TITLE: SPORTS BOARD GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to board garhes, and more particularly to a sports board game that is adapted to teach very young players the basic rules of the sport.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:

There are prior art patents for various forms of baseball board games. Most of the patents, such as Lillien, U.S. 5,884,914, teach a baseball board game that includes a game board, a plurality of base runner tokens, dice for producing a random output count, and action cards for indicating the course of play. By drawing cards and rolling dice, the outcome of each play is predetermined for the players. While playing the game may function to familiarize the players with the game of baseball in general, it is not particularly well designed for players who are very young, and unfamiliar with the basics of the game.

Other games, such as the game shown in Dow, U.S. 6,666,455, teaches a baseball board and trivia game for providing fun and entertainment for baseball enthusiasts. The baseball board and trivia game includes a game board with diamond-shaped playing field, and also includes decks of playing cards including a first deck of playing cards each having a baseball trivia question and answer displayed upon a side thereof, and also including a second deck of playing cards each having a particular baseball play outcome being displayed upon a side thereof; and further includes a plurality of game pieces being movably positioned upon the game board. These types of games are well suited for testing the knowledge of experienced baseball enthusiasts, they are not well suited for young children who do not yet know the basics of the game.

Some of the games, such as McMahon, U.S. 5,415,412, teach a baseball board game that is adapted to simulate the statistical probabilities of various results (hits, walks, outs, and strikeouts). The first set of dice is coded with specific designations so that the possible combinations of the designations determine whether the player has achieved a hit, walk, strikeout, or out. The spinner is divided into labeled sectors to represent different types of hits. Once it has been determined that a player has achieved a hit by rolling the dice, the player then spins the spinner to determine what type of hit is achieved. The labeled sectors of the spinner are arranged to accurately represent the statistical distribution of the type of hits. The board game further utilizes a second set of dice to determine the outcome of a steal attempt. The second pair of dice is coded with specific designations so that the possible combinations of the designations determine whether the player has successfully stolen a base. The statistical probability of the outcomes of the dice sets and the spinner accurately simulates the actual probabilities of Major League Baseball RTM statistics. The board game also uses two sets of player cards, which are preferably supplemented, or replaced, by the player's own baseball cards.

Kraus, U.S. 5,390,933, teaches a game board with a baseball field layout providing a track over which player tokens are moved in response to the position of spinners with respect to indicia carried on cards. The cards are insertably carried in holders and the indicia relates to information of existing "at bats" averages and of existing "pitchers" averages. Cards are provided with stolen base and pick-off information as well. A pair of "batter's results" and "pitcher's results" index cards are provided in spaces on the field layout. Tokens are employed for game player representation on the field layout while a game opener "toss" token is used to determine who will commence play and a score card is utilized to keep a score.

Still other games, such as Dileva, et al., U.S. 5,322,292, are adapted to simulate the real world of baseball, and includes player injuries, salaries, etc. The baseball board game includes a plurality of tokens, each of which represent one of the players, a random number generator, a multiplicity of play money, and a game board having a baseball-like playing field and a multiplicity of playing spaces formed on the baseball-like playing field which cooperatively define a continuous closed path in the form of a baseball diamond

along which the tokens are moveable in random increments. The multiplicity of spaces includes a starting corner space representing home plate 32 and three additional corner spaces representing first base, second base 28 and third base, respectively, a first group of spaces having monetary gains specified thereon associated with certain baseball-related events in a baseball player's life both on and off the field which have a positive pecuniary effect on a baseball player and a second group of space having monetary penalties specified thereon associated with certain baseball events on and off the field in a baseball player's life which have a negative pecuniary effect on a baseball player.

While some games discuss using the games as a teaching tool, these games all focus on teaching advanced game concepts through detailed statistical techniques to make game outcomes similar to the real world. For example, Cass, U.S. 6,419,230, teaches a simulated baseball game that uses dice to determine the outcome of each play. The specific rules and method of play of the present game provide an advantage to the player knowledgeable about the actual game of baseball, as that player is better able to judge various decision making points such as steal and hit and run attempts, taking pitches, etc. The game is thus able to provide a teaching tool for a person learning the theory behind the actual game of baseball. A playing field is divided into a series of zones corresponding to the additive numbers achieved by tossing the two cubical dice to determine the simulated location of a ball in play. The zones are organized to simulate the higher likelihood of a ball being hit to the left side of the field, as actually occurs due to the higher percentage of right handed batters and tendency to "pull" the ball to the opposite field. The method of play for the present game provides for action by the pitcher, batter, and (if necessary) the defense by rolling the dice, with players making further decisions during play. The game also includes additional methods for stealing bases, tagging up, and hit and run plays.

Other patents of interest include the following: S. J. Mancini, U.S. 2,933,316, Harper, U.S. 4,230,316, Panella, U.S. 4,653,755, Barnhardt, U.S. 6,419,227, EJ. Whelan, U.S. 1,064,268, Poisson, U.S. 5,762,337, H. Richman, U.S. 2,812,181, R.D. Hammons, U.S. 1,530,316, J.W. Huff & L.M. Horner, U.S. 1,259,987, McWilliams, U.S. 6,530,571, Mayorga, et al., U.S. 5,582,409, Long, Jr., et al., US 2005/0077676, Licciardi, U.S.

4,210,335, Kanenwisher, U.S. 4,921,251, Tobias, Jr., U.S. 5,129,651, York, U.S. 4,000,897, Porter, U.S. 5,280,912, Liu, U.S. 5,540,440, Tanaka, U.S. 6,626,434, Breen, et al., U.S. Des. 340,746, Guerin, U.S. Des.313,632, and Quadcorp Developments Co. Limited, GB 2,184,028.

The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.

The prior art teaches various sports board games that are adapted to either simulating actual sports games based upon the statistics of the game, or testing for advanced sports trivia, and the like. However, the prior art does not teach a very simple game, overseen by an adult such as a parent, for teaching a very young player the very basics of the game. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a sports board game for assisting an experienced player in teaching an inexperienced player basic rules of a sport. The sports board game includes a game board having playing field features printed thereupon; a plurality of player tokens representing players of the sport; a plurality of action cards, each of the action cards having an event imprinted thereupon; and an instruction manual providing instructions for (i) drawing one of the plurality of action cards and reading the event, (ii) instructing the inexperienced player move the plurality of player tokens in response to the event, and to announce any actions taken by the plurality of players in response to the event, and (iii) having the experienced player determine the outcome of the event based upon the responses of the inexperienced player.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sports board game having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide a sports board game that is simple to play and adapted to be overseen by an adult, such as a parent, for teaching a very young player the very basics of the sports game.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sports board game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRD?TION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a sports board game 10 for assisting an experienced player in teaching an inexperienced player basic rules of a sport.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sports board game 10 includes a game board 20 having playing field features 22 printed thereupon. In the present embodiment, the playing field features

22 are adapted for teaching baseball, and therefore include a baseball diamond 24 with a first base 26, a second base 28, a third base 30, a pitcher's mound 31 and a home plate 32.

The playing field features 22 preferably further include an outfield 32, various chalk lines

36, and batters spaces 38 for lining up batters, as described below. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the playing field features 22 can vary a great deal in style and detail, and more detailed versions of the game are possible, as well as further simplified versions of the game.

While we are discussing a version of the sports board game 10 adapted for teaching the game of baseball, the claimed invention is anticipated to include teaching various other sports as well, and such alternatives should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, the game board 20 could include playing field features 22 that are adapted to represent soccer (and would therefore include things like a goalie box, and other indications of a soccer field), hockey (including the markings of a hockey rink), or any other sport that includes a field or other form of playing surface.

The sports board game 10 further includes a plurality of player tokens 40 representing players of the sport. The plurality of player tokens 40 could include anything from simple plastic markers, cardboard cutouts that are printed with pictures or drawings of baseball players, or even molded plastic pieces molded to resemble actual baseball players. Players from a variety of teams could be included, so that the players could select their favorite professional team, or two simple teams (red and blue, for example), could be included. It is preferred that each team include all of the players for a baseball team, plus extras in case some of the original players are lost.

In the most preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of player tokens 40 is printed, molded, or otherwise formed or labeled to indicate which position that the player plays.

This helps teach the inexperienced player more about the various positions, and the location on the game board 20 that that player should occupy. In another embodiment, however, the plurality of player tokens 40 could be more generic (lowering the cost of manufacturing the game), and the inexperienced player could simply announce the position of each of the plurality of player tokens 40, so that the experienced player could verify that each of the plurality of player tokens 40 is placed correctly on the game board

20 relative to the playing field features. In one embodiment, the game board 20 may include markings, such as alphanumeric characters 42, symbols, etc. for indicating proper placement of the plurality of player tokens 40.

The sports board game 10 further includes a plurality of action cards 44. Each of the action cards has an event 46 imprinted thereupon. The events can be any actions that are

typically expected in a game of baseball, comprising events such as a strike, a ball, a foul ball, a hit grounder to shortstop, a hit grounder to outfield 32, a hit pop fly ball to shortstop, and a hit pop fly ball to outfield 32. The events may further comprise more "advanced" events, such as a bunt to the pitcher, and a foul tip into catcher's mitt. All of the various events, and the various combinations of the plurality of player tokens 40 on the field, test the ability of the inexperienced player to determine the proper response by his or her players.

Obviously, those skilled in the art can develop a wide variety of events to include on the plurality of action cards 44, and these various alternative events should be considered within the scope of the claimed invention.

Furthermore, the events can be imprinted in a wide variety of manners, including printing, etching, embossing, or otherwise forming the text or pictures of the events on the plurality of action cards 44. For purposes of this application, the term imprint is hereby defined to include any similar or equivalent manner of making the events discernable on the plurality of action cards 44.

As described above, the sports board game 10 may be adapted to other sports, and those skilled in the art will be able to develop various action cards and events that are suitable to the alternative sports. Soccer may include actions such as passing, shooting, slide tackling, and various goalie moves and decisions.

The sports board game 10 further includes an instruction manual 48 providing instructions for (i) drawing one of the plurality of action cards 44 and reading the event, (ii) instructing the inexperienced player move the plurality of player tokens 40 in response to the event, and to announce any actions taken by the plurality of players in response to the event, and

(iii) having the experienced player determine the outcome of the event 46 based upon the responses of the inexperienced player. The details of the instruction manual 48 may vary a tremendous amount, but the basic concept will remain the same, with the experienced player providing an outcome that will hopefully instruct the inexperienced player in the rules and strategies of the game. Mistakes will give immediate and concrete feedback,

and correct actions will reinforce the knowledge that the inexperienced player already has learned.

The above-described sports board game 10 is used to enable the novel method of the present invention, a method for teaching a sport to a relatively young, inexperienced player by drawing upon the experience of an experienced player.

First, the sports board game 10 described above is provided for assisting the experienced player in teaching the inexperienced player basic rules of a sport. To begin play, the game board 20 is positioned on a playing surface such as a table or other convenient location.

The experienced player may take a moment to discuss with the inexperienced player the game board 20 and the significance of the various playing field features. The inexperienced player is allowed to select a "team" of the plurality of player tokens 40 representing players of the sport, and the inexperienced player is first responsible for positioning the plurality of player tokens 40 on the game board 20 in their proper positions. The experienced player supervises, and corrects any errors in placement.

While we describe the scenario where a single inexperienced player is playing a game against the experienced player (such as a parent, who acts as the "umpire"), it should be noted that the game could also include other alternatives, such as one player playing by himself, or including a second inexperienced player. Many combinations are possible, as long as the inexperienced player accrues knowledge and a deeper understanding of the game through the game-play.

The inexperienced player then draws one of the plurality of action cards 44 and reads the event 46 out loud.

The inexperienced player then moves the plurality of player tokens 40 in response to the event, and announces any actions taken by the plurality of players in response to the event.

The outcome of the event 46 is then determined based upon the responses of the inexperienced player and the judgment of the experienced player.

For example, if there is a runner on first and the inexperienced player draws one of the plurality of action cards 44 that includes the event 46 "Grounder to Short Stop," and if the inexperienced player responds, "Throw the ball to first base 26," the runner at first 26 is out; however, if the inexperienced player responds, "First throw the ball to second base 28, and then to first base 26," it will be ruled a double play.

"Bunt to Pitcher," there are many options the experienced player may decide. The inexperienced player could say, "The pitcher throws the ball to first 26," and the experienced player could say the runner is out. The experienced player could then teach the inexperienced player that sometimes the pitcher, first baseman, and catcher should all go towards the ball, and then the second baseman would have to move over to first base 26 and catch the ball. The next time this card is drawn, the inexperienced player would have to remember the correct play, or perhaps the experienced player could determine that the batter was safe at first 26.

In another example, if the inexperienced player draws one of the plurality of action cards 44 that reads, "Foul ball fly down first base 26 side," the defense may not think any action is necessary. If no action is taken, then it would be a strike; however, the experienced player could then teach the inexperienced player that the players can sometimes catch foul balls and it could be an out. The next time, if the inexperienced player remembers this, he will say, "The first baseman goes into foul territory and catches the ball," and the experienced player may rule the play an "out."

In another example, if there are runners on 1st 26 and 2nd 28 and the inexperienced player draws one of the plurality of action cards 44 that says "Double to Right Field," the runner on 2 ^nd 28 would score, and the runner on 1 ^st 26 would go to 3 ^rd 30. The batter of course would move to 2 ^nd 28.

A typical sports board game 10 would include, in addition to 12 baseball players and 12 baseball players, 140 of the plurality of action cards 44, including 20 strikes, 22 fouls, 20 balls, 8 bunts, 10 ground balls, 10 home runs, 8 singles, 6 doubles, 6 triples, 10 fly balls, and 20 blank cards for filling in your own plays.

It is worth noting that if the inexperienced player that is playing the sports board game 10 is starting T-BaII, the experienced player could first remove all of the ball and strike cards and play with only the other cards. Similar modifications to the sports board game 10 can make it less confusing to beginner players, and certain of the plurality of action cards 44 can be added back in as the inexperienced player progresses.

In the preferred embodiment, the sports board game 10 further includes an Official Little League Score Card 50 and an Official Little League Rule Book 52. These resources give the inexperienced player practice with keeping score, and also ensure that the experienced player is familiar with all of the rules.

Certain terminology is used in the preceding description for convenience only, and is not limiting. The words "a," "an," and "one" are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms "have," "include," "contain," and similar terms are defined to mean "comprising" unless specifically stated otherwise.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.