The present invention provides apparatus for playing a ball game, comprising a plurality of rebound surfaces against which the ball can be projected by a player to cause the ball to return in a rebound direction.

Preferably there are five rebound surfaces angularly conjoined such that the rebound direction is dependent upon which rebound surface is struck.

Preferably, the ball rebounds in a predictable direction when a desired rebound surface is struck.

Preferably the ball rebounds in an unpredicted direction when a rebound surface, other than the desired rebound surface, is inadvertently struck.

Preferably said rebound surfaces are formed on a plurality of panels releasably secured together.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention the apparatus comprises a central panel providing a number of rebound surfaces, and a pair of side panels each providing a number rebound surfaces.

The panels may be conjoined by one or more of a nut and bolt assembly, hinge assembly or slot and groove assembly.

Each panel suitably has a bottom surface permitting the panels to stand, in use, on a floor.

Said rebound surfaces typically are substantially vertical in use, and are disposed symmetrically about a central vertical axis of the apparatus.

Preferably, each rebound surface is joined to the next rebound surface at a joining angle of between 110 to 160 degrees.

Preferably, each rebound surface may have a further rebound surface at one edge thereof for rebounding the ball in a further rebound direction.

Preferably, the overall width and height of the apparatus is 1500 mm and 550 mm respectively.

The apparatus is preferably used with a football (soccer ball) or mini-football (mini-soccer ball).

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus from the front; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view from the rear of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of Fig. 1 detailing relevant angle ranges; Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l ; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus for playing a ball game, generally designated as 10, is formed of five rebound surfaces lla, llb, llc, lld and lle.

The apparatus 10 is generally symmetrical about a generally vertical axis which runs through the centre of a central rebound surface lie.

Rebound surfaces lla and llc are integrally formed on a first panel 12a, rebound surfaces lib and lid are integrally formed on a second panel 12b, and rebound surface lle is formed on a third, central panel 12c.

The first and second panels 12a and 12b are conjoined to respective ends of the central panel 12c. The panels are joined by nut and bolt assemblies 13a and 13b. Alternatively, the panels can be joined by a hinge assembly or a slot and groove assembly. The three panels 12a, 12b and 12c can be easily connected and disconnected to allow for easy storage and transport. Alternatively, the three panels 12a, 12b and 12c are integrally formed, or are formed in more than three sections.

As is best seen in Fig. 3, each rebound surface lla, llb, llc, lld and lle is joined to the next rebound surface generally at a joining angle of between 110 to 160 degrees. Preferably, said joining angles are 135 degrees between rebound surface lle and llc and between rebound surface lie and lld ; and 155 degrees between rebound surface llc and lla and between rebound surface lid and llb.

The apparatus is further provided with a further rebound surface llf, which is located on an upper edge of the apparatus, the lower edge being placed on the floor. It will be appreciated that the term floor encompasses any generally flat surface whether indoor or outdoor. The further rebound surface llf

is generally formed to slope toward the player in the central area (Fig. 4) but tapers off and has a reverse slope towards the extreme ends of the apparatus (14a and 14b).

Referring to Fig. 1, in one embodiment of the apparatus, the dimensions indicated are approximately as follows: A 530 mm B 530 mm C 400 mm D 440 mm E 120 mm F 1440 mm The apparatus can conveniently be formed by GRP moulding.

The apparatus can be used as a game and can be played with one or more players.

It will be appreciated that the rebound direction of the ball may be readily predicted by the player if the ball is accurately directed against a desired rebound surface.

It follows therefore that the rebound direction of the ball will not be predicted by the player if the ball is not accurately placed or if the ball is not carefully directed towards a particular rebound

surface (i. e. the ball is directed in a random fashion towards the rebound surfaces).

The apparatus can be used for games using different turns or different skills every time the ball rebounds to the user or the user performs a different trick, projecting the ball towards the apparatus. The apparatus can be used for trapping the ball if the ball is kicked against the additional rebound surface: the ball comes back on the bounce allowing the user to trap the ball with his feet.

The apparatus can be used as a defending game whereby the ball player projects the ball against the apparatus while a defending player tries to take the ball from the ball player. The ball player can play the ball against different rebound surfaces in order to"shake off"the defender. The accuracy of the ball player will determine the extent to which he/she will be able to predict the rebound direction of the ball.

The apparatus can be used for goalkeeping practice whereby the goalkeeper stands further from the apparatus than the ball player and when the ball player projects the ball against the apparatus and the ball rebounds, the goalkeeper attempts to save the ball. By carefully directing the ball against a particular rebound surface the ball player can predict the rebound direction of the ball for the goalkeeper to attempt to save. Alternatively the

goalkeeper can use the apparatus individually by projecting the ball against the apparatus and saving the ball on the rebound.

The apparatus can be used at very low intensity for rehabilitation programs for injuries to novice and professional football players alike.

At the beginning of a rehabilitation period, particularly after an extended period of non- activity, a physiotherapist can use the apparatus to re-introduce a player to football manoeuvres. This requires introducing low levels of controlled training, slowly increasing the workload of the player throughout the course of their rehabilitation period until full intensity training is achieved.

Relative progressive training also trains the energy systems predominantly used, making them more efficient. These complex bio-chemical reactions can be trained using the apparatus of the present invention. Training using the apparatus can also re-establish motor unit recruitment patterns. Once again the use of specific football related training drills used progressively, are essential in restoring the bio-chemical fitness of any injured player.

Motor recruitment patterns are important for football players and it requires high levels of skill. Skills must be practised repetitively in order to establish optimum recruitment patterns.

This can be done using the apparatus. Heart rate measurement and cameras can be used in conjunction with the apparatus to help indicate overall fitness and possible bio-chemical changes that may need attention.

At present medical teams do not have apparatus available to help develop a blueprint for fitness testing based on completion of intermediate and final stage rehabilitation regimes. A physiotherapist/coach can pass the individual as achieving a required fitness by observing the player complete various training stages adequately on the apparatus of the invention. This is due to the fact that the work performed is football specific and reproducible. Advanced drills can be performed with as much speed and as close to match conditions as possible, which allows loading of the injured muscle tissue in the player in a controlled environment, from which the physiotherapist can assess the players physical and mental response. Such drills may be designed to also assess a players ability to project the ball against the rebound surfaces such that he/she can predict the rebound direction and/or to assess their ability to react to unpredicted rebound directions.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.