SOCCER TRAINING APPARATUS

The present invention seeks to provide soccer training apparatus which has a plurality of training uses.

The term 'soccer' is used herein throughout, and is intended to also include 'football'.

Apparatus for improving soccer skills is known, for example from US4286786. However, this apparatus provides a ramp within the goal. Whilst this is fine for practising goal scoring skills, since the struck ball is generally returned to the shooter by the internal ramp, passing and ball control skills are neglected.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention, there is provided soccer training apparatus comprising a rigid ball-receiving ramp having a ball-control side which is sloped to receive and return a ball and a ball-shooting side on the reverse of the ball-control side, and soccer goal posts provided at the ball-shooting side to define a soccer goal, the ball-control side of the ramp and the soccer goal having opposite orientations so as to be utilised from opposite directions.

Preferably, the soccer goal posts support the ramp in the upright condition.

Advantageously, the ball-receiving ramp may extend from a lowermost edge of the apparatus to or adjacent to an uppermost edge of the apparatus.

Beneficially, the ball-control side of the ramp may include at least two channels therealong for directing movement of a soccer ball. In this case, the ball-control side of the ramp may include three channels therealong for the movement of a soccer ball.

Preferably, one said channel has a larger lateral extent than the other said channel or channels.

More preferably, the channels have openings for ball movement therebetween adjacent to an uppermost edge of the apparatus.

Furthermore, one of the channels may have a ramp surface which is offset relative to the ramp surface of the other channel.

The ramp may optionally have a perimeter wall for stopping or limiting ball movement.

Furthermore, the ball-control side of the ramp may preferably be concave.

Preferably, the ball-control side of the ramp includes one or more ball target markings.

Soccer training apparatus may further comprise one or more bollards located or locatable on the ball-control side of the ramp.

Furthermore, the soccer training apparatus may further comprise a ball-aiming hoop located or locatable on the ball-control side of the ramp.

Additionally, the soccer training apparatus may further comprise a soccer goal crossbar which interconnects the soccer goal posts.

Finally, the soccer training apparatus may further comprise a soccer goal net which extends from the soccer goal posts back to or adjacent to the ball-shooting side of the ramp.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of soccer training apparatus, from a ball-control side and in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the soccer training apparatus, from a ball- shooting side; Figure 3 shows the ball-control side with optional bollards;

Figure 4 shows an exploded side view of one bollard and means for engaging the bollard to a ramp of the apparatus; and

Figure 5 shows the ball-control side with optional lobbing hoop.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown soccer training apparatus 10 which comprises a, typically plastics moulded, solid rigid ball-receiving ramp 12 on one side and a soccer goal 14 on the opposite side.

The ball-receiving ramp 12 has a ball-control side 16 and a ball-shooting side 18. The ball- control side 16 is generally concave, thus providing a smooth upwards transition and slope from a lowermost edge 20 of the apparatus 10, which typically lies on the ground, to or adjacent to an uppermost edge 22 of the apparatus 10. An upstanding perimeter wall 24 is formed along each side of the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12, and along the uppermost edge 22. The wall 24 prevents or inhibits a soccer ball from leaving the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12, except by the leading edge 26.

The ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12 includes a plurality of channels 28. In this case, three channels 28a, 28b, 28c are provided. However, two channels or more than three channels can be provided. The channels 28 direct movement of the soccer ball. In the present embodiment, the middle channel 28b has a greater lateral extent than the two outer channels 28a, 28c. A lateral dimension of the outer channels 28a, 28c is less than twice the diameter of a size 4 soccer ball, whereas the lateral dimension of the middle channel 28b is greater than twice the diameter of a size 4 soccer ball, and is preferably at least five times the diameter.

Although the channels 28 extend in parallel, one, some or all of the channels 28 may converge / diverge or define non-rectilinear paths, such as serpentine or curved.

Inner walls 30 in part defining the channels 28 are spaced from the uppermost edge 22 and perimeter wall of the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12 so as to provide upper openings 32 into the channels 28. The openings 32 are of sufficient dimension to allow ball movement between adjacent channels 28.

A ramp surface 34 of each of the outer two channels 28a, 28b has a shallower pitch than the ramp surface 34 of the middle channel 28b, thus providing an increasing vertical offset towards the leading edge 26. As a consequence, at the leading edge 26 of the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12, each outer channel 28a, 28c has a step 36.

Ball target markings 38 are also included on the ramp surface 34 of the middle channel 28b on ball-control side 16. The target markings 38 may include a target line 40 at or adjacent to the upper openings 32 of the channels 28, extending between the inner walls 30, and a target spot 42, which in this case is above the target line 40, but which may be below the target line 40.

Although the target line 40 is provided across the middle channel 28b, an additional or alternative target line may be provided in one or both outer channels 28a, 28c. Similarly, one or more target spots may also be provided at or adjacent to the outer channels 28a, 28c.

The ball target markings 38 are beneficial for improving soccer ball placement accuracy. The target line 40 improves striking force accuracy, and the target spot 42 improves aim.

The slope of the middle channel 28b allows a soccer ball to be struck up the ramp 12 and to have it return under gravity. Placement and accuracy is again tested and improved upon by the use of the outer channels 28a, 28c, by striking the ball so that it passes from the middle channel 28b, through one of the upper openings 32 and into one of the outer channels 28a, 28c. The narrowness of the outer channels 28a, 28c requires the user to move, thus

improving a user's spatial awareness and positioning, and the step 36 at the bottom of the outer channels 28a, 28c tests the user's ball-receiving control skills.

To allow a user to practice and enhance their shooting skills, the soccer goal 14 can be used. The soccer goal 14 is provided on the rear ball-shooting side 18 of the ramp 12, which is opposite the ball-control side 16. As such, the ramp 12 and the soccer goal 14 have opposite orientations so as to be accessible only from opposite directions.

The soccer goal 14 includes two L-shaped spaced-apart soccer posts 44, an upper crossbar 46 which interengages the uprights 48 of the two soccer posts 44, and a lower crossbar 50 which interengages the bases 52 of the two posts 44. The upper crossbar 46 is located at or adjacent to the uppermost edge 22 of the ramp 12, and the uprights 48 of the soccer posts

44 extend downwardly therefrom and away from the ramp 12 to define a mouth of the goal.

The bases 52 of the soccer posts 44 engage with respective sides of the ramp 12 at or adjacent to the leading edge 26. The ramp 12 is thus rigidly supported in an upright condition by the frame of the goal 14.

A soccer goal net 54 extends from the uprights 48 of the soccer goal posts 44 and upper crossbar 46 back to or adjacent to the ball-shooting side 18 of the ramp 12. Conveniently, the net 54 can be secured to the lower crossbar 50, which is positioned partway along the base 52 of each post 44.

Although the soccer goal 14 is described as having two L-shaped posts 44 and upper and lower crossbars 46, 50, it is feasible that the upper and/or lower crossbars can be dispensed with, and, additionally or alternatively, the soccer posts may simply be straight rectilinear posts which engage the ball-shooting side 18 of the ramp 12 and which are fixed to the ground, for example by the use of pegs. The goal may thus be defined by an uppermost edge 22 of the ball-shooting side 18 of the ramp 12 and the posts.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, to further train a user's ball accuracy, the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12 may preferably be provided with means for releasably engaging one

or more bollards 56. The bollards 56 allow a user to place a soccer ball within a more confined and specific area. Although shown as being aligned close to the target line 40, the bollards 56 can be offset, and a plurality of engagement means can be provided at various positions on the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12, including on any or all of the three channels 28.

Typically, each bollard 56 comprises a flared stem 58 and a screw-threaded spigot 60. The ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12 includes one or more apertures 62 dimensioned to receive the spigot 60. A mating nut 64 is threaded onto the spigot 60 from the ball-shooting side 18 of the ramp 12 to releasably fasten the bollard 56 in place. The engagement means thus comprises the screw-threaded spigot 60, the mating nut 64, and the associated aperture 62.

As an alternative option, the bollard 56 may be a push-fit into an aperture or recess formed in the ball-control side 16 of the ramp 12.

Referring to Figure 5, a lobbing hoop 66 is also optionally provided to vary a user's training, and to further promote aerial placement and passing accuracy. The hoop 66 is typically annular, being an endless ring, but may be any shape. Two elongate support elements 68 extend unidirectionally from opposite sides of the hoop 66. The support elements 68 are positioned to correspond to the apertures 62 or recesses in the ball-control side 16 for the bollards 56, and are releasably engaged with the ramp 12 in a similar manner as described above. The support elements 68 are sufficiently elongate so that the hoop 66 does not interfere with the passage of a soccer ball therebelow.

The size of the apparatus can preferably be varied depending on the size of ball to be used.

Although the ball-control side of the ramp is concave, it may be planar instead.

Furthermore, the ball-control side may not by wholly concave, and may have one or more concave portions, one or more planar portions, and even one or more convex portions to

further test a user's skills. It is preferable, however, to have a smooth transition from the ground onto the ball-control side, and this portion will typically be concave.

Furthermore, although the soccer goal on the ball-shooting side of the ramp extends the height of the ramp, it may only extend partway thereup.

Additional posts on the ball-shooting side of the ramp may be utilised to support the ramp instead of, or in addition to, the soccer goal posts.

The mouth of the soccer goal extends the width of the ball-control side of the ramp, but may be wider or narrower.

The apparatus can be any size, and larger sizes may include higher and/or a greater number of channels.

The main benefit of the apparatus described above is that the ball-control side of the ramp and the mouth of the soccer goal face in opposite directions, thus providing a multitude of training exercises from goal scoring to passing and ball-control skills. It should thus be understood that the ball-control side of the rigid ramp, which is sloped to receive and return a soccer ball, and the soccer goal are the only essential features, and that all other features described above are preferable. The apparatus is also simple to manufacture, with few parts, thus making it cost-effective to produce.

The embodiments described above are by way of examples only, and further modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.