Soccer Training and Trainer's Aid

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a training and a trainer's aid comprising a placement means, a line, a ball securement means, and a rotational means.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/458,483 filed Apr. 11, 2023.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to the field of athletic training aids. More specifically, the present disclosure pertains to soccer training and trainer's aids.

BACKGROUND

Soccer, also known to most of the rest of the world as football, or “fútbol,” the beautiful game, almost exclusively referred to as soccer in the United States, is a difficult sport to learn. Accordingly, there are a myriad of prior art training aids available. However, many if not all of the prior art training aids suffer from common drawbacks, including slow repetition times, poor actual game situations, the ability to train both the dominant and non-dominant leg, or the requirement to have several players present. Therefore, there is a need for a new soccer training as well as soccer trainers aid that addresses the shortcomings of the prior art. The present disclosure provides such an aid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further illustrate the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings are not to be considered limiting in scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the training aid of the present disclosure, for use on any surface, indoor or outdoor.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate view of the embodiment of the training aid shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the training aid of the present disclosure, for use on outdoor grass surfaces.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate view of the embodiment of the training aid shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows yet another alternate embodiment of the training aid of the present disclosure, for use on smooth indoor or outdoor surfaces.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate view of the embodiment of the training aid shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now, referring to FIGS. 1-6, the present disclosure provides a training aid 10 comprising a placement means 20, a line 30, a ball securement means 40 and a rotational means 60.

The placement means 20 may be of many different configurations; however, it should function such that it secures the training aid 10 to a surface (ground, turf, floor, etc.) or generally in place during the use of the training aid 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the placement means 20 is a large plate (made of metal or other suitable material) with sufficient weight and appropriate dimensions to secure the training aid 10 in place during use. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the placement means 20 includes a horizontal plate with apertures for a securing means 90 such as nails/spikes/screws to pass through. As the securing means 90 is driven into the ground through the apertures, the placement means 20 is secured to the ground thereby securing the training aid 10 during use. In one embodiment, the securing means 90 pass through the apertures at approximately a 10-75 degree angle. In a preferred embodiment, the securing means 90 pass through the apertures at approximately a 45-degree angle. In one embodiment, the placement means 20 utilizes between two (2) and four (4) securing means 90. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the placement means 20 comprises a suction cup device which serves to secure the training aid 10 to smooth surfaces such as concrete, tile, hardwood, etc. In yet another alternate embodiment, the placement means 20 could be a plurality of eyelet hooks affixed to the rotational means 60. In this embodiment, the training aid 10 may be hung by the swivel eye, hooked between two stretchable cords attached to two opposite points (ex., ceiling. wall or floor), for use on the ground environment, or in a zero-gravity environment of space.

The training aid 10 of the present disclosure also includes a line 30 and a ball securement means 40 which secures a soccer ball 50. Line 30 can be of varying lengths depending on the desired use of the training aid 10. For example, a shorter line 30 would provide quicker and more numerous kicks for the user than a longer line 30. Additionally, the attachment of line 30 to the training aid 10 can be varied in some embodiments. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, line 30 may be attached to the training aid 10 at either clip 70 or 80. The varying attachments of line 30 allow for greater freedom of movement of the ball 50 in response to a force (i.e., when kicked by the user). Generally, the higher line 30 is attached to the training aid 10, the more freedom of movement in all three (3) dimensions is allowed thus replicating real-life ball-bouncing soccer action. The ball securement means 40 in one embodiment is a net adapter or configured to contain a soccer ball 50.

The training aid 10 of the present disclosure also includes a rotational means 60. The rotational means 60 is adapted/configured to allow the ball 50 to rotate freely in a three hundred and sixty (360) degree circle about the training aid 10. In one embodiment, line 30 is attached to the rotational means 60 via a clip 70, although other means of attachment should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. The rotational means 60 may include one or more friction reduction devices such as Teflon® washers which reduce any friction imparted to the rotational means 60 via its movement. The rotational means 60 shall also include a swivel 70 to prevent tangling or knotting of line 30, due to rotation on the ball/net 40/50. In some embodiments, the rotational means 60 may include a threaded rod with one or more nuts threaded on it wherein the friction reduction devices are positioned via the threaded nut relative to the clip 80.

Generally speaking, the training aid 10 is portable because it is not permanently installed. For example, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 remains substantially portable in spite of its significant weight/size. This is a key feature as most training devices that perform well under true kicking forces are usually not portable—or vice versa—if they are portable, cannot withstand repetitive kicking and centrifugal forces of the ball by use of an adult soccer player. By further example, in other embodiments, portability is maximized due to the small size, low weight, and ease of temporarily installation of the training device.

The training aid 10 disclosed herein can be used by soccer players to improve their skills. For example, when a player standing outside of the circumference drawn by the line 30, and strikes the ball 50 with their foot, the ball 50 will react accordingly. When struck with the inside of the right foot, the ball 50 will move to the left. If struck with the outside of the right foot, the ball 50 will move to the right. Striking the ball 50 with the left foot causes the opposite movement of the ball 50. The player then can simulate passing the ball, shooting the ball, or receiving a pass and improve their skills relative to each action. Training Aid device 10 has been tested to deliver from 20 to 80 kicks per minute, half or which are with the left leg and half with the right leg. Advanced players can actually kick such that the ball 50 never touches the ground. Additionally, several more advanced passes/strikes as described in a User's Manual can be practiced using the training aid 10, with single or multiple players at once. The design of the training aid 10 (as described above) allows the placement means 20 to hold the training aid 10 in position providing a stable base.

The training aid 10 disclosed herein can also be used by soccer trainers to instruct players and closely monitor shoe/ball contact, all in a very close proximity environment, in the proper kicking/striking modes, correct proper placement of both the kicking leg as well as the supporting leg, proper ankle locking, knee bending. Repetition is key in building muscle memory, especially for the non-dominant leg, and this device can deliver in 25 minutes the equivalent number of kicks/strikes a player execute in approximately 10 soccer games.

The training aid 10 of the present disclosure provides several advantages over the prior art. The overall dimensions, including the height, weight and weight distribution of the training aid 10 allow for a natural kicking motion that simulate real-world ball strikes. Continuous play with the device requires strikes to the ball to be neatly tangential to the circular arc of the travel—and failure to do so results in instability that can end the cycle of play, forcing the user to reset.

The use of “adapted to” or “configured to” herein is meant as open and inclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to or configured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the use of “based on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that, a process, step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more recited conditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditions or value beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering included herein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to be limiting.

The terms “about” and “approximately” shall generally mean an acceptable degree of error or variation for the quantity measured given the nature or precision of the measurements. Typical, exemplary degrees of error or variation are within 20 percent (%), preferably within 10%, more preferably within 5%, and still more preferably within 1% of a given value or range of values. Numerical quantities given in this description are approximate unless stated otherwise, meaning that the term “about” or “approximately” can be inferred when not expressly stated. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Although particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this disclosure except as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A training aid 10 comprising a placement means 20, a line 30, a ball securement means 40 and a rotational means 60.