Interactive sports passing game apparatus

A passing game apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having a first face and a second face;
• a first light array disposed along the first face and a second light array disposed along the second face;
• a controller operatively coupled to the first light array and the second light array, the controller selectively illuminating portions of one of the light arrays to define a target area visible to a player located on the same side of the housing as the illuminated light array;
• a plurality of sensors disposed along a length of the housing, the sensors detecting an object passing through the target area in an open space beneath the housing;
• and
• wherein upon detection of an object passing through the open space, the controller extinguishes the illuminated portions of the one light array and illuminates portions of the other light array to define a new target area visible to an opposing player on the opposite side of the housing.

A method of operating a passing game apparatus, comprising:

• placing the apparatus on a support surface, the apparatus including a housing having a first face and a second face with a light array disposed on each face, and legs supporting the housing above the support surface to define an open space beneath the housing;
• positioning at least one player on each side of the housing opposite one another;
• illuminating a group of lights of one of the light arrays to define a target area visible only to the player on the same side as the illuminated light array;
• passing an object from that player through the target area toward the opposing player;
• detecting the object with sensors disposed along a length of the housing;
• and
• extinguishing the group of lights and illuminating a different group of lights on one of the light arrays to define a new target area for subsequent passes.