Sports practice rebound net

Abstract

An adjustable sports practice net provides a ball rebounding flat net or nearly flat net target area surrounded by a large rebound net area. Target poles and a target net may simulate a full size sports net. End posts are sunk into the ground or attached to external vertical structures. Flexibility in setting up the sports practice net enables it to fit within a given space available. The target area is adjustable to position in alignment with outside end posts or positioned at a range of distances set back from the end posts to tighten the net between the target frame and the outside end posts and frame. Various rebound angles may be set up.

1 . An adjustable sports rebound practice net apparatus comprising:
 a pair of vertical end posts rigidly secured in a vertical orientation either implanted in the ground or alternately each secured to an external object, the pair of end posts spaced apart adjustably by any of a variety of distances depending upon the surrounding area in which they are placed to create a clear open span between the pair of end posts;   at least one pair of vertical target posts secured in a vertical orientation between and spaced apart from the pair of end posts to define a ball rebound target area within the target posts for a player to hit with a sports ball and to define a missed target ball rebound area between the target posts and the end posts, the at least one pair of target posts either implanted in the ground or each secured to an external object, the at least one pair of target posts positioned adjustably in a range of positions from a first position aligned with the pair of end posts to any of a variety of positions behind a plane defined by the area between the two end posts, the at least one pair of target posts spaced apart to create a clear open span target area between the at least one pair of target posts, the target area defining any of a range of sizes of target area from a full sports goal size opening to any other smaller defined target area for a player to hit with the sports ball;   at least one net stretched between the pair of end posts and contacting the at least one pair of target posts, the at least one net stretched tightly for receiving and rebounding a sports ball from the at least one net, so that the at least one pair of target posts is positioned to stretch the at least one net tightly between the at least one pair of target posts to rebound the sports ball striking the target area and to stretch the at least one net tightly between the at least one pair of target posts and the pair of end posts defining a rebound area to rebound a sports ball contacting any portion of the rebound area;   elasticized members associated with at least one net for rebounding the sports ball.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the elasticized members comprise a plurality of elasticized connections between the vertical posts and the at least one net. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one upper horizontal target post attached between the at least one pair of vertical target posts to define an upper edge of the target area. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least two target posts protrude upwardly eight feet above a playing surface on which they are located and two outside target posts of the at least two target posts are spaced apart a distance of twenty-four feet and the at least one upper horizontal target post extends between the two outside target posts to create a simulated frame of a standard soccer net. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least two target posts protrude upwardly six feet above a playing surface on which they are located and two outside target posts of the at least two target posts are spaced apart a distance of six feet and the at least one upper horizontal target post extends between the two outside target posts to create a simulated frame of a standard lacrosse net. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising at least one lower horizontal target post attached between the two outside target posts to define a lower edge of the target area and to stretch a target portion of the at least one net between the at least one upper horizontal target post and the at least one lower horizontal target post. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one upper horizontal frame post attached between the pair of end posts to define an upper edge of the rebound area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising at least one lower horizontal frame post attached between the pair of end posts to define a lower edge of the rebound area and to tighten and stretch the at least one net between the upper horizontal frame post and the lower horizontal frame post. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the elasticized members comprise a plurality of elasticized connections between the horizontal posts and the at least one net. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the elasticized members comprise at least one portion of the at least one net. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a series of spaced vertical posts and a series of spaced horizontal posts attached to the series of vertical posts to form a grid pattern and wherein the at least one net comprises a plurality of modular nets each attached within one grid of the grid pattern attached to the surrounding vertical posts and horizontal posts. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the target area comprises three square modular nets across and one square modular net high and the total target area and rebound area comprises two square modular nets high and at least five square modular nets wide for a soccer rebound practice net. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the target area comprises one square modular net across and one square modular net high and the total target area and rebound area comprises two square modular nets high and at least three square modular nets wide for a lacrosse rebound practice net. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the target area is visually distinguishable over the surrounding rebound area. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a concrete base underground surrounding underground portions of at least the pair of end posts for rigid support of the pair of end posts. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of flexible elongated members spaced along the height of each of the pair of end posts for connecting each of the pair of end posts to an adjacent rigid vertical element to support the pair of end posts. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one banner attached to a portion of the at least one net bearing indicia on the banner. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one vertical elongated structure extending above at least one of the posts of the pair of end posts and the intermediate vertical support posts to fly a flag therefrom.