Abstract: A sports training apparatus that is particularly suitable for teaching close ball control to soccer players. The apparatus preferably assumes the form of a ring surrounding a player. The ring rests on the ground. The ring is preferably formed by a series of interlocking planar elements. Each planar element has an impact face oriented toward the player. Each impact face includes at least one target area. The invention includes a control device that activates a stimulus associated with one or more target areas in any desired sequence or randomly.

Abstract: Sports practising apparatus 1 for practising close ball control, includes a plurality of generally planar elements 2 arranged in a generally circular array, each planar element 2 having thereon an impact face 3 having at least one target area 8 facing in a generally inward direction. The apparatus 1 includes means to selectively activate individual target areas 8 sequentially in a predetermined or random manner, the target areas 8 being responsive to being hit by a ball impacting on the target to de-activate the target area 8 and to activate the next individual target area 8 in the sequence.