Device for training soccer ball kicking technique

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for training soccer ball kicking technique, which device comprises: a base with a bottom surface and a rotation axis oriented perpendicularly thereof; an arm arranged on the base for rotation around the rotation axis; a soccer ball connected via a cord to the free outer end of the arm.

Description

[0001] Device for training soccer ball kicking technique

[0002] The invention relates to a device for training soccer ball kicking technique , which device comprises :

[0003] - a base with a bottom surface and a rotation axis oriented perpendicularly thereof ;

[0004] - an arm arranged on the base for rotation around the rotation axis .

[0005] Such a device is for instance known from WO 2011005989 . In this known device a soccer ball is arranged fixedly on the free outer end of the arm . In this known device the arm can further also move in a vertical plane . The degree of movement is adj ustable here .

[0006] Kicking technique for soccer can be trained with a device according to the prior art . Because the ball is attached to an arm, which is rotatable in a hori zontal plane , it is possible to kick alternately with the left leg and with the right leg . Such an exercise contributes to acquiring soccer skills with both the left leg and the right leg .

[0007] EP 3509713 also shows such a known device , wherein an arm is rotatable in a hori zontal plane and wherein a soccer ball is arranged fixedly on the free end of the arm . The arm can here optionally also move in a vertical plane .

[0008] The drawback of these known devices is that , when the soccer ball is kicked away, it is not only the weight of the ball that is kicked away but also the arm arranged fixedly thereon . This makes contact between the foot of the soccer player and the soccer ball at the moment of kicking di f ferent than i f the ball were not impeded by the arm .

[0009] When the arm of the known devices is also able to move in vertical direction, ball feel will in this case also be af fected by the fixed connection of the soccer ball to the arm . The invention has for its obj ect to reduce or even obviate the above stated drawbacks .

[0010] This obj ect is achieved according to the invention with a device according to the preamble , which is characteri zed by a soccer ball connected via a cord to the free outer end of the arm .

[0011] Because the soccer ball hangs from the outer end of the arm via a cord, the soccer ball will initially be able to move freely for the most part upon initial contact of the foot of a player with the soccer ball . Ball feel will hereby correspond better with a completely unattached soccer ball upon initial contact . It is only once the soccer ball gains speed due to bouncing of f the foot that the soccer ball will pull the arm along via the cord and the soccer ball will rotate with the arm about the rotation axis , so that the player can strike the soccer ball with the other foot . As soon as the player strikes the soccer ball with the other foot , the arm will continue to rotate slightly, whereby the soccer ball once again lies substantially clear and the arm af fects the ball feel as little as possible .

[0012] With the device according to the invention it is also possible to practice heading a ball . For this purpose the height of the ball relative to the ground must be adj usted, for instance by placing the base on an elevation or by bringing the arm to a greater distance from the bottom surface of the base . The ball feel at the moment of heading will here also be more realistic owing to the cord by which the ball hangs from the arm .

[0013] In an embodiment of the device according to the invention the length of the cord between the outer end of the arm and the soccer ball is smaller than hal f the diameter of the soccer ball . Such a length enables the soccer ball to be guided readily by the arm in the rotation around the rotation axis , while the ef fect of the arm resulting from the soccer ball being suspended from the cord will be minimal upon initial ball contact .

[0014] In another embodiment of the device according to the invention the cord is elastic and extends from the soccer ball , along the outer end of the arm to an attachment point arranged at a position along the arm or the base .

[0015] When kicking away the soccer ball , tension will be built up in the cord due to the inertia of the arm . Making the cord elastic enables this tension to be built up more gradually . The arm will hereby pull the soccer ball back less quickly, causing the soccer ball to bounce back, as it were .

[0016] The position of the attachment point is preferably adj ustable in order to enable the bias in the cord to be adj usted . The reaction of the device can hereby be adapted to , among other things , how hard a player kicks the ball .

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the arm is an L-shaped tube , wherein the short leg of the L-shape protrudes rotatably into the base . Such an embodiment can be manufactured in simple manner, whereby production costs can be kept low .

[0018] These and other features of the invention are further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings .

[0019] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention .

[0020] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the arm with the ball of the device according to figure 1 .

[0021] Figures 3A and 3B show two di f ferent positions of the device according to figure 1 .

[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device 1 according to the invention . The device 1 has a base 2 with a bottom surface 3 and a rotation axis 4 oriented perpendicularly thereof .

[0023] On the upper side of base 2 an L-shaped tube 6 , 7 is inserted with the short leg 6 so that the long leg 7 of the L- shape forms an arm . The arm 7 is thus able to rotate around the rotation axis 4 .

[0024] Provided at the free end of arm 7 is a cord 8 from which hangs a soccer ball 9 .

[0025] Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the L-shaped tube 6 , 7 with the soccer ball 9 thereon . Cord 8 runs from soccer ball 9 over a length 1 up to the free outer end of arm 7 , and then continues in arm 7 to the attachment point 10 . Cord 8 is elastic, while attachment point 10 is formed by the outer end of a non-elastic chain 11 . The chain 11 is locked adj ustably to the other end by a pin 12 . This enables the bias in cord 8 to be adj usted .

[0026] Figure 3A shows the device 1 in a first position, wherein a player S is about to kick soccer ball 9 with the right foot R . The soccer ball 9 on arm 7 will hereby rotate around rotation axis 4 in clockwise direction .

[0027] Figure 3B shows a second position of device 1 , wherein arm 7 with soccer ball 9 has been turned through three quarters of a turn . In this way the player S can subsequently kick the ball with the left foot L, whereby arm 7 together with soccer ball 9 will turn in counter-clockwise direction and the arm 7 with the ball 9 once again reaches the position shown in figure 3A

[0028] This makes it possible for the player S to alternately kick soccer ball 9 with the left leg L and the right leg R .

Claims

Claims1. Device for training soccer ball kicking technique, which device comprises:- a base with a bottom surface and a rotation axis oriented perpendicularly thereof;- an arm arranged on the base for rotation around the rotation axis; characterized by- a soccer ball connected via a cord to the free outer end of the arm.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the cord between the outer end of the arm and the soccer ball is smaller than half the diameter of the soccer ball.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cord is elastic and extends from the soccer ball, along the outer end of the arm to an attachment point arranged at a position along the arm or the base.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the position of the attachment point is adjustable in order to enable the bias in the cord to be adjusted.

5. Device according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the arm is an L-shaped tube, wherein the short leg of the L-shape protrudes rotatably into the base.

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