Sports ball launcher

A launcher for an inflated sports ball for practice activities including face-off jumps and catches, comprising:

• a ball holder configured in a bowl shape with an upwardly facing concentric recess shaped to support a sports ball;
• an elongate main body structure oriented in a substantially vertical direction, made and arranged to support said ball holder at an upper end thereof, and configured at a lower end thereof with a base made and arranged to provide stable support from a horizontal ground region:
• a plunger core assembly including an elongated primary plunger core rod;
• a strike head firmly affixed to an upper end of said plunger core rod in said support structure beneath the ball holder, constrained and guided by said vertical support structure in a manner to allow said plunger core assembly to travel only in a substantially longitudinal direction;
• a friction binding actuator mechanism located in said support structure, associated with said plunger core assembly, made and arranged to respond to actuation of a launch command by a user by releasing said plunger core assembly to travel upwardly until impact from the strike head transfers energy to the ball, launching the ball into air space above for sports practice purposes;
• and
• a source of stored energy to be utilized to drive said plunger core assembly for launching.