GB2386327A

GB2386327A - Football training apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2386327A
Application number: GB0205784A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-12
Filing date: 2002-03-12
Publication date: 2003-09-17
Also published as: GB0205784D0

Abstract

Football training apparatus (10) includes a ball rebounding wall (20) with at least one ball retaining net (30), for example a respective one at each side of the wall (20). The apparatus (10) is arranged such that a user may practice kicking a ball at the wall (20) such that the ball rebounds therefrom, and may practice kicking the ball into the nets (30). The apparatus (10) further includes a base (40) attached to the wall (20) and arranged to be able to project perpendicular therefrom to support the remainder of the apparatus (10). The base (40) is further arranged to be fixable to the ground at least by pegs (49). The base (40) is foldable in two to facilitate transportation of the apparatus (10).

Description

FOOTBALL TRAINING APPARATUS

This invention relates to apparatus for use in football training exercises.

Although it will be appreciated that the apparatus may be used in training 5 exercises for other ball games, such as hockey.

In this description, "football" is used in the sense in which it is primarily used

in the United Kingdom. It will be appreciated that "football" is sometimes referred to as "soccer" in other countries.

Football is a team game, involving interaction between several players. It is therefore difficult for a person to practice and improve his or her football skills on his or her own.

15 It is an object of this invention to address this problem.

According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided apparatus for football training, the apparatus including at least one ball rebounding portion and at least one ball retaining portion juxtaposed therewith, the ball rebounding 20 portion including a surface arranged to rebound a ball kicked thereat, and the ball retaining portion defining a opening, through which a ball can be kicked,

the ball retaining portion being arranged such that a ball kicked through the opening thereof is retained thereby.

The surface is preferably a flat surface, but may be curved. The surface may be 5 concave or convex. The surface is preferably rectangular. Preferably the surface extends substantially vertically during use, but may be inclined at an angle to the vertical for certain training exercises. The surface is preferably constructed from a weather resistant material such as glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) or plastic. The surface may have markings thereon to mark out different areas of 10 the surface.

The surface may be formed from a material that mimics the speed and/or the angle at which another player would return a ball kicked by a first player.

15 The at least one ball retaining portion may be juxtaposed with the ball rebounding portion such that the opening defined by the ball retaining portion is side-by-side with the surface of the ball rebounding portion. Preferably there are two ball retaining portions, one at each side of the surface of the ball rebounding portion.

The ball retaining portion may include netting. The netting may be attached to

framework of the at least one ball retaining portion, the framework at least partially defining the opening thereof. The ball retaining portion may be arranged such that the dimensions of the opening defined thereby are variable.

S One or both of the ball retaining portion and the ball rebounding portion may be attached to a base, the base being arranged for placing on the ground during use and supporting the ball retaining portion and the ball rebounding portion in a desired position. The base may be attached to the ball retaining portion and/or the ball rebounding portion by hinge means such that the surface can be 10 folded against the base when the apparatus is not in use, thereby facilitating transportation and storage. The apparatus may include one or more handles for further facilitating transportation. Preferably the handles are provided on the surface and on the base.

15 The base may be arranged for securing to the ground by fixing means. The fixing means may be pegs that are insertable into soft ground, such as turf. The base may include pegs permanently attached thereto. The pegs may be pivotably mounted to the base so as to be movably between a position in which the pegs are retracted and lie against the base and a position in which the pegs 20 are extended and project from the base for insertion into the ground. The base may include one or more bolt holes, each for receiving a respective bolt therein

for fixing the apparatus to hard ground, such as cement or concrete.

Specific apparatus for football training in which the invention is embodied is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying 5 drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan elevation of the apparatus, showing hidden detail; Figure 3 is a detailed view of part of the apparatus; 10 Figure 4 to Figure 10 are representations of training exercises for which the apparatus can be used; and Figure 11 is a side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 1 shows football training apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 includes a ball 15 rebounding portion in the form of a wall 20, two ball retaining portions, each in the form of a respective net 30, and a base 40.

The wall 20 is a rectangular flat surface formed from a sheet of material such as plastic or glass reinforced plastic. Such materials are favoured for their 20 weather resistance. The wall 20 has markings in the form of lines 22 thereon.

The lines 22 mark out areas on a front surface of the wall 20 the faces

outwards from the apparatus 10.

With reference to Figure 2, the base 40 is formed from two sheets 42,44 of similar material to that from which the wall 30 is formed. The two sheets 42,44 5 of the base are each of the same length and are joined together along a respective lengthwise edge by a series of hinges 46. The other lengthwise edge of a first one of the sheets 42 of the base 40 is fixedly attached along a lengthwise edge of the wall 20, the wall 20 being of the same length as each sheet 42,44 of the base 40. The first sheet 42 is attached to the wall 20 so as to 10 be perpendicular thereto.

The base 40 includes fixing means in the form of holes 48 and pegs 49 (shown as hidden detail in Figure 2). Four holes 48 are provided, one in each corner of the base 40. The holes 48 are for receiving a bolt (not shown) therethrough.

15 Figure 3 shows the pegs 49 in more detail. The pegs 49 are pivotably mounted to a side of the base 40 that is an underside during use and are so mounted so as to be moveable between a position in which they lie against the underside of the base 40 and are retracted and a position in which they project normal to the underside of the base 40 and are extended.

With reference to Figure 2, each net 30 is positioned to a respective side of the

wall 20. The net 30 includes framework 32 and netting material 35. The framework 32 is arranged to define a rectangular opening of the net 30. Each opening of each net 30 is coplanar with the wall 20 and juxtaposed therewith such that no gap exists between each opening and the periphery of the wall 20.

5 The framework 32 is attached to the wall 20 and the first sheet 42 of the base 40. The framework 32 does not project from the back surface of the wall 20 any further than the width of the first sheet 42 of the base 40.

The netting material 35 is substantially the same as conventional netting 10 material used in conventional football nets. However, the interstices of the netting material 35 are smaller than those of conventional football nets. For each net 30, the netting material 35 is secured to the respective framework 32 and to the base 40 such that, together with the base 40, the netting material 34 defines the respective net 30.

In use, the apparatus 10 is positioned with the underside of the base 40 on the ground. If the ground is sufficiently soft, for example if the ground is turf, the apparatus 10 may be secured in position by moving the pegs 49 to their extended positions and inserting them into the ground. If the ground is hard, 20 the apparatus 10 can be secured in position by screwing screws or bolts into the ground, through the holes 48 in the base 40.

A user (shown at SO in Figures 4 to 7) of the apparatus 10 is then free to use the apparatus 10 to practice football training exercises. Such football training exercises are illustrated in Figures 4 to 7.

5 Figure 4 shows the user 50 passing a ball 60 to the wall 20 such that the ball 60 is passed to, and rebounds from, the wall 20 in a straight line.

Figure S shows the user 50 passing the ball 60 to the wall 20 at a small angle to a perpendicular to the wall 20, such that the ball 60 rebounds from the wall 10 20 at a similar small angle.

Figure 6 shows the user SO passing the ball 60 to the wall 20 at a larger angle to the perpendicular, such that the ball 60 rebounds from the wall 20 at a similar large angle. This necessitates the user 50 running between a position 15 from which he passes the ball 60 to a position in which he receives the ball 60.

Figure 7 shows the user 50 passing the ball 60 into one of the nets 30.

Figure 8 shows the user SO passing the ball 60 to the wall 20 at an angle, 20 moving to a position in which he is able to receive the ball 60 as it rebounds from the wall 20, and then passing the ball 60 into the net 30 towards which he

or she is moving.

Figure 9 shows the user 50 passing the ball 60 to the wall 20 at an angle, moving to a position in which he is able to receive the ball 60 as it rebounds 5 from the wall 20, and then passing the ball 60 into the net 30 away from which he or she is moving.

Figure 10 shows the user SO passing the ball 60 to the wall 20 at an angle and such that the ball 60 rebounds in the direction of another user 52. It will be 10 appreciated that more than one user may use the apparatus 10 in this way.

Various exercises are envisaged. The exercises may be for completing with a specified number of touches of the ball 60. Points may be awarded for the successful completion of such exercises, the apparatus 10 thereby lending itself 15 to use in competition. The apparatus 10 allows the user 50 to practice a return pass on his own and makes available the reward of kicking the ball into one of the nets 30 to simulate the scoring of a goal. Tennis balls or small sized practice footballs may be used in the exercises and kicked against the wall 20 and into the nets 30. It is for the purposes of catching such small balls in the 20 netting material 35 that the interstices thereof are smaller than those in conventional football netting.

After use of the apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 is detached from the ground by removing the pegs 49 or the screws or bolts from the holes 48 in the base 40.

The other sheet 44 of the base is then folded about the hinges 46 of the base 40 and relative to the remainder of the apparatus 10 to reduce of the overall 5 dimensions of the apparatus 10. This is shown in Figure 11. The apparatus can then be transported or stored.

Claims

1. Apparatus for football training, the apparatus including at least one ball rebounding portion and at least one ball retaining portion juxtaposed therewith, 5 the ball rebounding portion including a surface arranged to rebound a ball kicked thereat, and the ball retaining portion defining a opening, through which a ball can be kicked, the ball retaining portion being arranged such that a ball kicked through the opening thereof is retained thereby.

10

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface is curved.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the surface is inclinable at an angle to the vertical for certain training exercises.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the surface is constructed from a weather resistant material.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface has 20 markings thereon to mark out different areas of the surface.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface is formed from a material that mimics the speed and/or the angle at which another player would return a ball kicked by a first player.

5

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each ball retaining portion may be juxtaposed with the ball rebounding portion such that the opening defined by the ball retaining portion is side-by-side with the surface of the ball rebounding portion.

to

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including two ball retaining portions, one at each side of the surface of the ball rebounding portion.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, where the ball retaining 15 portion includes netting.

10. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the netting is attached to framework of the or each ball retaining portion, the framework at least partially defining the opening thereof.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball retaining

portion is arranged such that the dimensions of the opening defined thereby are variable.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each ball 5 retaining portion and the ball rebounding portion are attached to a base, the base being arranged for placing on the ground during use and supporting the ball retaining portion and the ball rebounding portion in a desired position.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the base is 10 attached to the or each ball retaining portion and/or the ball rebounding portion by hinge means such that the surface can be folded against the base when the apparatus is not in use, thereby facilitating transportation and storage.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus 15 includes one or more handles for facilitating transportation.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the handles are provided on the surface and on the base.

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16. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein the base is arranged for securing to the ground by fixing means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the fixing means are pegs that are insertable into soft ground, such as turf.

5

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the base includes the fixing means in the form of pegs permanently attached thereto.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the pegs are pivotably mounted to the base so as to be movable between a position in which the pegs 10 are retracted and lie against the base and a position in which the pegs are extended and project from the base for insertion into the ground.

20. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the base includes one or more bolt holes, each for receiving a respective bolt therein for fixing 15 the apparatus to hard ground, such as cement or concrete.

21. Apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 11 of those drawings.