Soccer training apparatus

Abstract

A soccer training apparatus ( 1 ) is disclosed and includes a chassis ( 10 ) and a plurality of contact members ( 3 ) arranged, in an operable configuration, to partially surround a user. Each contact member ( 3 ) has a visual indicator ( 4 ) associated with it capable of being activated by a user in accordance with a random or preset sequence. Switch means ( 35, 36 ) is associated with each contact member ( 3 ) and is operable to deactivate a visual indicator ( 4 ) when a contact member ( 3 ) is kicked by the user and control means ( 50 ) detects when a visual indicator ( 4 ) has been deactivated and activates the next visual indicator ( 4 ) in the sequence. Each contact member ( 3 ) is attached to a rocker arm ( 22 ) pivotally mounted to the chassis ( 10 ) and the switch means comprises an actuator ( 35 ) on the rocker arm ( 22 ) and a sensor ( 36 ) on the chassis ( 10 ) such that, when a contact member ( 3 ) is kicked by a user, movement of the actuator ( 35 ) is detected by the sensor ( 36 ) to deactivate the visual indicator ( 4 ).

1 . A soccer training apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of chassis, the chassis being arrangeable, in an operative configuration, to at least partially surround a user;    a rocker arm pivotally mounted to each chassis; and    a contact member attached to each rocker arm, each contact member having: 
 a visual indicator associated therewith capable of being activated by a user in accordance with one of a random and preset sequence,  
 switch means associated with each contact member operable to deactivate said associated visual indicator when a contact member is kicked by the user, wherein the switch means includes an actuator on the rocker arm and a sensor on the chassis such that, when a contact member is kicked by a user, movement of the actuator is detected by the sensor to deactivate the visual indicator, and  
 control means for detecting when a visual indicator has been deactivated and for activating the next visual indicator in the sequence.  
   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor and the actuator is a blocking element, wherein as the blocking element moves to interrupt a beam of light generated by the sensor in response to the contact member being kicked, said interruption being detectable by the sensor.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the rocker arm includes biasing means to bias it into a rest position in which the blocking element does not interrupt the light beam.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to a  claim 3 , wherein the biasing means is a resiliently compressible member disposed between the rocker arm and the chassis.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , including a stop to limit rebound of the rocker arm after a contact member has been kicked.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said stop comprises: 
 a rod upstanding from the chassis to extend through an aperture in the rocker arm; and    rocker arm restraint means mounted on the rod.    
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the rod is threaded and the rocker arm restraint means comprises a nut threadingly received on a portion of the rod that protrudes through the aperture in the rocker arm.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the rocker arm is normally biased against the nut by the compressible member.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein a damping member is disposed between the nut and the rocker arm.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact member has a foamed polyurethane core.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of releasably attachable modules, each module including at least one contact member.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein co-operating means is provided at each end of a module for attachment to an adjacent module.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the co-operating means comprises a tenon on one module that dovetails with a mortise on an adjacent module.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the co-operating means incorporates an electrical connector.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the control means is a control unit releasably attachable to the free end of one module.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the modules co-operate together to partially surround a user in an arcuate configuration.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the control unit comprises a computer processor, a memory for storing one or more computer programs and a user interface for selecting a program stored in the memory.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control means includes a computer program, the computer program being operable, when run on a computer processor, to activate the visual indicators in one of the random and preset sequences, the computer program being operable to activate the next visual indicator in the sequence.  
     
     
         19 . A training apparatus, comprising: 
 at least one module including: 
 a chassis,  
 a housing portion attachable to the chassis,  
 a rocker arm operatively mounted to the chassis;  
 a contact member operatively connected to the rocker arm;  
 at least one visual indicator operatively associated with the housing portion;  
 and  
 switch means operatively associated with the rocker arm and the at least one visual indicator the switch means being configured to deactivate the at least one visual indicator upon striking of the contact member by the user, wherein the switch means includes an actuator on the rocker arm and a sensor on the chassis such that when a contact member is struck by a user, movement of the actuator is detected by the sensor to deactivate the visual indicator; and  
   control means operatively associated with the at least one module, the control means being configured to detect when a visual indicator has been deactivated and to activate a subsequent visual indicator.