INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING SOCCER BALL

Abstract

An instructional training soccer ball with color coded contact zones provided as a tutorial training guide of soccer ball striking skills in the development of novice and young soccer players. The color-coded zones correspond to different types of kicks including passes, strikes, curves, lobs/long balls, and chips, whereby when a player comes into contact with a color-coded zone with the appropriate part of their foot, the soccer ball will produce the corresponding type of kick. The soccer ball may also have one or more legends that is color coded and matches the corresponding contact zones whereby the legends tell the user what part of their foot to kick with, such as the inside foot or laces.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/553,155 filed on Aug. 23, 2017. The content of the above application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The overall field of the invention is sports training equipment and more particularly this relates to a soccer ball for training proper kicking technique.

BACKGROUND

The sport of soccer is the most widely popular and played sport in the world with the World Cup viewed by over 3.2 billion people with 200 countries competing for a spot in the finals. In soccer, being able to properly kick a soccer ball accurately and skillfully is important if a player is looking to advance their career as well as improve their proficiency and usefulness to the team. Proper kicking is critical in a game to produce accurate passes, have good ball control while dribbling, and create formidable shots on goal. A player needs to know where to kick the ball to achieve a desired distance, spin, and angle of the ball's trajectory.

Learning how to properly kick a soccer ball is most important at a younger age, where players more often than not revert to kicking the ball with their toe. This is not only dangerous due to potential injury, but it immediately puts the player behind his or her teammates and can lead to a stalled or short career in soccer. There have been other soccer balls used as training apparatuses but none of these prior art references provide the same detail and arrangement of contact zones for the soccer ball that is critical for developing a young player's skills and preventing later injury to their body. Thus, there exists the need for an invention that will help prevent this from happening by guiding young players to learn how to properly kick a soccer ball.

SUMMARY

Embodiments in the present description are directed to a soccer ball for instructional training comprising four contact zones, wherein the contact zones are graphic illustrations on a surface of the ball, a first contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a latitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, a second contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a longitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, a third contact zone in the shape of a ring with a center as a great circle arranged diagonally to first contact zone and second contact zone of the soccer ball, and a fourth contact zone in the shape of a bowl of hemispherical form positioned at a bottom of soccer ball.

It is an object of the present description to provide a method of training soccer players comprising, providing an instructional soccer ball, the soccer ball having four contact zones, wherein the contact zones are graphic illustrations on a surface of the soccer ball, a first contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a latitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, wherein a pass is accomplished by coming into contact with the first contact zone with an inside of a user's foot, a second contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a longitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, wherein a strike is accomplished by coming into contact with the second contact zone with laces of a shoe on the user's foot, a third contact zone in the shape of a ring with a center as a great circle arranged diagonally to the first contact zone and second contact zone of the soccer ball, wherein a curve is accomplished by coming into contact with the third contact zone with the inside of the user's foot, and a fourth contact zone in the shape of a bowl of hemispherical form positioned at a bottom of the soccer ball, wherein a lob/long ball or chip is accomplished by coming into contact with the fourth contact zone with the laces of the shoe on the user's foot. A user practices by positioning the soccer ball with the bottom of the soccer ball in contact with the ground, finding a contact zone by identifying the location and appropriate color, identifying which part of the body is needed to come into contact with the contact zone, and kicking the soccer ball with the identified body part against the contact zone to perform the desired type of kick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts the front side of instructional training soccer ball.

FIG. 2 depicts the back side of instructional training soccer ball.

FIG. 3 depicts the bottom side of instructional training soccer ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

“Exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described in this document as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

Throughout the drawings, like reference characters are used to designate like elements. As used herein, the term “coupled” or “coupling” may indicate a connection. The connection may be a direct or an indirect connection between one or more items. Further, the term “set” as used herein may denote one or more of any item, so a “set of items,” may indicate the presence of only one item, or may indicate more items. Thus, the term “set” may be equivalent to “one or more” as used herein.

The present disclosure recognizes the unsolved need for an instructional training soccer ball with color coded contact zones provided as a tutorial training guide of soccer ball striking skills in the development of novice and young soccer players whereby the players strike different marked zones on a certain area of the soccer ball to produce different kinds of kicks including a strike, pass, lob/long ball and chip, and curve. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, different views of instructional training soccer ball 100 are shown. Soccer ball 100 may be in the traditional spherical or truncated icosahedron shape with a surface having a plurality of hexagonal sections such as hexagonal sections 110 defined by seams such as seams 120. This, however, is non-limiting and any other form or shape known by those of skill in the art may be used. Soccer ball 100 may include a plurality of visually marked contact zones such as contact zones in the form of graphic illustrations, corresponding to the type of kick that will be produced if the user kicks the ball at that particular contact zone and the part of foot the user should apply to kick the ball to produce that particular type of kick. The ball may be described to have two faces for the front hemisphere and second hemisphere of the ball. The front hemisphere is designed for kicking with the right food and the back hemisphere is designed for kicking with the left foot

Soccer ball 100 may have four contact zones 152, 154, 156, and 158, corresponding to the five main types of kicks in soccer, including pass, strike, curve, and lob/long ball and chip respectively. Contact zones may be placed on the surface of soccer ball 100 by screen printing or color printing. However, other methods may be used to place contact zones on the surface of the soccer ball such as prepared decals, stickers, or stitching. Soccer ball 100 may also be designed with contact zones already constructed into the soccer ball 100. Contact zones 152, 154, 156, and 158 may be differentiated from one another in an easily identifiable manner, such as by color.

Soccer ball 100 may also have one or more keys or legends screen printed on soccer ball 100 that is color coded and matches the corresponding contact zone 152, 154, 156, 158 on soccer ball 100. Legends may tell the user what part of their foot to kick with such as the inside foot or laces. The front hemisphere may have a legend such as legend 130. Legend 130 may detail colors and the corresponding contact zone to be used with the right foot. The back hemisphere may have a legend such as legend 132. Legend 132 may detail colors and the corresponding contact zone to be used with the left foot. Soccer ball 100 may also have identifier such as identifier 160, as shown in FIG. 3, screen printed on the soccer ball to tell what part of soccer ball 100 needs to be placed on the ground. Soccer ball 100 may also have identifiers such as identifiers 162 and 164 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, screen printed on the soccer ball to tell what foot is to be used on the identified section of soccer ball 100.

Contact zone 152 corresponds to the pass and may be indicated by the color red. A pass is the most common type of kick. In a soccer game, soccer ball 100 is moved around the field from player to player by a series of passes. A pass is accomplished by coming into contact around the middle of soccer ball 100 with the inside of the foot. This puts a forward spin on the ball throughout its projection. Passes can be weighted, or kicked with more or less power, depending on the distance the ball needs to travel. Contact zone 152 is in the shape of a 360-degree ring with a thickness of 3 to 4 centimeters around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a latitudinal great circle of soccer ball 100. To kick a pass with soccer ball 100, a user places soccer ball 100 on the ground with the proper side facing the user using indicators 160, 162, and 164, such as for the side designated for the right foot or left foot. The user then finds contact zone 152 by identifying the location and appropriate color using legend 130 or 132. The user now identifies, using legend 130 or 132, that the inside foot part of their shoe is needed to come into contact with contact zone 152. The user then kicks the ball with the inside foot part of their shoe against contact zone 152 to perform a pass

Contact zone 154 corresponds to a strike and may be indicated by the color green. A strike is most commonly used when shooting, or striking, the soccer ball. This is when a player kicks down on the central, top-half of the ball with their laces. This puts very little spin on the ball throughout its projection. A player doesn't need to be the strongest to kick the hardest, rather proper technique and a clean strike will yield maximum power. Contact zone 154 is in the shape of an arc with a thickness of 3 to 4 centimeters around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a longitudinal great circle of soccer ball 100. The ends of the arc of contact zone 154 terminate at contact zone 158. To kick a strike with soccer ball 100, the user places soccer ball 100 on the ground with the proper side facing them using indicators 160, 162, and 164. The user then finds contact zone 154 by identifying the location and appropriate color using legend 130 or 132. The user, using legend 130 or 132, now identifies that the laces on their shoe is needed to come into contact with contact zone 154. User then kicks the ball with the laces their shoe against contact zone 154 to perform a strike.

Contact zone 156 corresponds to a curve and may be indicated by the color blue. A curve is a slightly more advanced kick. The player kicks up on the ball using the inside of their foot. This puts a spin on the ball allowing a bending motion throughout its projection. Contact zone 156 is in the shape of a ring along the surface of the soccer ball with a center ring that is a great circle arranged diagonally to the latitudinal and longitudinal lines of soccer ball. Contact zone 154 is in the shape of a 360-degree ring with a thickness of 3 to 4 centimeters around the surface of the soccer ball with the center as a great circle arranged diagonally to the latitudinal and longitudinal lines of soccer ball 100. To kick a curve with soccer ball 100, the user places soccer ball 100 on the ground with the proper side facing them using indicators 160, 162, and 164. The user then finds contact zone 156 by identifying the location and appropriate color using legend 130 or 132. The user, using legend 130 or 132, now identifies that the inside foot part of their shoe is needed to come into contact with contact zone 156. The user then kicks the ball with the inside foot part of their shoe against contact zone 156 to perform a curve.

Contact zone 158 corresponds to a lob/long ball and chip and may be indicated by the color orange. A lob/long ball is a kick that sends the ball over a longer distance. A chip is a kick that sends the ball in the air at any distance. Ideally, this kick should have a slow backspin on the ball. A lob/long ball or chip is typically performed by kicking with laces on the lower part or under the ball. Contact zone 158 is in the shape of a bowl of hemispherical form having a diameter of 16 to 19 centimeters positioned at the bottom of soccer ball 100. To kick a lob/long ball or chip with soccer ball 100, the user places soccer ball 100 on the ground with the proper side facing them using indicators 160, 162, and 164. The user then finds contact zone 158 using legend 130 or 132. The user, using legend 130 or 132, now identifies that the laces part of their shoe is needed to come into contact with contact zone 158. The user then kicks the ball with the laces on their shoe against contact zone 158 to perform a lob/long ball or chip.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications suited to the use contemplated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the above claims.

Claims

1. A soccer ball for instructional training comprising:

four contact zones, wherein the contact zones are graphic illustrations on a surface of the ball;

a first contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a latitudinal great circle of the soccer ball;

a second contact zone in the shape of an arc on the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a longitudinal great circle of the soccer ball;

a third contact zone in the shape of a ring with a center as a great circle arranged diagonally to the first contact zone and the second contact zone of the soccer ball; and

a fourth contact zone in the shape of a bowl of hemispherical form positioned at the bottom of the soccer ball.

2. The soccer ball of claim 1, wherein the contact zones are screen printed onto the surface of the soccer ball.

3. The soccer ball of claim 1, wherein each of the contact zones having a differently specified color from the other contact zones.

4. The soccer ball of claim 1, further comprising a legend, wherein the legend is a graphic illustration on the surface of the ball, the legend detailing colors and the corresponding contact zone.

5. The soccer ball of claim 1, the soccer ball having a front hemisphere and second hemisphere, the front hemisphere and second hemisphere having a first and second legend, the first and second legend a graphic illustration on the surface of the ball, the first legend detailing colors and the corresponding contact zone to be used with the right foot, the second legend detailing colors and the corresponding contact zone to be used with the left foot.

6. The soccer ball of claim 1, the first contact zone having a red color.

7. The soccer ball of claim 1, the second contact zone having a green color.

8. The soccer ball of claim 1, the third contact zone having a blue color.

9. The soccer ball of claim 1, the fourth contact zone having an orange color.

10. The soccer ball of claim 1, the ring of the first, second, and third contact zones having with a thickness of 3 to 4 centimeters.

11. The soccer ball of claim 1, wherein the contact zones are labeled.

12. A method of training soccer players comprising:

providing an instructional soccer ball, the soccer ball having four contact zones, wherein the contact zones are graphic illustrations on a surface of the soccer ball, a first contact zone in the shape of a ring around the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a latitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, wherein a pass is accomplished by coming into contact with the first contact zone with an inside of a user's foot, a second contact zone in the shape of an arc on the surface of the soccer ball with a center positioned as a longitudinal great circle of the soccer ball, wherein a strike is accomplished by coming into contact with the second contact zone with laces of a shoe on the user's foot, a third contact zone in the shape of a ring with a center as a great circle arranged diagonally to the first contact zone and second contact zone of the soccer ball, wherein a curve is accomplished by coming into contact with the third contact zone with the inside of the user's foot, and a fourth contact zone in the shape of a bowl of hemispherical form positioned at a bottom of soccer ball, wherein a lob/long ball or chip is accomplished by coming into contact with the fourth contact zone with the laces of the shoe on the user's foot;

positioning the soccer ball with the bottom of the soccer ball in contact with the ground;

finding a contact zone by identifying the location and appropriate color;

identifying which part of the body is needed to come into contact with a contact zone;

kicking the soccer ball with the identified body part against a contact zone to perform the desired type of kick.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising rotating the soccer ball to a hemisphere, the soccer ball having a front hemisphere and back hemisphere, the front hemisphere when facing the user having a contact zone orientated to be used with the right foot, the back hemisphere when facing the user having a contact zone orientated to be used with the left foot.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a legend wherein the legend is a graphic illustration on the surface of the ball, the legend detailing colors and the corresponding contact zone for the user to identify which part of the body is needed to come into contact with a contact zone.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying labels on the contact zones for the user to identify which type of kick will be produced when kicking the soccer ball with the identified body part.

16. The method of claim 12, the ring of the first, second, and third contact zones having with a thickness of 3 to 4 centimeters.

17. The method of claim 12, the fourth contact zone has a diameter of 16 to 19 centimeters.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying the bottom of the soccer ball by an identifier indicating the bottom of the soccer ball.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the contact zones are screen printed onto the surface of the soccer ball.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the contact zones having a differently specified color from the other contact zones.