US-20260127642-A1 - Sports Team Review Device

US20260127642A1US 20260127642 A1US20260127642 A1US 20260127642A1US-20260127642-A1

Abstract

A sports team review device is provided. The device is comprised of a mobile application or computer software platform for reviewing youth travel sports teams, designed to assist families and individuals in evaluating teams before committing to tryouts or enrollment. The platform includes a browsing option with advanced filtering tools that allow users to search by sport type, region, age group, and other factors like cost, coaching standards, and facilities. Users can create personal profiles with options for anonymity or verified membership, promoting privacy and platform trust. The review feature allows detailed feedback, categorizing aspects such as coaching quality, team culture, and safety, and supports media uploads for enhanced authenticity. A “red flag” indicator highlights teams with poor ratings, while discussion boards and a Q&A section facilitate community interaction on topics like travel advice and team recommendations, creating a collaborative space for information sharing.

Inventors

Forrest Smith

Assignees

Forrest Smith

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250507

Claims (20)

1 . A sports team review device comprising: a software platform configured to enable a user to share and access a review of a travel sports team; a browsing option configured to allow the user to filter a team information by a sport type, a geographic region, an age group, and a team rating; a profile feature allowing the user to create a profile with options for an anonymous interaction and a verified interaction; a review feature configured to allow the user to provide a team feedback across a review category; and a discussion board.
2 . The sports team review device of claim 1 further comprised of a filter.
3 . The sports team review device of claim 2 , wherein the filter refines a search result based on a team quality, a cost structure, a coaching standard, or an available facility.
4 . The sports team review device of claim 1 further comprised of a media upload option.
5 . The sports team review device of claim 4 , wherein the media upload option allows a user to attach a photo or a video to a review.
6 . The sports team review device of claim 1 , wherein the review feature is comprised of a voting button.
7 . The sports team review device of claim 6 , wherein the voting button is comprised of a “helpful” button.
8 . The sports team review device of claim 6 , wherein the voting button is comprised of a “not helpful” button.
9 . The sports team review device of claim 1 , wherein the review feature is comprised of a verification option that allows a user to confirm their relationship with a team being reviewed.
10 . The sports team review device of claim 1 , wherein the discussion board is comprised of a Q&A section.
11 . A sports team review device comprising: a software platform configured to provide a browsing option with a filtering tool; a profile feature allowing a user to interact on the platform as an anonymous or a verified member; a review feature comprising a voting button, a media upload option, and an option for a user to verify their relationship with a team being reviewed on the software platform; a red flag indicator; and a discussion board comprised of a Q&A section.
12 . The sports team review device of claim 11 , wherein the voting button is comprised of a “helpful” button.
13 . The sports team review device of claim 11 , wherein the voting button is comprised of a “not helpful” button.
14 . The sports team review device of claim 11 , wherein the filtering tool refines a search result based on a team quality, a cost structure, a coaching standard, or an available facility.
15 . A sports team review device comprising: a software platform configured to enable creation of a profile with a verification feature that allows a user to authenticate the profile without publicly displaying personal information; a review feature that organizes feedback by a review category; a media upload option within the review feature, allowing users to attach a photo or a video to a review; a red flag indicator; and a discussion board.
16 . The sports team review device of claim 15 , wherein the review category is comprised of a coaching quality, a team culture, a travel expenses, or a player safety.
17 . The sports team review device of claim 15 , wherein the red flag indicator is configured to alert users if a team consistently receives negative feedback.
18 . The sports team review device of claim 15 , wherein the discussion board is comprised of a Q&A section.
19 . The sports team review device of claim 15 , wherein the software platform is comprised of a mobile application.
20 . The sports team review device of claim 15 , wherein the software platform is comprised of a computer software.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/716,977, which was filed on Nov. 6, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of mobile applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a platform for families to review and assess youth travel sports teams using detailed criteria, advanced filters, and a structured review system with options for anonymity and verification. The platform also features discussion boards, a Q&A section, and a “red flag” indicator to facilitate informed decision-making and community interaction on topics relevant to youth sports travel. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture. BACKGROUND Youth travel sports have become a significant part of many children's athletic development, providing structured opportunities for competition, skill enhancement, and teamwork beyond local leagues. However, as these programs often require a considerable investment of time, money, and commitment, parents are increasingly concerned about the quality and standards of various teams and organizations. Many families go into these programs with limited information, relying on team websites or word-of-mouth references that may not provide a complete or balanced view of the experience. Additionally, the pressures associated with youth travel sports—long travel distances, high costs, and intense competition—amplify the stakes for both children and parents when choosing a program. Unfortunately, poor experiences in travel sports can have negative emotional and developmental impacts on children, potentially discouraging them from participating in sports altogether. Furthermore, parents often lack any centralized platform to voice their concerns or share honest feedback about youth travel teams. Traditional online review platforms generally do not cater to this niche, and team-specific information shared on social media is often scattered, difficult to verify, and may not guarantee anonymity. This gap leaves parents without a reliable way to identify and connect with others who have had experiences with these organizations. Without a way to hold teams accountable, some coaches or organizations may continue operating with questionable practices, which could include inconsistent coaching, unfair treatment, or misaligned priorities that fail to prioritize children's development and well-being. Consequently, there is a strong need for a dedicated platform where parents can find detailed, firsthand accounts of others'experiences and share their own. Such a resource would allow families to make better-informed decisions, ultimately improving the quality of youth travel sports experiences across the board. Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a sports team review device that allows parents to anonymously share feedback on youth travel sports teams to support informed decision-making. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a sports team review device that enables parents to warn other families about potentially substandard programs, helping them avoid poor experiences. Moreover, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a sports team review device that holds sports teams and coaches accountable by providing a transparent review platform focused on user-submitted experiences. The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a sports team review device. The device is comprised of a mobile application or computer software platform for reviewing youth travel sports teams, designed to assist families and individuals in evaluating teams before committing to tryouts or enrollment. The platform includes a browsing option with advanced filtering tools that allow users to search by sport type, region, age group, and other factors like cost, coaching standards, and facilities. Users can create personal profiles with options for anonymity or verified membership, promoting privacy and platform trust. The review feature allows detailed feedback, categorizing aspects such as coaching quality, team culture, and safety, and supports media uploads for enhanced authenticity. A “red flag” indicator highlights teams with poor ratings, while discussion boards and a Q&A section facilitate community interaction on topics like travel advice and team recommendations, creating a collaborative space for information sharing. In this manner, the sports team review device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides a comprehensive mobile application and website designed to facilitate the anonymous review of youth travel sports teams. Through this pla