by bulldog on May 9, 2006 18:03:30 GMT -6
Good point. Maybe he can make another version . . . .I'd be suprised if the product doesn't come onto the market - even if he doesn't win.
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Post by cc on May 9, 2006 19:09:06 GMT -6
I think the goalpost works better as you can alternate quicker. How long does it take to change the vest??? You would need to buy at least 6 to be able to really drill it. I guess if you got the money. I think the baby chair should win. If it saves kids lives it has to be out. That is genius. I cant beleive the others made it that far. Makes me think I need to get my inventions out there!!!  |
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Post by airman on May 9, 2006 19:21:42 GMT -6
another drill with uses less equipment and I think is just as good is the chair drill.
the rec sits in a chair, this way he has to focus on his upper body.
the qb working from a kneeling position, which isolates his upper body and can then work on follow through.
how I do it is qb throws to rec, rec puts the balls in a rubbermaid, after ten throws, rec picks up rubber maid and brings it back to the qb, next rec sits down.
we do 5 qb, 5 rec at a time. 10 catches. downside is you need 50 balls.
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Post by saintrad on May 9, 2006 22:29:30 GMT -6
the only thing i see about the vest that doesnt seem to work is that most receivers are catching the ball on the run at an oblique angle, not straigh t back at the ball, if he could make an adaption that would allow for it to be to one side or the other to simulate true game conditions, then it would truely win, both the contest and all the football coaches out there.
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Post by bulldog on May 11, 2006 10:04:18 GMT -6
I think the vest makes the receiver work even harder for balls thrown behind him. It will make the receiver really get his shoulders and hips around to open him up to the ball. I don't know if it will really impact balls out in front of him.
The vest is designed to slip on and off. It just takes a second.
The cost will be a big factor in the product's success. We run spread and we have 20+ receivers . . .
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Post by airman on May 11, 2006 11:11:11 GMT -6
i see this as more of a stationary product. you cannot use it with pads, so it would be a offseason and preseason type of device.
i think poles in the ground are just as effective.
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Post by coachtroy54 on May 11, 2006 20:08:26 GMT -6
It is nice to have the player moving to catch the ball, we all know that they cant always stop, turn and wait for the ball. The problem I see is the safety factor. What if he gets happy feet and falls there was nothing mentioned about it breaking away so that it does not jam the sternum.
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Post by bulldog on May 11, 2006 21:34:36 GMT -6
It has flexible rubber stanchions . . .
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Post by mrfr33z3 on May 11, 2006 23:55:12 GMT -6
you know what can also work as a way to keep your WR's from catching with their chest?
have your WR's play catch with each other about 5yds. apart tossing a Brick back and forth....see how many will let that hit there bodies. lol
"if you can catch a Brick, you can catch a Football" LOL I thought that was funny but in all seriousnes.
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Post by bulldog on May 19, 2006 12:29:45 GMT -6
The receiver training pole came in third and didn't win the million. The baby seat won - probably the most deserving. The baby seat inventor had a commitment from a company to productize his invention. The guy who invented the word game got a committment from Milton Bradley to get the game into production. The guy who had the two-person bike got an internship with Trek and may have his bike produced. Eric, the inventor of the training pole, got a visit with Jerry Rice, but no committment to productize his invention. So, there may still be an opportunity for all you inventors . . . .
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