Instructional Soccer Ball with Foot Placement/Foot Orientation Indicia

Abstract

The present invention relates to a soccer ball that includes a plurality of instructional markings on its outer surface. The instructional markings may correspond to an instruction to shoot, pass, chip, drive, curve, etc. the ball. Further, the instructions are also placed on the location of the ball that is appropriate for effecting the ball in the way that the instruction teaches. The soccer ball may also include an instructional marking for calibrating the soccer ball in order to ensure that the remaining instructional markings are in the correct location of the ball relative to the positioning of the ball on the ground and relative to the user that is kicking the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An instructional soccer ball comprising:
 a ground placement marking on said ball;   a first set of one or more instructional markings on a first hemisphere of said ball, being identified using at least a first color; and a second set of one or more markings on a second hemisphere of said ball, being identified using at least a second color; wherein a plane defined by a prime meridian that divides said soccer ball into said first and second hemispheres is substantially coplanar with a center of said ground placement marking;   wherein said first set of one or more instructional markings on said first hemisphere of said ball comprises a first foot marking configured to identify general foot placement and foot orientation for contact with said soccer ball for a lace kick.   
     
     
         2 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 1 , wherein said first foot marking is formed on said soccer ball for a lace region of said first foot marking being substantially centered on the 90 degree meridian. 
     
     
         3 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 2 , wherein said first foot marking is formed on said soccer ball for a lengthwise direction of said first foot marking to be oriented to be at an angle (θ 1 ) of less than 15 degrees with respect to a plane formed by a 90 degree meridian of said soccer ball. 
     
     
         4 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 3 , wherein when said soccer ball is a size 2 soccer ball, a toe end of said first foot marking is preferably positioned a circumferential distance (D 1 ) of at least 1.25 inches away from the center of said ground placement marking. 
     
     
         5 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 3 , wherein when said soccer ball is a size 2 soccer ball, a toe end of said first foot marking is preferably positioned a circumferential distance (D 1 ) of at least 1.5 inches away from the center of said ground placement marking. 
     
     
         6 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 3 , wherein when said soccer ball is a size 2 soccer ball, a toe end of said first foot marking is preferably positioned a circumferential distance (D 1 ) of at least 1.75 inches away from the center of said ground placement marking. 
     
     
         7 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 4 , further comprising a first word positioned upon said first foot marking, said first word being indicative of said first foot marking being for a lace kick. 
     
     
         8 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 7 , wherein said ground placement marking comprises a circular marking, and said plane defined by the prime meridian is substantially coaxial with an axis of said circular marking. 
     
     
         9 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 8 , wherein said ground placement marking further comprises a second word positioned within said circular marking, said second word being instructive of placement of said circle on the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 1 , wherein said first set of one or more instructional markings on said first hemisphere of said soccer ball further comprises:
 a second foot marking configured to identify general foot placement and foot orientation for contact with said soccer ball for a left curved pass; and   a third foot marking configured to identify general foot placement and foot orientation for contact with said soccer ball for a right curved pass.   
     
     
         11 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein said second foot marking is formed on said soccer ball for a lengthwise direction of said second foot marking to be oriented to be at an angle (θ 2 ) of 30 degrees plus or minus 20 degrees with respect to an equatorial plane of said soccer ball, with a central portion of a toe end of said second foot marking being positioned a distance (D 2 ) of at least one inch away from a plane formed by the 180 degree meridian, and a distance (D 3 ) of at least 0.25 inches below the equatorial plane.   
     
     
         12 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein said third foot marking is formed on said soccer ball for a lengthwise direction of said third foot marking to be oriented to be at an angle (θ 3 ) of 30 degrees plus or minus 20 degrees with respect to an equatorial plane of said soccer ball, with a central portion of a toe end of said third foot marking being positioned a distance (D 4 ) of at least one inch away from a plane formed by the prime meridian, and a distance (D 5 ) of at least 0.25 inches below the equatorial plane.   
     
     
         13 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said second foot marking and said third foot marking comprises a region color coded with a different shade of said first color, to indicate the big toe region of the foot to be used for initial contact with said soccer ball for the curved pass. 
     
     
         14 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 13 , further comprising a third word respectively positioned upon each of said second foot marking and said third foot marking, said third word being indicative of said second and third foot markings being for the curved pass. 
     
     
         15 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fourth foot marking and a fifth foot marking formed the same as said second and third foot markings, except for said central portion of said toe end being positioned above the equatorial plane, for respective left and right curved scoring shots. 
     
     
         16 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 15 , further comprising a sixth foot marking formed on said soccer ball for a lengthwise direction of said second foot marking to be oriented to be substantially parallel to the equatorial plane, and be substantially centered on the 270 degree meridian for a push pass. 
     
     
         17 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 16 , further comprising a fourth word positioned upon said sixth foot marking, said fourth word being indicative of said sixth foot markings being for the push pass. 
     
     
         18 . The instructional soccer ball according to  claim 16 , further comprising a seventh foot marking formed on a top of said soccer ball, and a fifth word positioned upon said seventh foot marking, said fourth word being indicative of said seventh foot markings being to trap said soccer ball.