Soccer ball and training method

Abstract

A soccer training ball having a plurality of graphic illustrations on its surface, a first graphic substantially concentric to the perimeter of said ball when a first indexing target is placed at top dead center position, and at least one second graphic placed substantially opposite said first graphic, said graphics having targets included therein such that said graphics suggest the optimum striking area on said ball to achieve a desired ball direction and trajectory.

1 . An improved soccer ball comprising:
 at first graphic illustration on the surface of said ball thereby defining a first side of said ball, said first side substantially comprising one half the surface of said ball; said graphic illustration positioned substantially central thereon;   at least on indexing target, said indexing target positioned on said surface such that when said indexing target is positioned at substantially top dead center, said graphic illustration is substantially centered on said first side as said ball rests on a playing surface;   at least one second graphic placed substantially opposite said first graphic on the second side of said ball, each of said graphic illustrations having positioned substantially centrally thereon striking targets, said striking targets indicating optimum striking areas on said ball to achieve desired ball direction and trajectory when struck.   
   
   
       2 . An improved soccer ball comprising:
 a first graphic illustration on the surface of said ball, and defining a first side thereof;   at least one indexing target, said indexing target positioned on said surface such that when said indexing target is positioned at substantially top dead center, said first graphic illustration is substantially vertically centered on said first side as said ball rests on a playing surface;   a pair of graphic illustrations positioned substantially centrally on said other or second side of said ball, said pair of graphic illustrations positioned substantially left and right of each other; each of said graphic illustrations having positioned substantially centrally thereon striking targets, said striking targets indicating optimum striking areas on said ball to achieve predetermined general ball direction and trajectory when struck.   
   
   
       3 . The improved soccer ball of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second indexing target located on said surface substantially opposite said other or first indexing target.   
   
   
       4 . The improved soccer ball of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second indexing target located on said surface substantially opposite said other or first indexing target.   
   
   
       5 . The improved soccer ball of  claim 2  wherein:
 said pair of said graphic illustrations being shaped to represent the effect of compression on said ball if struck in the location of each of said graphic illustrations.   
   
   
       6 . The improved soccer ball of  claim 4  wherein:
 said pair of said graphic illustrations being shaded to represent the effect of compression on said ball if struck in the location of each of said graphic illustrations.   
   
   
       7 . A method of training soccer players comprising:
 an improved soccer ball having a first graphic illustration on the surface of said ball thereby defining a first side of said ball, said first side substantially comprising one half the surface of said ball; said first graphic illustration positioned substantially central thereon;   at least one indexing target, said indexing target positioned on said surface such that when said indexing target is positioned at substantially top dead center, said graphic illustration is substantially centered on said first side as said ball rests on a playing surface;   a pair of graphic illustrations positioned substantially centrally on said other or second side of said ball, said pair of graphic illustrations positioned substantially left and right of each other; each of said pair of graphic illustrations having positioned substantially centrally thereon striking targets, said striking targets indicating optimum striking areas on said ball to achieve predetermined general ball direction and trajectory when struck;   training aids in the form of at least one from the group of printed, audio and visual materials explaining the physical principles governing the striking, direction and trajectory of a soccer ball, said training aids referring specifically to said graphic illustrations on said ball, said training aids further explaining the use and conceptual basis of said striking and indexing targets such that said soccer players may use said soccer ball as an additional training aid in learning how to kick a soccer ball.