GB2439041A

GB2439041A - Sports training aid

Info

Publication number: GB2439041A
Application number: GB0611819A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Thomas Fulford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-15
Filing date: 2006-06-15
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: WO2007144575A1; GB0611819D0

Abstract

A sports training aid comprises a foot covering 2 arranged to fit over footwear 4, and a plurality of contact point indicators 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f, 30g arranged to indicate where an item, such as a ball, is intended to contact the footwear. There is also claimed a kit comprising the sports training aid and instructions for executing a skill or technique with reference to the contact point indicators.

Description

SPORTS TRAINING AID

The present invention relates to a sports training aid -particularly, but not exclusively, to a football training aid.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sports training aid comprising a foot covering arranged to fit over footwear, and a plurality of contact point indicators arranged to indicate where an item, such as a ball, is intended to contact the footwear.

For the purposes of this specification, the term footwear is intended to cover boots, shoes, trainers or other similar types of footwear and it is also intended to cover a bare foot (since football can be played or practiced in bare feet).

Advantageously a user can use the sports training aid to help easily indicate which part or parts of their footwear should come into contact with an item, such as a ball, when practicing (or playing) a particular skill or technique. A skill or technique includes a series of movements or contacts by the user with the ball, usually in a particular sequence.

For example, if it is desired to hit a football with an instep part of a football boot, the contact point indicator helps indicate to a user exactly where, ideally, contact should be made and also provides an indication of where contact has been made (after execution of the skill or technique).

Additionally, the provision of the contact point indicator also helps in drawing a user's attention to the intended contact point and helps the user to keep their eye on the ball and point of contact at the time of contact, which is also known to be useful when executing a skill or technique.

Embodiments for the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a sports training aid according to a first embodiment in place over a football boot; Figure 2 shows the football training aid of Figure 1 and the football boot of Figure 1 in a separated configuration; Figure 3 shows the training aid and boot of Figure 1 from one side; Figure 4 shows the training aid and boot of Figure 1 from above; Figure 5 shows the training aid and boot of Figure 1 from below; Figure 6 shows the training aid and boot of Figure 1 from a rear of the boot; Figure 7 shows a training aid according to a second embodiment in place on a football boot; Figure 8 schematically shows a plurality of removable contact point indicators for use with the training aid of Figure 7; and Figure 9 shows a training aid according to a third embodiment in place on a football boot.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a football training aid comprises a footwear covering 2 and footwear 4. The footwear 4 comprises a football boot having studs 6. The training aid is particularly useful in practicing particular skills or techniques which require a user to precisely contact an item, in this embodiment a football, with a specific part of the foot (or footwear) repeatedly or with different specific parts of the foot in a predetermined sequence.

The football boot 4 comprises a front, toe end 8 and an opposite, rear, heel end 10. The covering 2 has corresponding toe 8 and heel 10 ends.

In this embodiment the covering 2 comprises a resiliently deformable neoprene material. In some embodiments the covering is coated to provide a desired amount of contact friction when the user contacts the ball. The covering 2 is shaped and sized so that it can be stretched over the football boot 4 and tightly fit over it, thus adopting the shape and size of the football boot 4 to give the user a natural feel when it is in place over the boot 4. For the user, there is substantially no difference in the feel of the boot plus the covering as there is when the user wears the boot alone. This is because the covering 2 is made of a lightweight material and tightly adopts the shape of the boot when in place.

The neoprene material making up the covering 2 is thicker in some portions of the covering than other portions of the covering -this is because when the covering is in place over the boot some regions of the covering are required to be deformed (stretch) more than others. For example some portions of the covering may have advertising or other visible material (e.g. symbols on the contact point indicators) which may desirably be required to deform less in order to not substantially change in their visible character when fitted over different sizes of footwear. An advantage of the covering 2 being made of a resiliently deformable material is that it can be fitted over different shapes and sizes of footwear. It is possible to have a "one size fits all" covering which fits over any available size of football boot, for example. In this embodiment the foot covering is up to 6mm thick when placed on the boot. Thicker regions of the covering have a thickness in the range of 4 -6mm and thinner regions have a thickness in the range of 1 -3mm when in place on the boot.

The covering 2 comprises a toe portion 12, a heel portion 14 and a sole portion 16. The covering in this embodiment also includes an upper portion 18. Side portions 13 connect the toe portion 12 to the heel portion 14.

In this embodiment the covering 2 is integrally formed from the neoprene material by stamping a suitably shaped piece from a sheet of neoprene material before manipulating the stamped material into a desired shape and stitching along suitable edges of the material to form the covering.

The drawings do not show the stitching but it is present, in this embodiment, at side ends of each sole strap (described below).

The toe portion 12 comprises a toe overhang 20 which, in use, extends rearwardly from a front of the toe portion of the covering 2 when it is located on the football boot 4 (most clearly seen in figure 5). The effect of the toe overhang 20 is to define a toe end recess 22 (not shown) into which a toe portion of the boot 4 can be received (this is useful when placing the covering 2 over the boot). Since the covering 2 is made of resiliently deformable material, the toe overhang 20 serves to tightly hold the covering in place over the boot when it is in place on the boot (as shown in figure 1).

The heel portion 14 of the covering 2 comprises a wall which is arranged to locate against a rear wall of the football boot. The covering 2 is formed so that in its resting position it substantially has the profile shown in Figure 2 (i.e. it is naturally substantially the shape of the relevant part of a football boot over which it is intended to be fitted).

In this embodiment the sole portion 16 of the covering 2 comprises a sole aperture 24 which is substantially the entire area of the sole portion 16.

In this embodiment the sole aperture 24 is so large because it is intended to make the covering 2 as lightweight as possible and also it is intended to not alter the feel of the ground by the football boot for the user when the covering 2 is in place on the boot 4 in use. The sole aperture 24 allows the studs 6 to contact the ground unimpeded as they would if the covering 2 was not in place over the boot 4. In this way the user has a nature feel for the ground even though the covering 2 is in place on the boot 4. The presence of the sole aperture 24 allows the boot 4 to grip the ground naturally -it does not affect the normal grip of the sole of the boot.

Also, the sole portion 16 is less prone to damage if it does not come into contact with the ground.

Extending from sides of the sole portion 16 are sole straps 26. In this embodiment there are three sole straps 26. These are intended to help retain the covering 2 on the boot 4 efficiently and minimise movement (e.g. slippage) of the covering 2 relative to the boot 4 in use.

The heel portion (wall), the sole straps 26 and the toe end overhand 20 collectively form retaining means which help retain the covering 2 correctly in place over the football boot 4. The retaining means help prevent slipping of the covering and also help retain it in correct alignment relative to the different parts of the boot. For example the heel wall of the covering locates correctly in a certain fashion against a heel part of a football boot as similarly does the toe end portion of the covering against the respective part of a football boot. In addition the sole straps 26 of this embodiment can abut against studs of a football boot in order to correctly align the covering relative to the studs of the boot.

This can help ensure that the contact point indicators, and the symbols thereon (see below), are located correctly relative to different part of the boot 4. In other embodiments, alternative or additional retaining means (e.g. additional sole straps, heel straps, toe-end straps etc.) will be apparent to the skilled person. In some embodiments the sole straps are configured to accommodate studs or other projections on standard football boots or other footwear.

The covering 2 also includes a tongue extension 28 extending rearwardly from the upper portion 18 of the covering and a heel extension 29 extending upwardly from the heel portion 14. These assist the user in correctly fitting the covering 2 over the boot 4 as described in more detail below.

In this embodiment, the covering 2 has contact point indicators 30 printed on it. The contact point indicators are provided to be present in regions/positions at which a user should contact the football with the football boot when the covering 2 is in place over the boot 4 for particular skills or techniques. In this embodiment, each contact point indicator 30 comprises a different symbol for reasons which are explained below. In this embodiment the contact point indicates 30 are provided at the following regions: left toe indicator 30a, central toe indicator 30b, right toe indicator 30c, upper foot indicator 30d, instep indicator 30e, outstep indicator 36f and heel indicator 30g. In this embodiment all of indicators 30a to 30g comprise different symbols. Also in this embodiment, the indicators of the right foot (which are shown) are of one colour and indicators on a corresponding, mirror image left foot covering comprise the same symbols but in a different colour. In other embodiments, the contact point indicators may comprise high visibility symbols. Advantageously, the user can easily see the intended point of contact of the football with the covering. The high visibility symbols may be colourful symbols or luminous symbols or distinctively shaped symbols or a combination of these. Advantageously it may be easier to memorise a sequence of intended contacts during a particular technique or skill which is intended to be performed by way of memorising symbols.

In this embodiment the contact point indicators 30 comprise printed symbols. In other embodiments the contact point indicators may be moulded or otherwise formed integrally with the material making up the covering. In other embodiments the covering may be made of silicon, rubber, composite, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments the covering may be formed by moulding instead of stamping and stitching as in this embodiment.

In use, when a user wishes to fit the covering 2 in place over the boot 4, the toe end of the boot 4 is placed in the toe end recess 22 of the covering 2 whilst gripping the tongue extension 28 manually. The studs 6 are placed between the sole straps 26 in the sole aperture 24 and by manually gripping the heel extension 29 and stretching the covering 2 rearwardly, the heel portion 14 of the covering 2 can be fitted behind the heel part of the football boot 4. The tongue extension 28 is pulled rearwardly and the heel extension 29 is pulled upwardly to remove any undesirable creases which may have appeared when fitting the covering over the shoe. Once the covering 2 is in a desired configuration over the shoe, the tongue extension 28 and the heel extension 29 can be released to leave the covering 2 in a tight fit over the shoe since the covering is resiliently deformable and tends to clamp over the shoe to adopt the shape of the shoe.

The user can then use the covering 2 as a training aid by practicing skills or techniques, for example under the instruction of a trainer, under instruction with reference to the symbols provided at the contact point indicators. For example the instep contact indicator 30e comprises a triangle symbol and the central toe indicator 30b comprise a square symbol. A particular skill may require the person wearing the covering 2 to contact the football with the instep then the central toe part then the instep then the central toe part of the football boot, in sequence. In this case, the instructions for this skill would be triangle, square, triangle, square -this sequence is simply, efficiently and easily represented by the symbols yet represents a complex skill to be preformed. Representing complex instructions using the symbols is an efficient way of providing instructions to a person practicing skills/techniques. Therefore any instruction booklet or instructions in an other form (in some embodiments on a CD, DVD or other software carrier or video media, audio media or any other suitable media) can be provided. These instructions may comprise a number of different skills which are represented completely, or partially, by symbols present at the contact point indicators of the covering 2.

In some embodiments, the user may make up their own skills/techniques using the symbol annotation system and perhaps, submit them to a website for displaying new techniques. The website (or other media) may comprise a number of different submitted techniques which can be practiced by a number of different users with the same, or similar, training aids.

Referring to Figure 7, a foot covering 100 according to a further embodiment is substantially similar in shape and size as the covering 2 of the first embodiment. The covering 100 is different from the covering 2 in that it does not comprise contact point indicators integrally formed with the covering. Instead, referring to Figure 8, a plurality of removable contact point indicators 102 are shown. The removable indicators 102 comprise an adhesive backing. The covering 100 comprises indicator receiving regions 104 which correspond in position, in this embodiment, to the positions of the contact point indicators 30 on the covering 2 of the first embodiment. In other embodiments, it will be clear to the skilled person that the position of these receiving portions 104 may be different. The removable indicators 102 are intended to be adhesively secured to the covering 100 at the regions 104. The adhesive backing of the indicators 102 is arranged to be a removable adhesive backing when in place in the regions 104. The indicators 102 can be placed in the regions 104 to provide a training aid as previously described. In some embodiments the adhesive backing may not be removable. In such embodiments different indicators may simply be placed over existing indicators. In other embodiments other suitable, removable or changeable indicators may be provided, for example indicators having hook and loop fasteners (e.g. VelcroTM) may be provided.

Referring to Figure 9 a covering 200 according to another embodiment is similar in shape and size to the coverings of the previously described embodiments except that it is configured to receive contact point indicators at any location in order to form a covering and boot combination which can be used as a training aid as previously described.

The covering of this embodiment is particularly suitable for users wishing to make up their own skills or techniques by inventing new combinations of location, type and quantity of contacts within a particular skill.

Various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from its scope. In some embodiments, the covering is integrally formed and this is advantageous because there are no seams to provide points of weakness. In some embodiments the covering is waterproof and this is advantageous because football is played outdoors.

Different attachment means might be provided for the removable indicators in other embodiments -such as pins, studs or anything else

which is suitable.

In some embodiments the retaining means may comprise clasps, buckles or clamps, for example on the sole straps.

In some embodiments the foot covering may be up to 1cm thick, or any other suitable thickness depending on the material in order to provide a covering which provides a natural feel whilst retaining sufficient strength to withstand reasonable use.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A sports training aid comprising a foot covering arranged to fit over footwear, and a plurality of contact-point indicators arranged to indicate where an item, such as a ball, is intended to contact the footwear.

2. A sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the foot covering is resiliently deformable to tightly fit over the footwear.

3. A sports training aid according to claim 2, wherein the foot covering comprises silicone or neoprene.

4. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot covering is integrally formed.

5. A sports training aid according to any preceding claims, wherein the foot covering comprises at least one sole aperture to expose a sole and/or studs of the footwear.

6. A sports training aid according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sole aperture is configured to accommodate studs on a football boot.

7. A sports training aid according to any preceding claims, wherein the foot covering comprises retaining means arranged to retain the foot covering on the footwear.

8. A sports training aid according to claim 7, wherein the retaining means comprises a toe overhang arranged to fit over a toe portion of the footwear.

9. A sports training aid according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the retaining means comprises at least one sole strap arranged to fit against a sole portion of the footwear.

10. A sports training aid according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the retaining means comprises a heel strap arranged to fit against a heel portion of the footwear.

11. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot covering comprises a toe end recess arranged to accommodate a toe portion of the footwear.

12. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the foot covering comprises regions of different thicknesses, and the thinner regions are arranged to stretch more than the thicker regions.

13. A sports training aid according to claim 12, wherein some or all of the contact-point indicators are located at thicker regions.

14. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim wherein some or all of the contact-point indicators comprise removable contact-point indicators.

15. A sports training aid according to claim 14 comprising one or more indicator receiving portions arranged to receive the removable contact-point indicators.

16. A sports training aid according to claim 15, wherein the or each indicator receiving portion comprises substantially the entire surface of the foot covering.

17. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim wherein the contact-point indicators comprise high visibility symbols.

18. A sports training aid according to any preceding claim wherein each indicator comprises a different symbol.

19. A removable contact-point indicator arranged to be attached to the foot covering of any of claims 14 to 18.

20. A kit comprising: the sports training aid of any of claims 1 to 18; and instructions for executing a skill or technique with reference to one or more of the contact-point indicators.

21. A sports training method comprising the steps of: providing a foot covering arranged to fit over footwear, said foot covering comprising a plurality of contact-point indicators arranged to indicate where an item, such as a ball, is intended to contact the foot; and instructing execution of a skill or technique with reference to symbols displayed on the contact point indicators.

22. A sports training aid or removable contact-point indicator or kit or method as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.