Sports Training Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A sports training apparatus that is particularly suitable for teaching close ball control to soccer players. The apparatus preferably assumes the form of a ring surrounding a player. The ring rests on the ground. The ring is preferably formed by a series of interlocking planar elements. Each planar element has an impact face oriented toward the player. Each impact face includes at least one target area. The invention includes a control device that activates a stimulus associated with one or more target areas in any desired sequence or randomly.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball, comprising:
 a. providing a plurality of panels, each of which includes,
 i. a first end, 
 ii. a second end, 
 iii. a long axis between said first and second ends, 
 iv. an impact face between said first and second ends, 
 v. said impact face having a target area with an impact sensor able to detect an impact of said soccer ball, 
 vi. a first mating surface on said first end, said first mating surface having a first electrical connector, said first mating surface being canted inward with respect to said long axis, 
 vii. a second mating surface on said second end, said second mating surface having a second electrical connector, said second mating surface being canted inward with respect to said long axis, 
 viii. a speaker; 
   b. assembling a ring of said panels by mating a first mating surface on a first panel to a second mating surface on an adjacent panel until every mating surface on every panel abuts a mating surface on an adjacent panel;   c. providing a clamping mechanism for each of said panels, said clamping mechanism configured to clamp a mating surface on one panel to a mating surface on an adjacent panel;   d. activating each of said clamping mechanisms to lock all of said panels together, wherein said activation of each clamping mechanism simultaneously creates a mechanical and electrical connection between adjacent panels;   e. providing a directionally-specific auditory stimulus indicating to said player the direction of a designated target area on a designated panel;   f. providing a visual stimulus on said designated panel; and   g. monitoring said impact sensor on said designated panel to determine whether said player strikes said impact sensor with said soccer ball.   
     
     
         2 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. providing a display located substantially above the ground;   b. providing images on said display to provide a visual stimulus to said player.   
     
     
         3 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. providing a computer controlling said plurality of panels;   b. wherein said computer selectively provides said stimuli and records each impact of said soccer ball on said impact sensor.   
     
     
         4 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said speakers are used to emit realistic game sounds simulating an actual soccer game. 
     
     
         5 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said display presents a visual cue indicating whether a pass should or should not be made in the direction of said display. 
     
     
         6 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of displays surrounding said user, wherein each of said displays is located substantially above the ground. 
     
     
         7 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each of said displays presents a visual cue indicating whether a pass should or should not be made in the direction of said display. 
     
     
         8 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball, comprising:
 a. providing a plurality of panels, each of which includes,
 i. a first end, 
 ii. a second end, 
 iii. a long axis between said first and second ends, 
 iv. an impact face between said first and second ends, 
 v. said impact face having a target area with an impact sensor able to detect an impact of said soccer ball, 
 vi. a first mating surface on said first end, said first mating surface having a first electrical connector, said first mating surface being canted inward with respect to said long axis, 
 vii. a second mating surface on said second end, said second mating surface having a second electrical connector, said second mating surface being canted inward with respect to said long axis, 
 viii. a speaker; 
   b. assembling a ring of said panels by mating a first mating surface on a first panel to a second mating surface on an adjacent panel until every mating surface on every panel abuts a mating surface on an adjacent panel;   c. providing a clamping mechanism for each of said panels, said clamping mechanism configured to clamp a mating surface on one panel to a mating surface on an adjacent panel;   d. activating each of said clamping mechanisms to lock all of said panels together, wherein said activation of each clamping mechanism simultaneously creates a mechanical and electrical connection between adjacent panels;   e. wherein each of said clamping mechanisms is able to withstand a tensile force of forty pounds across a panel-to-panel joint it connects;   f. providing a stimulus indicating to said player a designated target area on a designated panel; and   g. monitoring said impact sensor on said designated panel to determine whether said player strikes said impact sensor with said soccer ball.   
     
     
         9 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a. providing a display located substantially above the ground;   b. providing images on said display to provide a visual stimulus to said player.   
     
     
         10 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a. providing a computer controlling said plurality of panels;   b. using said computer to provide visual stimuli on a plurality of panels; and   c. wherein said computer selectively provides said stimuli and records each impact of said soccer ball on said impact sensor.   
     
     
         11 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said speakers are used to emit realistic game sounds simulating an actual soccer game. 
     
     
         12 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said display presents a visual cue indicating whether a pass should or should not be made in the direction of said display. 
     
     
         13 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of displays surrounding said user, wherein each of said displays is located substantially above the ground. 
     
     
         14 . A method for training a player to control and pass a soccer ball as recited in  claim 13 , wherein each of said displays presents a visual cue indicating whether a pass should or should not be made in the direction of said display.