Flexible football tee

Abstract

A flexible football tee for supporting a football at a selected elevation above the ground. The football tee provides a steady base resistant to movement, and provides uniformity in the football placement. The football tee provides virtually no resistance to movement of the foot of a kicker as the football is struck, thereby reducing variables in the transfer of momentum from the foot to the football. The football tee is reusable and provides a surface for presentation of printed matter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting a football on the ground as the football is contacted by the foot of a kicker, comprising: 
 a pedestal base formed with a flexible material, wherein said base has a lower end for contacting the ground, and wherein said base has an upper end for supporting the football at a selected elevation and orientation above the ground.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base is substantially shaped as a cylinder.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base is substantially shaped as an oval.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said flexible material provides substantially no resistance to the foot of the kicker upon impact.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base presents a surface for displaying printed matter.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said printed matter comprises at least one mark for orienting the placement of said base relative to another object.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the height of said base upper end is adjustable to modify the selected elevation of the football above the ground.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base upper end is configured to provide continuous contact with the football.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base material is sufficiently elastic to regain an initial configuration following impact between the foot of the kicker and the football.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base upper end lies in a plane substantially parallel to the ground.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base upper end lies in a plane angled to the ground.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base flexible material substantially comprises the same thickness throughout.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base flexible material varies in thickness between said base upper end and said base lower end.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture in said base.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said base comprises a flexible mesh material.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for supporting a football on the ground as the football is contacted by the foot of a kicker, comprising: 
 a cylindrical pedestal base formed with a flexible material, wherein said base has a lower end for contacting the ground, and wherein said base has an upper end for supporting the football at a selected elevation and orientation above the ground.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said flexible material provides substantially no resistance to the foot of the kicker upon impact.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said base upper end is configured to provide continuous contact with the football.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said base material is sufficiently elastic to regain an initial configuration following impact between the foot of the kicker and the football.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said base upper end lies in a plane substantially parallel to the ground.