GB2427567A

GB2427567A - A soccer teaching aid

Info

Publication number: GB2427567A
Application number: GB0513418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2005-06-30
Publication date: 2007-01-03
Also published as: GB0513418D0

Abstract

A football adapted to guide a kicker into making contact with the ball in the correct manner for achieving a desired trajectory. The football has an image on the surface of the ball which indicates the point at which the ball should be kicked and the part of the foot used to strike the ball. The ball may feature two images on opposite faces which depict the two parts of the foot most commonly used to strike the ball, the instep (1) and the laces (2, fig.2). A spot indicating the central part of the boot may also be included. A series of numbered markers, lines which define the three axes and a grid may also be included to assist with alignment of the ball.

Description

Training Strikepartner Ball This invention relates to Sports Equipment, and in particular to a football that aims to teach, improve and perfect the technique for kicking a Football.

When striking a football the foot can make contact with the ball in numerous different places. Each different contact point yields a specific result, thus moving the ball in a different direction. If struck in the wrong place, the kicker will not achieve the desired result. This is a common occurrence at all levels of the sport, and affects all players from beginners to professionals.

To overcome this, the present invention provides a football adapted to help guide a kicker into making contact with the ball in the correct manner for achieving a desired trajectory, the football comprising an image displayed on the surface of the ball, which indicates the position where the ball is to be kicked and the part of the foot to be used to strike the football in order to achieve the said trajectory.

The terms "football" and "ball" as used herein should be interpreted broadly, to encompass Soccer Balls, Rugby Balls, and any other balls that are intended to be kicked in use.

By making contact with the ball in the exact position that the corresponding part of the foot appears on the surface of the ball, the kicker will achieve the desired outcome.

The football preferably comprising two images printed on opposite faces of the ball depicting the two parts of the foot most commonly used to strike a ball, namely the Instep' (side of the foot) and the Laces' (top of the foot).

These two images may feature a spot that indicates the central point of the foot.

The Instep' image may be formed by merging the shapes of two opposite feet (one right sided and one left sided) to allow the kicker to use either foot when striking the ball with the Instep.

The football preferably comprising a series of numbered markers printed in certain places that will enable the kicker to align the ball correctly to execute various different kicking actions.

The two images may also be inverted to one another, in that when one image is the correct way up, the image on the opposite side of the ball is upside down, enabling the positioning markers to be on opposite hemispheres of the ball.

The football may comprise three equatorial lines that defme three axes, which also aid the kicker in aligning the ball correctly.

The ball may also be covered with a grid which will enable more advanced players to align the ball however they choose in order to execute more complex techniques.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 A view from ground level, which shows a view of the ball with an Instep' (1) image in a central position (where the Vertical and Horizontal axes intersect) on one face.

Figure 2 A view from ground level, which shows a view of the ball with a Laces' (2) image in a central position (where the Vertical and Horizontal axes intersect) on the opposite face.

Figure 3 A view from above, which shows a view of the ball with the first positioning marker (4) in a central position (where the Vertical and Horizontal axes intersect).

The subsequent figures will illustrate how by rotating the ball as desired about all three axes, and by using one of several positioning markers, the player can execute a wide variety of different kicking techniques.

In figure 1 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the first positioning marker (4) at the top of the ball pointing forwards. Therefore the position of the Instep' image (1) appears in a central position (where the Vertical and Horizontal axes intersect) on the rear face of the ball. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will move directly forwards, and remain in motion along the ground.

In figure 2 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the second positioning marker (5) at the top of the ball pointing forwards. Therefore the position of the Laces' image (2) appears in a central position (where the Vertical and Horizontal axes intersect) on the rear face of the ball. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will move directly forwards, and remain in motion along the ground.

In figure 4 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the third positioning marker (6) at the top of the ball pointing forwards. Therefore the position of the Instep' image (1) appears on the rear face of the ball in a position in line with the vertical axis, but below the horizontal axis. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will move directly forwards, and will rise off the ground.

In figure 5 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the fourth positioning marker (7) at the top of the ball pointing forwards. Therefore the position of the Laces' image (2) appears on the rear face of the ball in a position in line with the vertical axis, but below the horizontal axis. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will move directly forwards, and will rise off the ground.

In figure 6 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the first positioning marker (4) at the top of the ball. However, instead of the marker (4) pointing forwards, the ball is rotated about its vertical axis. Therefore the position of the Instep' image (1) appears on the rear face of the ball in line with the horizontal axis, but rotated so it's not in line with the vertical axis. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will swerve to one side. Figure 7 shows this position mirrored, once kicked the ball will swerve in the opposite direction.

In figure 8 (a view from ground level), the football is placed on the ground with the second positioning marker (5) at the top of the ball. However, instead of pointing forwards, the ball is rotated about its vertical axis. Therefore the position of the Laces' image (2) appears on the rear face of the ball in line with the horizontal axis, but rotated so it's not in line with the vertical axis. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will remain in motion along the ground and will swerve to one side. Figure 9 shows this position mirrored, once kicked the ball will remain in motion along the ground and will swerve in the opposite direction.

Figures 10 and 11 show examples of more advanced techniques. Figure 10 (a view from ground level), shows the ball after being rotated from a starting position (first positioning marker (4) at the top of the ball) about its horizontal and vertical axis.

Therefore the Instep' image (1) appears in the bottom corner on the rear face of the ball. When the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot, the ball will move with increased swerve and lift.

Figure 11 (a view from ground level), shows the ball after being rotated from a starting position (second positioning marker (5) at the top of the ball) about its horizontaj and z' axis. Therefore the Laces' image (2) appears at an angle below the horizontal axis on the rear face of the ball. This position is used to strike an elevated long-range pass when the kicker strikes the ball in the exact position that the image appears with the corresponding part of the foot Figure 12 shows the merged image of a right and left Instep' (8) as it would appear on the ball. This is to enable the kicker to use either foot when striking the ball with the Instep'. Ct.

Claims

Claims I. A football adapted to help guide a kicker into making contact

with the ball in the correct maimer for achieving a desired trajectory, the football comprising an image displayed on the surface of the ball, which indicates the position where the ball is to be kicked and the part of the foot to be used to strike the football in order to achieve the said trajectory.
2. A football according to claim I, comprising two images printed on opposite faces of the ball depicting the two parts of the foot most commonly used to strike a ball, namely the Instep' (side of the foot) and the Laces' (top of the foot).
3. A football according to claim 2, on which the two images will feature a spot indicating the central point of the foot.
4. A football according to claim 3, on which the Instep' image is formed by merging the shapes of two opposite feet (one right sided and one left sided) to allow the kicker to use either foot when striking the ball with the Instep.
5. A football according to claim 4, comprising a series of numbered markers printed in certain places that will enable the kicker to align the ball correctly to execute various different kicking actions.
6. A football according to claim 5, on which the two images are inverted to one another, in that when one image is the correct way up, the image on the opposite side of the ball is upside down, enabling the positioning markers to be on opposite hemispheres of the ball.
7. A football according to claim 6, comprising three equatorial lines that define three axes, which also aid the kicker in aligning the ball correctly.
8. A football according to any of the preceding claims, on which the entire surface is covered with a grid to enable more advanced players to align the ball however they choose in order to execute more complex techniques.

9 A football substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any combination of the accompanying drawings.