Soccer training aid and method

Abstract

A soccer training aid having at least one continuous, elongate, durable strip of field-marking webbing with grommets located at opposite ends and at an intermediate position on the webbing. Anchor pegs are secured to the grommets enabling the webbing to be removably secured to a surface of a playing field. The webbing can be wound into a compact storage condition on a hand-held carrier and conveniently carried to and from the playing field. A method of applying markings to a playing field is also disclosed.

1 . A soccer training aid, comprising: 
 at least one continuous, elongate, durable strip of field-marking webbing extending between opposite ends;    a plurality of grommets located on said webbing, said plurality of grommets including one grommet on each of said opposite ends of said webbing and at least one grommet located at an intermediate position between said opposite ends of said webbing;    a plurality of anchor pegs, each peg being secured to one of said grommets so that said webbing is removably securable to a surface of a playing field; and    a carrier on which said webbing is wound in a compact storage condition when stored, carried, or transported and from which said webbing is removable for placement on the playing field during use thereof.    
   
   
       2 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said anchor pegs has a proximal end with a substantially-closed hook which substantially-permanently captures said proximal end of said anchor peg to said grommet.  
   
   
       3 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 2 , wherein, when said webbing is in said compact storage condition on said carrier, said anchor pegs remain secured to said grommets.  
   
   
       4 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 3 , wherein said webbing is nylon webbing.  
   
   
       5 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 4 , wherein said grommets are made of a corrosion resistant metal.  
   
   
       6 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said anchor pegs is made of zinc plated steel and includes an elongate distal portion for insertion into the playing field.  
   
   
       7 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 6 , wherein said carrier includes a framework body having a handle and defining a spaced-apart pair of oppositely-opening webbing-receiving slots for supporting said webbing when said webbing is wound in said compact storage condition on said carrier.  
   
   
       8 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 7 , wherein said framework body of said carrier is made of plastic.  
   
   
       9 . A soccer training aid according to  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of said strips of said field-marking webbing, wherein each of said strips is at least about thirty feet in length, and wherein said carrier has a capacity to hold about eight of said strips in said compact storage condition.  
   
   
       10 . A method of creating defined areas for soccer training drills, comprising the steps of: 
 transporting at least one continuous, elongate, durable strip of field-marking webbing wound in a compact storage condition on a hand-held carrier to a playing field;    removing the webbing from said carrier; and    securing the webbing to the playing field in a predetermined layout by inserting anchor pins extending from said webbing into the playing field at opposite ends of said webbing and at an intermediate location of said webbing.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said securing step includes gripping a substantially-closed hook proximal end of one of the anchor pegs and applying a downwardly-directed force thereon to insert an elongate distal end of the anchor peg into the playing field.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said predetermined layout is a substantially square grid for a soccer training drill within the grid.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said predetermined layout is V-shaped for use during a player tracking exercise.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said predetermined layout is a step layout for use during a line of sight training drill.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said predetermined layout includes a base line and several lines spaced at varying distances therefrom for use during a shuttle run drill.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said transporting step includes transporting multiple identical strips of webbing each wound on said carrier, wherein each webbing is at least about thirty feet in length.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step of removing the webbing from the playing field after said securing step.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising a step of re-securing the webbing to the playing field in a different layout pattern after said step of removing the webbing from the playing field.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising a step of winding the webbing onto the carrier so that the webbing is placed in the compact storage condition and can be readily stored and carried after completion of soccer training drills.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein, during said winding step, said anchor pins remain attached to the webbing.