Methods of playing soccer games

Abstract

A method of play is provided that includes (a) identifying a starting position from which each individual player attempts to kick a ball into a goal area, (b) having each individual player attempt to kick a ball from the starting position into the goal area to obtain a goal, (c) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player, and (d) determining a winner based on the highest score. In some exemplary embodiments, the method of play may be a single round of play between any number of opposing teams, or the method may between individual players. In other exemplary embodiments, the method of play may include one or more subsequent rounds of play that comprise additional steps.

1 . A method of playing a game on a field between opposing teams having a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying a starting position from which each individual player attempts to kick a ball past a goalie into a goal area;   (b) having individual players attempt to kick a ball from the starting position past a goalie into the goal area to obtain a goal;   (c) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player to the player's respective team; and   (d) determining the team with the highest score resulting from the above steps.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each team includes an equal number of players, and all of the individual players will each make one attempt to kick a ball into a goal area. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of identifying a starting position comprises identifying a plurality of starting positions from which each individual player selects a position from which the player attempts to kick a ball past a goalie into a goal area. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein kick attempts alternate between opposing team players until all of the players have taken a kick attempt. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 (e) identifying a second starting position that is at a different position relative to the goal than the first starting position, from which each individual player attempts to kick a ball past a goalie into a goal area,   (f) having each individual player attempt to kick a ball from the second starting position past a goalie into the goal area to obtain a goal,   (g) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player to the player's respective team, and   (h) determining the team with the highest score resulting from steps (a) through (g).   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second starting position is at an angle relative to the goal. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second starting position is at a distance from the goal that is greater than the distance of the first starting position from the goal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the method awards a score value for a goal kicked into the goal area from the second starting position that is higher than the score value for a goal kicked into the goal area from the first starting position. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first starting position is a center position in front of the goal area and the second starting position is a corner position on a side of the goal area, and the method awards a higher score value for a ball kicked by a player into the goal area from the corner position than for a ball kicked by a player into the goal area from the center position. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the score value for a goal kicked from the center position is 1, and the score value for a goal kicked from a corner position is at least 2. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the goal area includes one or more preferable zones, and the method awards a higher score value for a ball that is kicked into a preferable zone than for a ball that is kicked into the goal area outside of a preferable zone. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the goal area includes at least two preferable zones in the upper corners of the goal area, and the method awards an additional score value for a ball kicked by a player past a goalie into one of the preferable zones. 
   
   
       13 . A method of playing a game on a field between opposing teams having an equal number of players, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying two or more positions on the field, from which each individual player selects a position from which the player attempts to kick a ball past a goalie into a goal area;   (b) having each player attempt to kick a ball from one of the identified positions past a goalie into the goal area to obtain a goal;   (c) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player to the player's respective team; and   (d) determining the team with the highest score resulting from the above steps.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein kick attempts alternate between opposing team players until all of the players have taken a kick attempt. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein kick attempts are taken successively by players of the same team until all the players on the same team have each made one kick attempt. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the two or more positions include a first position and at least a second position that is farther away from the goal than the first position, and the method awards a higher score value for a goal kicked from the second position than a goal kicked from the first position. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the score value for a ball kicked into the goal area from the first position is 1, and the score value for a ball kicked into the goal area from the second position is at least 2. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the one or more positions include a center position in front of the goal area and a corner position on a side of the goal area, and the method awards a higher score value for a ball kicked by a player into the goal area from the corner position than for a ball kicked by a player into the goal area from the center position. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the score value for a ball kicked into the goal area from the center position is 1, and the score value for a ball kicked into the goal area from a corner position is at least 2. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the two or more positions include one short-distance position and a plurality of longer distance positions, and a player of a team is only permitted to kick from the short-distance position when the last player of the same team kicked a ball into the goal area on the team's preceding kick attempt. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the goal area further includes one or more preferable zones, and the method awards a higher score value for a ball kicked into a preferable zone than for a goal kicked into the goal area outside of a preferable zone. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the goal area includes at least two preferable zones in the upper corners of the goal area, and the method awards an additional score value for a ball kicked by a player past a goalie into one of the preferable zones. 
   
   
       23 . A method of playing a game between opposing teams having a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 (a) having each player attempt to kick a ball from a position to the goal area to obtain a goal;   (b) awarding scores for each ball that is kicked to the goal area by a player to the player's respective team; and   (c) determining the team with the highest score resulting from the above steps.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the position is at a distance about 36 feet from the goal area. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the ball is thrown towards the player, such that the position on the field from which the player attempts to kick the ball is dependent upon where the ball is thrown. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the position on the field from which the ball is kicked is a fixed location selected before a player attempts to kick the ball. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of attempting to kick the ball additionally includes dribbling the ball to advance the ball towards the goal area before attempting to kick the ball to the goal area. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the player must complete a minimum number of dribbles before attempting to kick the ball to the goal area. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein upon dribbling the ball, the player has a predetermined amount of time in which to kick the ball to the goal area. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the goal area is protected by a goalie that attempts to block a kick by the player, such that the player attempts to kick the ball past the goalie to the goal area. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the goal area is not protected by a goalie, and the goal area is smaller in size than a conventional soccer goal area. 
   
   
       32 . A method of playing a game on a field between opposing teams having a plurality of players, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying a plurality of starting positions, from which each individual player selects a desired starting position where the individual player will attempt to kick a ball to a goal area;   (b) having each individual player attempt to kick a ball from the starting position to the goal area to obtain a goal, until all of the players on each team have each made one kick attempt;   (c) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player to the player's respective team; and   (d) determining the team with the highest score resulting from the above steps.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the plurality of starting positions are of varying distance from the goal and have different score values associated with the various starting positions, such that a player may select a starting position having a higher associated score value from which to attempt a kick in an attempt to obtain a higher score value upon kicking the ball to the goal area. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the goal area is protected by a goalie, such that the player must kick the ball past the goalie to the goal area. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising a subsequent round including the steps of:
 (e) having each individual player select from the plurality of positions a desired starting position where the individual player will attempt to kick a ball to a goal area;   (f) having each individual player attempt to kick a ball from a selected starting position to the goal area to obtain a goal, until all of the players on each team have each made one kick attempt;   (g) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player during the subsequent round; and   (h) determining the team with the overall highest score resulting from the preceding steps.   
   
   
       36 . A method of playing a game on a field between individual players, the method comprising:
 (a) identifying a starting position from which each individual player attempts to kick a ball past a goalie into a goal area;   (b) having individual players attempt to kick a ball from the starting position past a goalie into the goal area to obtain a goal;   (c) awarding scores for each goal that is kicked by a player to the individual player; and   (d) determining an individual winner based on the highest score value.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the position is at a distance about 36 feet from the goal area. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of starting positions are of varying distance from the goal and have different score values associated with the various starting positions, such that a player may select a starting position having a higher associated score value from which to attempt a kick from in an attempt to obtain a higher score value in kicking the ball to the goal area. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the goal area is protected by a goalie, such that the player must kick the ball past the goalie to the goal area. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the player attempts to kick a ball into a goal area without causing the ball to exceed a predetermined speed, above which the kick attempt is disqualified.