Soccer kicking aid and method of using the same

Abstract

An apparatus to be used with a shoe for kicking a ball includes a connecting member adapted to secure the apparatus to the shoe and a contacting member coupled to the connecting member and adapted to extend away from an instep portion of the shoe when the apparatus is coupled to the shoe. The apparatus is configured such that when a person kicks the ball, the contacting member contacts the ball above the equator when the shoe contacts the ball below the equator.

1 . An apparatus adapted to be used with a shoe for kicking a ball, the shoe having a toe portion, an instep portion and a rear portion, the ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a connecting member adapted to secure the apparatus to the shoe; and   a contacting member coupled to said connecting member and adapted to extend from the instep portion of the shoe when said apparatus is coupled thereto,   wherein said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when the shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member includes an elastic strap. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member includes at least one strap, said strap having at least one of a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting member includes a generally rectangular plate having a front wall adapted to face the toe portion of the shoe, a back wall adapted to face the rear portion of the shoe, a top and bottom wall, and two end walls, said plate adapted to engage the instep of the shoe along said bottom wall. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting member includes a bulbous member having a front portion adapted to face the toe portion of the shoe, a back portion adapted to face the rear portion of the shoe, and a top and bottom portion, said bulbous member adapted to engage the instep of the shoe along said bottom portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting member further comprises:
 a base portion coupled to said connecting member; and   a tower portion removably coupled to said base portion.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tower portions, each tower portion having a different height.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an extension portion removably coupled to said base portion.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of extension portions, each extension portion having a different height.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for kicking a ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a shoe having a toe portion, an instep portion, and a rear portion; and   a kicking aid coupled to said shoe, said kicking aid including a contacting member extending from the instep portion of the shoe, wherein said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when the shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said kicking aid is integrally formed with said shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said shoe includes a tongue or tongue extension, said kicking aid being integrally formed with said tongue or tongue extension. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said contacting member includes a generally rectangular plate having a front wall adapted to face the toe portion of said shoe, a back wall adapted to face the rear portion of said shoe, a top and bottom wall, and two end walls. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said contacting member includes a bulbous member having a front portion adapted to face the toe portion of the shoe, a back portion adapted to face the rear portion of the shoe, and a top and bottom portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said contacting member further comprises:
 a base portion coupled to said shoe; and   a tower portion removably coupled to said base portion.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said contacting member further comprises:
 an extension portion removably coupled to said base portion.   
     
     
         17 . A method of kicking a ball having an equator, comprising:
 providing a shoe having a kicking aid, the kicking aid including a contacting member extending from an instep portion of the shoe;   kicking the ball so that the shoe contacts the ball below the equator; and   contacting the ball with the contacting member above the equator when the shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing a tower portion of the contacting member; and   replacing the tower portion of the contacting member with another tower portion having a different height.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 disposing an extension portion between a base portion and a bulbous member of a kicking aid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the extension portion of the contacting member; and   replacing the extension portion of the contacting member with another extension portion having a different height.