Collapsible backstop

Abstract

Methods and kits for practicing pitching and evaluating pitching proficiency using a backstop are provided herein. In various embodiments, the backstop may include a target-defining assembly to define a plurality of target regions. In various embodiments, a pitcher may selectively throw balls through the plurality of target regions, e.g., based on pitching contexts provided by the balls. In various embodiments, a plurality of baskets may be mounted adjacent the plurality of target regions, to allow a pitcher to track pitches and evaluate pitching proficiency. In some embodiments the pitching contexts provided by the balls are pitching instructions provided directly on the balls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for evaluating pitching proficiency, comprising:
 selecting a pitching backstop with a plurality of target regions and a plurality of baskets adjacent the plurality of target regions to capture balls thrown through at least some of the target regions;   selectively throwing a plurality of balls through the plurality of target regions based on pitching instructions provided by the plurality of balls;   tracking balls retrieved from the plurality of baskets; and   determining a proficiency of thrown pitches based on results of the tracking and the pitching instructions provided by the plurality of balls.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pitching instructions comprise instructions to throw the balls through one or more of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pitching instructions comprise instructions to throw the balls in a manner such that the ball is more likely to travel through one or more of the plurality of regions than others of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pitching instructions comprise contexts in which the pitcher is to selectively throw the balls through the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying pitching instructions on the plurality of balls prior to the step of throwing the plurality of balls. 
     
     
         6 . A pitching practice kit comprising:
 a backstop comprising a peripheral frame and flexible netting mounted on the peripheral frame to capture balls thrown through the peripheral frame;   a target-defining assembly to define a plurality of target regions on one side of the netting; and   a plurality of balls, wherein each ball includes instructions for selectively throwing the ball through one or more of the plurality of regions.   
     
     
         7 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 6 , wherein each ball of the plurality of balls is configured to instruct the pitcher to throw the ball in a manner such that the pitcher is more likely to throw the ball through one or more of the plurality of regions than others of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         8 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 6 , wherein each ball of the plurality of balls is configured to provide the pitcher with a context in which the pitcher is to selectively throw the ball through the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         9 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 6 , wherein the target-defining assembly defines an I-shaped formation of target regions. 
     
     
         10 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of baskets secured to the target-defining assembly to capture balls thrown through at least some of the plurality of target regions. 
     
     
         11 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 10 , wherein the baskets have depths that are at least greater than or equal to a distance between the target-defining assembly and the netting. 
     
     
         12 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 10 , wherein the netting includes additional flexible material at a lower portion thereof to collect balls projected through regions of the plurality of regions without baskets. 
     
     
         13 . The pitching practice kit of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of baskets are formed of flexible netting. 
     
     
         14 . A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls, comprising:
 a rigid, collapsible, structure including a plurality of substantially straight frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other and thereby form the structure;   a net formed of flexible netting;   a plurality of engagement members for removably mounting the net to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop;   at least one flexible cord that extends through at least some of the frame members so that when the at least some of the members are disassembled, they remain interconnected to facilitate reassembly;   a strap assembly configured to be removably mounted to the substantially rectangular structure to define a plurality of target regions; and   a plurality of baskets secured to the strap assembly to capture balls projected through at least some of the plurality of target regions;   wherein when the net is mounted to the structure, the net includes additional netting so that the net is not taut between the structure at all points and the additional netting absorbs the force from a ball being projected into the net, and permits the additional netting to collect balls that are projected into the net through one or more of the plurality of target regions that do not include baskets.   
     
     
         15 . A pitching practice kit comprising the collapsible backstop of  claim 14 , and further comprising a plurality of balls, wherein each ball is marked with instructions for selectively throwing the ball through one or more of the plurality of regions.