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Training soccer ball

Training soccer ball description/claims

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

1. Technical Field

This invention relates in general to athletic balls and, more particularly, to a ball for training proper kicking technique.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hundreds of hours of practice are typically required before an athlete can make consistent contact with a soccer ball in an effective, efficient, correct manner to control the speed, direction and curve of the ball. Many players develop their kicking technique through experimentation and happenstance, or through coaching in youth leagues. Either of these may lead a player into a pattern of kicking a ball improperly. Once a player learns to kick a ball with an improper technique, learning a proper technique becomes much harder.

Leg motion, strength and rhythm are all characteristics that lead to an efficient and proper kicking motion, but it is the set biomechanical patterns that program the kicker to be able to produce the types of ball motion, by kicking, that they desire at any given time during a game of soccer or training.

To control the ball during game situations, the player must make instantaneous determinations of (1) where to make the initial contact on the ball with the foot and (2) the important visual of the follow though motion after the contact of the ball. These two factors will in large part determine the direction and curve, if any, of the ball once it leaves the player's foot. The distance and force of the kick is dependent upon the amount of energy transferred from the kicker to the ball at the point of initial contact.

Players who consistently kick the ball in a controlled manner have programmed their kicking motion through repetitive drills. During these drills, it is important that the player kick the ball with the same motion to achieve a certain result; in this manner, the kicking motion becomes second nature to a player.

However, it is often difficult for a player, and especially new or young players, to visualize the correct motion. Video tape of a players leg movement can help to a certain extent, but it is often difficult for a young player to grasp relatively small differences in kicking technique from a video.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a method and apparatus for training proper kicking technique.

In the present invention, a training soccer ball includes an initial contact area with a first set of designations and a follow-through area with a second set of designations. A kick resulting in the ball traveling in a selected path can be effected by initiating contact at a first area of the ball proximate a specified one of the first set of designations and following through to a second area of the ball proximate a specified one of the second set of designations.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the soccer ball of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of the soccer ball of the present invention;

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• Utility Patent

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