Soccer kicking aid and method of using the same

Abstract

A kicking aid ( 10 ) to be used with a shoe ( 12 ) for kicking a ball ( 52 ) includes a connecting member ( 18 ) adapted to secure the kicking aid ( 10 ) to the shoe ( 12 ) and a contacting member ( 14 ) coupled to the connecting member ( 18 ) and adapted to extend away from an instep portion ( 16 ) of the shoe ( 12 ) when the kicking aid ( 10 ) is coupled to the shoe ( 12 ). In another embodiment, the kicking aid ( 100 ) is secured to a shin guard 150 , instead of a shoe ( 12 ). In either embodiment, when a person kicks the ball ( 52 ), the kicking aid ( 10, 100 ) contacts the ball ( 52 ) above the equator ( 58 ) when the shoe ( 12 ) contacts the ball ( 52 ) below the equator ( 58 ).

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.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus adapted to be used with a shin guard for kicking a ball, the shin guard having a stirrup to help secure the shin guard to a leg, the ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a contacting member, said contacting member includes a bulbous member adapted to extend away from the leg; and   a fastener adapted to secure the contacting member to the stirrup; and   when the ball is being kicked, said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when a shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus adapted to be used with a shin guard secured to a leg for kicking a ball, the shin guard having a downwardly extending flap, the ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a contacting member, said contacting member includes a bulbous member adapted to extend away from the leg; and   a fastener adapted to secure the contacting member to the downwardly extending flap; and   when the ball is being kicked, said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when a shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         23 . An apparatus adapted to be used with a sock-like garment worn on a leg for kicking a ball, the ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a contacting member, said contacting member includes a bulbous member adapted to extend away from the leg; and   a fastener adapted to secure the contacting member a forward facing portion of the sock-like garment; and   when the ball is being kicked, said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when a shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for kicking a ball, the ball having an equator, the apparatus comprising:
 a shin guard having at least one strap adapted to extend around a leg to help secure said shin guard to the leg, said shin guard having a lower end;   an downwardly extending portion affixed to said lower end of said shin guard;   a contacting member, said contacting member includes a bulbous member adapted to extend away from the leg; and   a fastener adapted to secure the contacting member to the downwardly extending portion; and   when the ball is being kicked, said contacting member is adapted to contact the ball above the equator when a shoe contacts the ball below the equator.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said downwardly extending portion is a stirrup. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said downwardly extending portion is a flap. 
     
     
         27 . A method of kicking a ball having an equator, comprising:
 providing one of a shin guard or sock-like garment on a leg, said shin guard or sock-like garment having a kicking aid, the kicking aid including a contacting member extending away from the leg;   kicking the ball with a shoe 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.