WO2013028217A2

WO2013028217A2 - Soccer ball contacting zones training aids

Info

Publication number: WO2013028217A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/065679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Gallagher
Original assignee: Paul Gallagher
Priority date: 2010-12-18
Filing date: 2011-12-17
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: WO2013028217A3

Abstract

A complete soccer technical training system comprises visual training aids, including a variety of soccer footwear visual training aids having demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear. A demarked soccer ball has mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear. A virtual training program is used in conjunction with at least one motion detector on each of a pair of footwear to display virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

SOCCER BALL CONTACTING ZONES TRAINING AIDS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sports training aids and particularly to a complete soccer technical training system comprising visual training aids, including a variety of soccer footwear visual training aids (imprinted on soccer shoes with cleats, indoor soccer shoes without cleats, and elasticized tubular soccer shoe sleeves) having demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear and a demarked soccer ball having mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the footwear of the soccer player for use with the soccer shoe demarked soccer ball contacting zones for a soccer player to learn and practice and play, and a virtual training program, which may be on a soccer technical training DVD, used in conjunction with at least one motion detector on each of a pair of footwear to display virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time.

Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 In the game of soccer, it is important to be able to make accurate passes, to have good ball control, to have good kick control, and to kick the ball with anticipated and expected returns each and every time.

None of the prior patents provide a comprehensive system utilizing a variety of types of demarked soccer shoes having multiple articulated ball contacting zones for a wide variety of types of ball handling, passing, faking, shooting, dribbling, and other functions.

U.S. Patent Application #20070227047, published October 4, 2007 by Zaza, claims a soccer training shoe, or a soccer training device or aid attachable to a soccer shoe, which can comprise one or more specifically located targets. Each target can indicate a specific location or place on the soccer shoe for contacting a soccer ball in order to accomplish a desired action of the soccer ball. The targets may be visually distinctive colors.

U.S. Patent #5,897,446, issued April 27, 1999 to Wiseman et al, is for a soccer training aid comprising a conforming fabric upper attached to a soccer shoe with straps passing between the cleats. The upper provides a foundation for colored targets indicating proper kicking points for soccer.

U.S. Patent Application #20050144812, published July 7, 2005 by Wheeler, indicates a cover for a lace-up football boot having a continuous, elastically expandable sleeve. The sleeve is, in use, stretched around the boot so that the latter extends through the sleeve with the toe of the boot protruding from the end of the sleeve, and that the underside of the sleeve engages the portion of the underside of the boot in a region between the heal and the toe (i.e. under the arch of the foot). This engagement between the sleeve and the boot is sufficient to hold the sleeve in position on the boot in use, the sleeve also covering the bootlaces to prevent the latter from untying. At least part of the cover may also be transparent so as to reveal ornamental features or indicia on the boot.

U.S. Patent Application #20020043007, published April 18, 2002 by Hannah, puts forth a kicking aid for a shoe and method therefor, comprising a sleeve adapted to be fitted over an arch area of a shoe to provide a wearer with larger, stronger and more even kicking surfaces to enable a player to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

U.S. Patent #4,766,682, issued August 30, 1988 to Malloy, III, illustrates a removable lace cover strap adapted for use about the instep of an athletic shoe having a knotted lace to prevent the untying thereof. The elongated strap has an elastic medial portion and opposite end portions with hook and loop fastener patches for attaching the opposite end portions to each other. The relatively even ball contacting surface provided by strap is preferable to that of the laces themselves to provide more ball control. Colors and logos are provided for team identification.

U.S. Patent #D552,834, issued October 16, 2007 to Hannah, claims the ornamental design of a shoe sleeve.

U.S. Patent #5,216,827, issued June 8, 1993 to Cohen, provides a soccer training shoe having a multiplicity of target sectors affixed over different shoe portions which have a different shape corresponding to an optimal area of kicking contact for a respective kicking technique and a different color from the other target sectors to allow one to visually distinguish what type of kicking technique has been performed and whether it has been performed optimally. In the preferred embodiment, the soccer training shoe has target sectors on the heel, forward instep, middle instep, lace, outside foot, and toe portions of the shoe.

U.S. Patent #D324,938, issued March 31, 1992 to Cohen, illustrates the ornamental design for a soccer training shoe.

U.S. Patent #4,204,346, issued May 27, 1980 to Fugere, concerns a training shoe for soccer comprising an otherwise conventional soccer shoe having two visually distinctive areas located in two regions of the shoe where proper contact with a soccer ball should be made. The first area covers a substantial part of the toe region of the shoe and the second area covers a substantial part of the instep sidewall region of the shoe. The two areas are visually distinctive from the remainder of the shoe.

U.S. Patent #5,947,845, issued September 7, 1999 to Canelas, describes a combination of a pair of soccer shoes and a soccer ball wherein each of the shoes and the ball have an exterior surface marked with selected areas of differing shapes and colors. The markings on the shoes correspond in shape and color to the markings on the exterior of the ball in order to instruct a user where to strike the ball with which portion of his or her foot in order to make the ball move in desired directions.

U.S. Patent #5,290,043, issued March 1, 1994 to Vidinic, puts forth a game for improving soccer skills is provided which has a target preferably in the shape of a soccer goal. The target has a number of different sections which correspond to different point values based on the degree of difficulty in reaching the particular section. The section boxes should be differentiated from one another in an easily identifiable manner, such as by color. Another element of game involves providing a mechanism for coordinating the different sections of the target to a particular section of the foot. This may be done, for example, by providing a shoe with different colored designations for various locations on the shoe. To play the game, one or more players take turns kicking a soccer ball from a set distance at the target. The player chooses which target section will be aimed for and takes notice of the color of the section. The player then kicks the ball with the portion of the shoe having the color which matches the chosen section. If the player hits the matching section of the target, the player receives the indicated value of points.

U.S. Patent #7,172,521, issued February 6, 2007 to Novis, indicates device for teaching the basic kicks of soccer to students of the game. The device has a mat portion with a ball support thereon, to raise the ball to the elevated position it would be in when laying on grass. The mat includes an alignment arrow to direct the approach of the kicker, a circumscribed open area for the non-kicking foot to be prior to ball impact with a specifically notated ball that rests on the support. The ball is color coded with sweet spots where impact is to take place for a specific kick. The ball also includes similarly color coded arrow lines, which serve to guide the placement of the ball onto the support to align the ball correctly relative to the kicker's shoe for the shot being taught. Teaching information is also found on the mat portion as a mental reinforcement to a lesson.

U.S. Patent Application #20080153632, published June 26, 2008 by Flores et al, provides a ball kicking practice device having target indicia located in at least one position on the exterior of the ball. Feedback indicia circumferentially located on the ball extending through the target changes in appearance in form or color subsequent to a proper strike of the ball with the foot. Shoe contact indicia provides contact points on a shoe for practicing contact with the targets on the exterior of the ball and to allow the user to practice keeping their eyes trained on the ball through contact by the user's foot and thereafter received feedback of a proper or improper strike from the change in appearance of the feedback indicia.

U.S. Patent Application #20060196084, published September 7, 2006 by Kos et al, describes a soccer training apparatus for teaching a user the proper technique to stop a soccer ball. The training apparatus includes a contact patch assembly having a contact region, and a strap mechanism configured to removably mount around a foot and shoe of the user in a manner orienting the contact region generally at an instep portion of the user's foot. The contact region, in one example, includes one of a hook or loop material. The training apparatus further includes a soccer ball having an exterior surface containing the other of a loop or hook material that is adapted to cooperate with the contact region of the contact patch assembly to promote attachment of the soccer ball to the contact region.

Such contact and adherence indicates precision locational contact of the foot or shoe with the soccer ball at the instep portion thereof.

U.S. Patent #5,433,437, issued July 18, 1995 to Dudley, concerns a foot mounted sounding soccer training device. The soccer ball kick-training device teaches the optimum foot position for kicking soccer balls. The device attaches to the top of the soccer player's shoe and provides a visual aid for locating the best striking area on the foot. It further provides an acoustic signal when the kick is properly done. U.S. Patent #6,038,792, issued March 21, 2000 to Hauter, is for a soccer shoe cover that includes a rubber membrane formed to stretch over the exterior surface of a soccer shoe. The membrane covers the laces, the heel and a kicking portion of the soccer shoe while leaving the toe uncovered. The membrane has a rear opening for inserting the soccer shoe and a front opening for exposing the toe. The membrane provides a kicking surface that remains substantially smooth over shoe laces when the membrane is fitted over the soccer shoe.

U.S. Patent #7,464,487, issued December 16, 2008 to Boyd, shows a shoe cover that allows a user to decorate their athletic footwear with an outer cover. The cover has an open bottom surface to enable it to be most easily donned and doffed from the shoe. The cover further has a plurality of apertures dispersed on its bottom surface through which cleats can pass when the cover is installed. A version of the cover is provided that reaches to up the wearer's calf area. Another cover is disclosed as having a cushioned area over the laces of the shoe to prevent bruising when the user presses the top of the foot against a rigid object. Finally, a version of the cover is provided that has a reinforced tip portion, such as for soccer players.

U.S. Patent #D376,041, issued December 3, 1996 to Nitz, discloses the ornamental design for a removable cover strap for shoe laces.

U.S. Patent #3,348,842, issued October 24, 1967 to Stern, shows a football kicking apparatus which includes a removable strap-on gaiter which covers the kicker's shoe and a football both having kick directing indicia thereon for use in training.

U.S. Patent #5,737,858, issued April 14, 1998 to Levy, describes soccer training shoes having ball contact elements that cause a soccer ball to more readily bounce away from the foot of the user. In one aspect of the invention, a training device is provided for temporary attachment to the shoe of a soccer player for providing hard inside and outside ball contact elements that cause a soccer ball to more readily bounce away from the foot of the user and thus promote the development of the "soft feel" that is desirable for catching, trapping and dribbling activities. The training device is essentially in the form of a web of straps that encompass the toe and instep portion of a soccer shoe and with forward, intermediate and rear transverse straps each being provided with a relatively hard ball contact element for location along the vamp of a soccer shoe in the immediate region of the inside and outside edges of the sole of the shoe. The transverse straps are positioned so as to place the ball contact elements in closely spaced relation to collectively define an elongate strip of relatively hard ball contact material on the inside and outside edges of the soccer shoe. The web of straps defining a major portion of the training device may be composed of elastic material to permit the device to be easily assembled to and disassembled from a soccer shoe.

U.S. Patent #4,711,043, issued December 8, 1987 to Johnson et al, is for a device for training new players in the proper technique for power-kicking a soccer ball, or place- kicking or punting a football, using the principle of audible reinforcement. The training device comprises a sounding target attachment for an athletic shoe. As the foot makes contact with the ball in the optimum location for maximum distance and accuracy, the training aid emits a sound. Mis-kicked balls do not cause the sound to be generated.

U.S. Patent #D456,596, issued May 7, 2002 to Hannah, puts forth the ornamental design for a kicking shoe attachment.

U.S. Patent #D395,690, issued June 30, 1998 to Villavicencio, claims the ornamental design for an instructional soccer ball.

U.S. Patent #7,241,234, issued July 10, 2007 to Eite, discloses a soccer teaching aid. The football teaching aid includes a football having a number of differently colored target areas marked on the surface of the football, each indicating an area on the surface of the football to be struck to send the football along an associated flight path. Thus, in practice, a football coach can direct a player to strike the football in one of the colored target areas, which is easily identified by the player, to achieve a desired shot.

U.S. Patent #D563,495, issued March 4, 2008 to Torres, shows the ornamental design for a soccer ball having target areas thereon.

Two U.S. Patents #D510,608 issued October 11, 2005 and #D500,108 issued December 21, 2004 to Carbonero, provide the ornamental designs for a strike zone pattern for a sport ball.

U.S. Patent Application #20050119071, published June 2, 2005 by Carbonero, relates a sports ball comprising indicia disposed thereon including at least one figure demonstrating an action to take with the sporting good. The figure is shown in a sequence of positions representing the action whereby a person can view the indicia, and learn and practice the action. Alternately, in FIGS. 6C-6F, a soccer ball with strike indicia is shown.

U.S. Patent Application #20080293520, published November 27, 2008 by Brown, is for a training soccer ball having an initial contact area with a first set of designations and a follow-through area with a second set of designations. The first and second set of designations can be the numbers " 1" through "12", in a split clockface design. The initial contact area has a different color than the follow-through area. Players learn to kick the ball with the correct biomechanics with reference to a designation for initial contact and a designation for follow-through.

U.S. Patent Application #20080076610, published March 27, 2008 by Torres, shows a soccer ball having a plurality of graphic illustrations on its surface, a first graphic substantially concentric to the perimeter of said ball when a first indexing target is placed at top dead center position, and at least one second graphic placed substantially opposite said first graphic, said graphics having targets included therein such that said graphics suggest the optimum striking area on said ball to achieve a desired ball direction and trajectory.

Two U.S. Patent Applications, #20050221919 published October 6, 2005 and #20030198924 published October 23, 2003 by Eite, disclose a football teaching aid which comprises a football having a number of differently colored target areas marked on the surface of the football, each indicating an area on the surface of the football to be struck to send the football along an associated flight path. Thus, in practice, a football coach can direct a player to strike the football in one of the colored target areas which is easily identified by the player, to achieve a desired shot.

None of the prior art training soccer patents ball provide the same coordinated mating contact zones for the shoe to engage the ball with specifically coded contact areas of the shoe meeting the mating coded contact areas of the ball with additional directional symbols.

What is needed is a soccer technical training system including a variety of means for demarking soccer shoes having a plurality of delineated coded areas on the sleeve for a wearer of the soccer shoe to contact a soccer ball for effective handling of the soccer ball by a soccer player wearing the demarked soccer shoes and including a mating demarked soccer ball, and programmed chips attached to soccer footwear of use with a virtual training program showing the player's moves and related ball actions in real time on a screen visible to the player. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a complete soccer technical training system comprising visual training aids including a variety of soccer footwear visual training aids (imprinted on soccer shoes with cleats, indoor soccer shoes without cleats, and elasticized tubular soccer shoe sleeves) having demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear and a demarked soccer ball having mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the footwear of the soccer player for use with the soccer shoe demarked soccer ball contacting zones for a soccer player to learn and practice and play, and a virtual training program, which may be on a soccer technical training DVD, used in conjunction with at least one motion detector on each of a pair of footwear to display virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time.

A related object of the present invention is to provide an elasticized tubular training soccer shoe sleeve to slip onto and grip onto a front portion of a soccer shoe with a plurality of delineated coded areas on the sleeve demarking specific areas on the soccer shoe where a wearer of the soccer shoe would cause the soccer shoe to contact a soccer ball for effective handling of the soccer ball by a soccer player wearing the soccer shoe sleeve, which may include an additional rear heel strap.

The visual training aids of the present invention can be used during practice and games as a device for improving technique. The soccer footwear each have five color zones that indicate where to direct the foot's impact for various kicks and ball handling and ball control actions including passing, shooting, swerving, bending, dribbling, controlling, turning, faking with combinations of strike zones etc. An instruction guide indicates the use of the device for self-use by a player and use by a soccer coach, trainer, or instructor in training the soccer players in complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking. A soccer ball with related mating color markings can be used with the demarked soccer shoe to indicate the parts of the ball where the shoe should contact the ball mating with the colors on the shoe to contact the right part of the ball with the right part of the shoe to achieve the desired results. The tube of the present invention may be cast in a mold, economically designed to fit the shape and size of a soccer player wearing cleated soccer shoes. The material conforms to the shape of the soccer shoe.

The elasticized tubular strike zone indicator of the present invention is easily pulled on to the player's foot and covers it from the tongue to the toe. One size can fit most youth player's feet.

Technical improvement will happen sooner with both feet as players practice the different technical skills performed with the individual ball contacting zones delineated on the various demarked soccer shoes.

The player's eye foot coordination and ball mastery will improve as different combinations of touches are being learned. The list of combinations of touches is endless.

Physical improvement and development that will occur as players learn different combinations of touches are improved balance, additional flexibility and mobility, an increase in core strength and leg strength and improved muscle memory.

Psychologically using the present invention players will understand and comprehend more complex foot skills sooner because of the visual aid of the soccer ball contact zones. With success comes self confidence and in turn creativity, experimentation and discovery.

The zones also identify the surfaces of the feet used to beat defenders with trick moves, fakes and touches.

The zones are placed in such a way that any soccer move can be mastered by learning to touch and fake the ball in a given sequence of zones.

Because the zones are touching each other and encompass the whole playing surface of the foot, any foot skill, technique or ball mastery can be perfected once a certain combination of touches and fakes on the different zones is learned.

The zones enable coaches to simply introduce new technical skills to players of all ages and abilities.

The present invention presents the particular technique in a visual manner that younger players can understand and remember.

The present invention encourages the use of all surfaces of both feet.

The acquired knowledge from use of the present invention transfers easily from practice to game. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the soccer shoe cover tube training device of the present invention attached to a soccer shoe for a right foot of a soccer player showing the demarked soccer ball contacting zones;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the soccer shoe cover tube of the present invention showing the demarked soccer ball contacting zones of both a right foot and a left foot soccer shoe cover tube each stretched out flat with the bottom of the tubes not connected;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top of the soccer shoe cover tube training device of the present invention intended for a soccer shoe on a right foot of the player showing the demarked soccer ball contacting zones;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottom of the soccer shoe cover tube training device of the present invention showing the slots to admit the cleats of the soccer shoe out through the slots;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a demarked soccer ball with mating demarked areas to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones of the soccer shoe showing the side of the demarked ball intended for use with a right soccer shoe;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a demarked soccer ball with mating demarked areas to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones of the soccer shoe showing the side of the demarked ball intended for use with a left soccer shoe;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a demarked soccer ball with mating demarked areas to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones of the soccer shoe showing a bottom of the demarked ball;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a demarked soccer ball with mating demarked areas to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones of the soccer shoe showing a top of the demarked ball;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a soccer player using the soccer shoe cover tubes on the players soccer shoes in conjunction with the demarked soccer ball;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the soccer shoe cover tube training device of the present invention attached to a soccer shoe for a right foot of a soccer player showing the demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the outside of the shoe and the elasticized strap around the heel;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the soccer shoe cover tube training device of FIG. 10 attached to a soccer shoe for a right foot of a soccer player showing the bottom edge overlap and the bottom cross piece between the front spikes and the larger bottom cross piece between the front spikes and the back spikes and showing the elasticized strap around the heel;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the soccer footwear visual training aid system of the present invention showing an outside of a right soccer shoe imprinted with the demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer shoe;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the alternate embodiment of the soccer footwear visual training aid system of FIG. 12 showing a top of a right soccer shoe imprinted with the demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer shoe;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the alternate embodiment of the soccer footwear visual training aid system of FIG. 12 showing an inside of a left soccer shoe imprinted with the demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer shoe;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the components of a virtual training program showing a programmed electronic visual production device communicating wirelessly with a motion sensor chip on a piece of soccer footwear used to transmit the motion information and display virtual images in real time of the foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 - 15, a soccer technical training system 10, 10A, 10B, and IOC comprises soccer footwear visual training aids including soccer footwear 20 having demarked soccer ball contacting zones 30, a demarked soccer ball 40 having demarked foot contact zones 50, and a virtual training program IOC.

In FIGS. 1-4, and 9-14, the soccer footwear visual training aids comprise a plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones 30 on the top portions 31, front portions 33, and both side portions 32, 33, and 34 of footwear 60 worn by a soccer player so that all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together used individually and in a variety of different combinations comprise all of the locations used in a game of soccer to for the soccer player to learn complete soccer ball handling.

The visual training aids for soccer footwear comprise a plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones 30 in the top 31, front 33, outside 32 and inside 34 and 35 of each of a pair of footwear 60 worn by the soccer player. Each of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones demarking a surface area of the soccer shoe for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer so that all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together used individually and in a variety of combinations comprise all of the locations on the upper front and both sides of a soccer shoe used in playing a game of soccer to contact the soccer ball for complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking by contacting the soccer ball with each appropriate demarked soccer ball contacting zone for each desired contact with the soccer ball enabling a soccer player to learn and practice and play using the demarked soccer ball contacting zones as a soccer shoe cover training device for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match for complete soccer ball handling.

In FIGS. 5-9, the demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas 50 on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear of the soccer player for use with the soccer shoe demarked soccer ball contacting zones for a soccer player to learn and practice and play.

The demarked soccer ball 40 comprises a plurality of ball visually demarked contact zones 50 corresponding to the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the pair of soccer footwear so that a soccer player trains by aligning mating contacting demarked footwear ball contacting zones 30 and the demarked soccer ball zones 50 to enable the soccer player to learn and practice and play effectively by using all of the demarked zones one mating pair of demarked zones at a time in a variety of combinations for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match; and the demarked soccer ball 40 having demarked directional arrows 58 on the outer surface for assisting a player in determining a direction of travel of the demarked soccer ball in association with the mating demarked areas.. In FIG. 15, at least one motion sensor 71 comprises at least one programmed chip in each of the pair of footwear and a programmed electronic visual production device 72 and 73 using a program which may be on a disc 70 communicating wirelessly with the chip to produce a real time virtual simulation on a screen 73 viewable by the soccer player of the soccer player's foot action and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen viewed by the soccer player.

In FIG. 15, a virtual training program IOC is used in conjunction with at least one motion detector 71, preferably a plurality of motion detectors, on each of the pair of soccer footwear 60B to display on a screen 73 in front of the player, virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen 73 in real time.

The demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the top 31L and 31R (left foot and right foot respectively) of the soccer footwear comprises a first demarked ball contacting zone 31L and 31R, indicated as a red soccer ball contacting zone, extending from a top front of the soccer footwear to a beginning of a toe area of the soccer footwear and from an upper outer side to an upper inner side of the soccer footwear, the first demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to contact the soccer ball to dribble a soccer ball at speed, to control a soccer ball from the air, to juggle a soccer ball, to volley a soccer ball in flight, to play a long driven pass on the ground, to play long floated balls in the air, to shoot a soccer ball with power, alternately used by a goal keeper to punt a soccer ball from the hands of the goal keeper, and alternately used by a player in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

The demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the outer side 32L and 32R of the soccer footwear comprises a second demarked ball contacting zone 32L and 32R, indicated as an orange soccer ball contacting zone, extending from an upper outer side adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the outer side of the soccer footwear to a bottom of the soccer footwear along the length of the first demarked ball contacting zone and extending backward at least to the back of the first demarked ball contacting zone and extending forward past a forward end of the first demarked ball contacting zone to a front tip of the outer side of the soccer footwear, the second demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control the soccer ball when the player is positioned sideways on to an opposing player, to shield the soccer ball from an opposing player, to control the soccer ball to a player's outside, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn outside, to pass the ball to the outside, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the outside, to juggle a soccer ball, to swerve a soccer ball around an opposing player when passing and shooting, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

A first demarked soccer ball contacting zone 35L and 35R on the inner side comprises a third demarked ball contacting zone 35L and 35R, indicated as a green soccer ball contacting zone, extending from an upper inner side adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the inner side of the soccer footwear to the bottom of the soccer footwear along a portion of the length of the first demarked soccer ball contacting zone from a back edge of the first demarked ball contacting zone to a midportion of the first demarked ball contacting zone, the third demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn inside, to bend a soccer ball when passing and shooting, to stop a soccer ball and position oneself between the soccer ball and an opposing player simultaneously, to roll a soccer ball across the player's body, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

The second demarked soccer ball contacting zone 33L and 33R on the inner side comprises a fourth demarked ball contacting zone 33L and 33R, indicated as a yellow soccer ball contacting zone, extending from an upper inner side edge adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the inner side of the soccer footwear to the bottom of the soccer footwear and from a mid portion of the first demarked ball contacting zone adjacent to a portion of the arch of the soccer shoe wearer, the fourth demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to control a soccer ball in the air, to control a soccer ball in a forward direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to pass a soccer ball on the ground playing a push pass, to roll a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to side volley a soccer ball in the air, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

The fifth demarked ball contacting zone 33L and 33R, indicated as a blue soccer ball contacting zone, extends from a bottom of the lacings of the soccer shoe forward over a top of a toe area of the soccer shoe. The fifth demarked ball ontacting zone 33L and 33R is alternately used by a player to chip a soccer ball sending the soccer ball on a long slow ascent into the air and a short quick dissent, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the front, to put backspin on a soccer ball, to score when a goalkeeper is applying pressure close to the ball, to flick a soccer ball into space behind opposing players, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

In FIGS. 1-4, the soccer shoe cover tube 20R and 20L, as shown in FIG. 2 for right and left soccer shoes respectively, is removably attached over a front portion of a soccer shoe 50R, shown as a right soccer shoe in FIGS. 1 and 9, covering the soccer shoe from a toe to a top of the lacings 61 and around two sides and a bottom of the shoe. The shoe cover tube 20R and 20L comprises an elasticized tube being structured to fit over a front of a soccer shoe 60 with a tight friction fit.

The shoe cover tube 20R and 20L bears a plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR and 30L over the top surface covering the soccer shoe from the toe to the top of the lacings 61 and down the sides to a sole of the shoe and a an array of cleat openings 21 in the bottom of the shoe cover tube to allow shoe cleats 62 to pass out through the cleat openings while the shoe cover tube grips the front of the soccer shoe tightly conforming to the shape of the front portion of the soccer shoe.

In FIG. 3, a top of the soccer shoe cover tube training device 10 of the present invention shows the soccer shoe cover tube 20R intended for a soccer shoe on a right foot of the player and shows the demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR.

In FIG. 4, a bottom of the soccer shoe cover tube training device 10 of the present invention shows the soccer shoe cover tube 20R having a series of slots 31 to admit the cleats 62 of the soccer shoe out through the slots, as shown in FIG. 1 with the soccer shoe cover tube mounted on the soccer shoe 60.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, each of the soccer shoe cover tubes 20 further comprise a flexible strap 27 extending between two sides of the tube around the heel of the soccer shoe to further secure the tube on the soccer shoe. In FIG. 11, the bottom has an edge strip 29, a front transverse connection strap 23 between cleats 62 on the front of the soccer footwear and a back transverse connection strap 25 between the front and back cleats.

The soccer shoe cover tube 20 is fabricated of at least one of the elasticized materials taken from the list of elasticized materials comprising a stretchy molded rubber, a stretchy synthetic rubber, and a stretchy synthetic.

In FIGS. 12 - 14, the pair of footwear 60A (L and R) worn by the soccer player comprises a pair of soccer shoes 60A with bottom cleats 62 and the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones 30 (L and R) are imprinted on the outer surfaces of the pair of soccer shoes. A pair of indoor soccer shoes with no bottom cleats would be identical to that of the cleated pair, such as looking at FIG. 13, for indoor use and the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones are imprinted on the outer surfaces of the pair of indoor soccer shoes.

In FIG. 5, a demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas 50R to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR of the soccer shoe showing the side of the demarked ball intended for use with a right soccer shoe. Demarked ball area 51R is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 31R with both demarked by mating red areas. Demarked ball area 52R is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 32R with both demarked by mating orange areas. Demarked ball area 53R is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 33R with both demarked by mating blue areas. Demarked ball area 54R is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 34R with both demarked by mating yellow areas. Demarked ball area 55R is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 35R with both demarked by mating green areas. Demarked arrows 58 indicate desired direction of travel of the ball 40 in response to a striking contact of the soccer ball 40 in adjacent demarked ball areas.

In FIG. 6, a demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas 50L to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones 30L of the soccer shoe showing the side of the demarked ball intended for use with a left soccer shoe. Demarked ball area 51L is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 31L with both demarked by mating red areas. Demarked ball area 52L is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 32L with both demarked by mating orange areas. Demarked ball area 53L is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 33L with both demarked by mating blue areas. Demarked ball area 54L is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 34L with both demarked by mating yellow areas. Demarked ball area 55L is the soccer ball contacting area to be contacted by the mating demarked soccer ball contacting zone 35L with both demarked by mating green areas.

In FIG. 7, the demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas 50R and 50L to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR and 30L of the soccer shoe cover training tubes 20R and 20L on soccer shoes showing a bottom of the demarked ball 40.

In FIG. 8, the demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas to match the demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR and 30L of the soccer shoe showing a top of the demarked ball bearing a logo 57.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a soccer player using the soccer shoe cover tubes on the players soccer shoes in conjunction with the demarked soccer ball.

In FIG. 9, a demarked soccer ball 40 has mating demarked areas 30R and 30L on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR and 30L on the soccer shoe cover tubes 20R and 20L for use with the soccer shoe cover tube for a soccer player to learn and practice and play effectively by using all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together on the soccer shoe cover tubes used individually and in a variety of combinations to contact the mating demarked areas on the demarked soccer ball for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match. The demarked soccer ball 40 further comprises demarked directional arrows 58 on the outer surface for assisting a player in determining a direction of travel of the demarked soccer ball in association with the mating demarked areas.

It is understood that the soccer shoe cover tubes 20R and 20L may be used on a plain white soccer ball for training independently of the demarked soccer ball 40 and the demarked soccer ball 40 may be used with soccer shoes not having the soccer shoe cover tubes 20R and 20L.

An instruction guide indicates the use of the device for self-use by a player and use by a soccer coach, trainer, or instructor in training soccer players to use the demarked ball contacting zones for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer.

In use, the elasticized soccer shoe cover tube 20R and 20L of the present invention is easily pulled on to the player's foot over the front of the soccer shoe 50 and covers it from the tongue at the top of the lacings 51 to the toe. One size can fit most youth player's feet. Although making a second mold is not a problem if we choose to do that. It is easily installed and fits securely for play and is easily removed when desired.

The printed zones are also ergonomically designed, positioned and shaped on the foot to indicate to the player in a visual manner the areas used for controlling, shielding, turning, dribbling, passing, shooting and all other aspects of contacting the soccer ball while playing soccer. The zones also identify the surfaces of the feet used to beat defenders with trick moves, fakes and touches. The zones are placed in such a way that any soccer move can be mastered by learning to touch and fake the ball in a given sequence of zones.

The zones enable coaches to simply introduce new technical skills to players of all ages and abilities. The present invention presents the particular technique in a visual manner that younger players can understand and remember.

The present invention encourages the use of all surfaces of both feet. The acquired knowledge transfers easily from practice to game.

The soccer ball contacting zones 30R and 30L of both soccer shoes may be used with a demarked soccer ball 40 to coordinate the soccer ball contacting zones 3 OR and 30L with the mating demarked areas 5 OR and 50L of the demarked soccer ball 40 and used with the directional arrows 58 to determine direction of travel of the soccer ball.

In use, the soccer player uses the virtual training program in conjunction with at least one motion detector on each of a pair of footwear to display virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time. The soccer player gamer would have a sleeve on each foot with sensors to detect which way the player moved his or her feet. This could be a softer sleeve that would be worn on socked feet. As the player moved his or her feet to mimic a passing, dribbling, or any other motion used in soccer, so the animated player on the screen would move. The idea of the training game being that the player can perform skills they already know or they can learn new skills from the player tutorial. The actions used to play the video game would be the same actions used in real life to play soccer.

Bringing real life and animation learning together in real time. The soccer gamer looking at the screen should be seeing what the animated player sees. A soccer player will move his or her feet just like the ball is in foot of him or her, while actually moving the ball on the screen.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A soccer technical training system comprising:

soccer footwear visual training aids comprising a plurality of visually

distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the top portions, front portions, and both side portions of footwear worn by a soccer player so that all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together used individually and in a variety of different combinations comprise all of the locations used in a game of soccer to for the soccer player to learn complete soccer ball handling;

a demarked soccer ball having mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer footwear of the soccer player for use with the soccer shoe demarked soccer ball contacting zones for a soccer player to learn and practice and play;

a virtual training program used in conjunction with at least one motion detector on each of the pair of soccer footwear to display virtual foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the foot worn soccer visual training aids comprise a plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones in the top, front, right side and left side of each of a pair of footwear worn by the soccer player, each of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones demarking a surface area of the soccer shoe for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer so that all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together used individually and in a variety of combinations comprise all of the locations on the upper front and both sides of a soccer shoe used in playing a game of soccer to contact the soccer ball for complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking by contacting the soccer ball with each appropriate demarked soccer ball contacting zone for each desired contact with the soccer ball enabling a soccer player to learn and practice and play using the demarked soccer ball contacting zones as a soccer shoe cover training device for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match for complete soccer ball handling.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the demarked soccer ball comprises a plurality of ball visually demarked contact zones corresponding to the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the pair of soccer footwear so that a soccer player trains by aligning mating contacting zones on the demarked soccer footwear and the demarked soccer ball to enable the soccer player to learn and practice and play effectively by using all of the demarked zones one mating pair of demarked zones at a time in a variety of combinations for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises at least one programmed chip in each of the pair of footwear and a programmed electronic visual production device communicating wirelessly with the chip to produce a real time virtual simulation of the soccer player's foot action and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen viewed by the soccer player.

5. A soccer footwear visual training aid system comprising:

soccer footwear visual training aids worn on the feet of a soccer player comprising a plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones in the top, front, right side and left side of each of a pair of footwear worn by the soccer player, each of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones demarking a surface area of the soccer shoe for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer so that all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together used individually and in a variety of combinations comprise all of the locations on the upper front and both sides of a soccer shoe used in playing a game of soccer to contact the soccer ball for complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking by contacting the soccer ball with each appropriate demarked soccer ball contacting zone for each desired contact with the soccer ball enabling a soccer player to learn and practice and play using the demarked soccer ball contacting zones as a soccer shoe cover training device for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match for complete soccer ball handling,

6. The foot worn soccer visual training aid system of claim 5 wherein the demarked soccer ball contacting zones in the top of the foot worn visual training aid , front, outer side and inner side the foot worn visual training aids comprise a plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones over the top surface of each of the soccer footwear from the toe to the top of the lacings and down the sides to a sole of the soccer footwear, controlling, and kicking including passing, stopping, shooting, touching, shielding, swerving, bending, dribbling, controlling, turning, tricking, and faking the ball in a given sequence of soccer ball contacting zones.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the top of the soccer footwear comprises a first demarked ball contacting zone extending from a top front of the soccer footwear to a beginning of a toe area of the soccer footwear and from an upper outer side to an upper inner side of the soccer footwear, the first demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to contact the soccer ball to dribble a soccer ball at speed, to control a soccer ball from the air, to juggle a soccer ball, to volley a soccer ball in flight, to play a long driven pass on the ground, to play long floated balls in the air, to shoot a soccer ball with power, alternately used by a goal keeper to punt a soccer ball from the hands of the goal keeper, and alternately used by a player in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the outer side of the soccer footwear comprises a second demarked ball contacting zone extending from an upper outer side adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the outer side of the soccer footwear to a bottom of the soccer footwear along the length of the first demarked ball contacting zone and extending backward at least to the back of the first demarked ball contacting zone and extending forward past a forward end of the first demarked ball contacting zone to a front tip of the outer side of the soccer footwear, the second demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control the soccer ball when the player is positioned sideways on to an opposing player, to shield the soccer ball from an opposing player, to control the soccer ball to a player's outside, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn outside, to pass the ball to the outside, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the outside, to juggle a soccer ball, to swerve a soccer ball around an opposing player when passing and shooting, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein a first demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the inner side comprises a third demarked ball contacting zone extending from an upper inner side adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the inner side of the soccer footwear to the bottom of the soccer footwear along a portion of the length of the first demarked soccer ball contacting zone from a back edge of the first demarked ball contacting zone to a midportion of the first demarked ball contacting zone, the third demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn inside, to bend a soccer ball when passing and shooting, to stop a soccer ball and position oneself between the soccer ball and an opposing player simultaneously, to roll a soccer ball across the player's body, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein a second demarked soccer ball contacting zone on the inner side comprises a fourth demarked ball contacting zone extending from an upper inner side edge adjacent to the first demarked ball contacting zone down the inner side of the soccer footwear to the bottom of the soccer footwear and from a mid portion of the first demarked ball contacting zone adjacent to a portion of the arch of the soccer shoe wearer, the fourth demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to control a soccer ball in the air, to control a soccer ball in a forward direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to pass a soccer ball on the ground playing a push pass, to roll a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to side volley a soccer ball in the air, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

11. The device of claim 7 comprising a fifth demarked ball contacting zone extending from a bottom of the lacings of the soccer shoe forward over a top of a toe area of the soccer shoe, the fifth demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to chip a soccer ball sending the soccer ball on a long slow ascent into the air and a short quick dissent, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the front, to put backspin on a soccer ball, to score when a goalkeeper is applying pressure close to the ball, to flick a soccer ball into space behind opposing players, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player.

12. The foot worn soccer visual training aid system of claim 5 wherein the foot worn visual training aids comprise a pair of soccer shoes each having a soccer shoe cover tube removably attached over a front portion of the soccer shoe covering the soccer shoe from a toe to a top of the lacings and around two sides and a bottom of the shoe, the shoe cover tube comprising an elasticized tube being structured to fit over a front of a soccer shoe with a tight friction fit, the shoe cover tube bearing the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on an upper visible portion of the shoe cover tube and an array of cleat openings in the bottom of the shoe cover tube to allow shoe cleats to pass out through the cleat openings while the shoe cover tube grips the front of the soccer shoe tightly conforming to the shape of the front portion of the soccer shoe.

13. The foot worn soccer visual training system of claim 12 wherein each of the soccer shoe cover tubes further comprise a flexible strap extending between two sides of the tube around the heel of the soccer shoe to further secure the tube on the soccer shoe.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the soccer shoe cover tube is fabricated of at least one of the elasticized materials taken from the list of elasticized materials comprising a stretchy molded rubber, a stretchy synthetic rubber, and a stretchy synthetic.

15. The device of claim 5 wherein the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones comprise differently colored areas on an outer surface of the soccer footwear.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones comprise five differently colored areas imprinted on the outer surface of the soccer footwear.

17. The foot worn soccer visual training aid system of claim 5 wherein the pair of footwear worn by the soccer player comprises a pair of soccer shoes with bottom cleats and the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones are imprinted on the outer surfaces of the pair of soccer shoes.

18. The foot worn soccer visual training aid system of claim 5 wherein the pair of footwear worn by the soccer player comprises a pair of indoor soccer shoes with no bottom cleats for indoor use and the plurality of visually distinguishable differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones are imprinted on the outer surfaces of the pair of indoor soccer shoes.

19. The device of claim 5 further comprising a demarked soccer ball having mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer shoe cover tube for use with the soccer shoe cover tube for a soccer player to learn and practice and play effectively by using all of the demarked soccer ball contacting zones together on the soccer shoe cover tubes used individually and in a variety of combinations to contact the mating demarked areas on the demarked soccer ball for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match; and having demarked directional arrows on the outer surface for assisting a player in determining a direction of travel of the demarked soccer ball in association with the mating demarked areas.

20. A virtual display soccer technical training program comprising:

a pair of soccer footwear having at least one motion sensor chip attached to each one of the pair, a wireless transmitter communicating with each of the at least one motion sensor to transmit motion information detected thereby;

a virtual training program comprising a programmed electronic visual production device communicating wirelessly with the chip used in conjunction with at least one motion sensor chip on each of the pair of soccer footwear to receive the motion information and display virtual images in real time of the foot motions made by the soccer player and the subsequent virtual soccer ball motions on a visual screen in real time.