Athletic training device and method of use

Abstract

A system for training an athlete in kicking and dribbling a soccer ball, the system employs a plurality of training devices that defines a dribble path along the playing surface. The training devices each include a body disposed between an end cap and a spike. The cap is attached to a top end of the body and, the spike is attached to an opposite end of the body. The body having sufficient flexibility and resiliency to absorb shocks and prevent breakage in the event of a strong blow by a ball or player. In particular, the body is designed to yield or bend in response to a strong blow by a ball or player. In application, the player can insert the spike of each of a number of the athletic training devices into a playing surface at various intervals in a variety of patterns so as to enable the soccer athlete to practice different drills to develop a variety of athletic skills.

1 . An athletic training device comprising: 
 an elongated central section having an upper end and a lower end,    an end cap attached to the upper end of the central section,    a spike attached to the lower end of the central section,    said central section being sufficiently resilient to allow the central section to yield when said central section absorbs a hit by a ball or a player.    
   
   
       2 . The athletic training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the end cap is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The athletic training device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the end cap is constructed of a color coated plastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The athletic training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the central section is a coil spring.  
   
   
       5 . The athletic training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spike is constructed of a rigid material in order to penetrate a soft playing field.  
   
   
       6 . The athletic training device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central section and said end cap and said spike are integrally formed.  
   
   
       7 . A system for training a player in a kicking dribble skill with a soccer ball on a playing surface, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of training devices defining a path on the playing surface along which the player is to be trained,    wherein the plurality of training devices each include a body disposed between an end and a spike,    wherein the end is attached to a top end of the body, and the spike is attached to an opposite end of the body,    wherein said body being sufficiently resilient to allow the body to yield when said body absorbs a hit by the ball or the player.    
   
   
       8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the end is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the end is constructed of a color coated plastic material.  
   
   
       10 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the body comprises a spring.  
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the spike is constructed of a rigid material in order to penetrate the playing field.  
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said body and said end and said spike are integrally formed.  
   
   
       13 . A method for training a player in a kicking dribble skill with a soccer ball on a playing surface, the system comprising: 
 determining a dribble path over which the player is to be trained,    installing a plurality of training devices along the dribble path on the playing surface along which the player is to be trained,    wherein the training device comprising a body disposed between an end and a spike,    wherein the end is attached to a first end of the body, and the spike is attached to a second end of the body,    wherein said body being sufficiently resilient to allow the body to yield when said body absorbs a hit by the ball or the player.    
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the end is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the end is constructed of a color coated plastic material.  
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the body comprises a spring.  
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the spike is constructed of a rigid material in order to penetrate the playing field.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein there is further provided the step of kicking the soccer ball in a ball travel direction between the training devices and along the determined path until the player has traversed a predetermined distance of the dribble path.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said body and said end and said spike are integrally formed.