Prismatic ball kicking training aid and method of use

Abstract

The present ball kicking training aid has a substantially rectangular prism-like shape, with at least one kicking face with a kicking instructional graphic that provides guidance to the practicing player on where to kick and how to kick a ball, such as a soccer ball, an American football, or similar. Because it is proper foot planting is important, at least one non-kicking face is provided to the side of the kicking face with a foot plant instructional graphic for the non-kicking foot. The players can practice multiple kicks in quick succession without the ball kicking training aid moving a substantial distance, so that the player can increase kicking skills in a short timeframe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A training aid for practicing kicking techniques, the training aid comprising:
 a body comprising a first kicking face, a second kicking face opposite the first kicking face, a first non-kicking face spanning between the first kicking face and the second kicking face, a second non-kicking face opposite the first non-kicking face and spanning between the first kicking face and the second kicking face, a bottom face, and a top face opposite the bottom face;   a first kicking instructional graphic on the first kicking face, the first kicking instructional graphic communicating a first kicking instruction and a second kicking instruction, the first kicking instruction communicating a first kicking orientation and a first kicking position, the second kicking instruction communicating a second kicking orientation and a second kicking position;   a second kicking instructional graphic on the second kicking face, the second kicking instructional graphic matching the first kicking instructional graphic;   a first foot plant instructional graphic on the first non-kicking face; and   a second foot plant instructional graphic on the second non-kicking face.   
     
     
         2 ) The training aid of  claim 1  wherein the body is substantially shaped as a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         3 ) The training aid of  claim 2  wherein the body comprises an outer shell constructed of a plurality of panels made of a pliable material, the first kicking face comprising a first panel, the second kicking face comprising a second panel, the first non-kicking face comprising a third panel, the second non-kicking face comprising a fourth panel, the top face comprising a fifth panel, and the bottom face comprising a sixth panel. 
     
     
         4 ) The training aid of  claim 3  wherein the outer shell defines an interior space containing a fill material, the fill material comprising one or more of a rag material, a sand material, and a grain material. 
     
     
         5 ) The training aid of  claim 4  wherein the outer shell further comprises a reclosable opening for adding or removing the material. 
     
     
         6 ) The training aid of  claim 1  wherein the first kicking instruction of the first kicking instructional graphic on the first kicking face comprises an elongated horizontal graphic positioned below a middle portion of the first kicking face. 
     
     
         7 ) The training aid of  claim 1  wherein the elongated horizontal graphic communicates a horizontal foot kicking orientation. 
     
     
         8 ) The training aid of  claim 1  wherein the second kicking instruction of the second kicking instructional graphic on the first kicking face comprises an elongated diagonal graphic positioned through a middle portion of the first kicking face. 
     
     
         9 ) The training aid of  claim 8  wherein the elongated diagonal graphic communicates a diagonal foot kicking orientation. 
     
     
         10 ) The training aid of  claim 8  wherein the first kicking instructional graphic further comprises a third kicking instruction, the third kicking instruction comprises a second elongated diagonal graphic positioned through the middle portion of the first kicking face and intersecting the elongated diagonal graphic at the middle portion. 
     
     
         11 ) The training aid of  claim 1  wherein the first kicking instructional graphic comprises the first kicking instruction, the second kicking instruction, and a third kicking instruction, the first kicking instruction comprises an elongated horizontal graphic positioned below a middle portion of the first kicking face, the second kicking instruction comprises an elongated diagonal graphic positioned through the middle portion of the first kicking face, the third kicking instruction comprises a second elongated diagonal graphic positioned through the middle portion of the first kicking face and intersecting the elongated diagonal graphic at the middle portion. 
     
     
         12 ) A training aid for practicing proper kicking technique, the training aid comprising:
 a body substantially shaped as a rectangular prism comprising a first kicking face; and   a kicking instructional graphic located on the kicking face, the first kicking instructional graphic communicating a first kicking instruction, a second kicking instruction, and a third kicking instruction;   wherein the first kicking instruction comprises an elongated horizontal graphic positioned below a middle portion of the first kicking face, the second kicking instruction comprises an elongated diagonal graphic positioned through the middle portion of the first kicking face, the third kicking instruction comprises a second elongated diagonal graphic positioned through the middle portion of the first kicking face and intersecting the elongated diagonal graphic at the middle portion.   
     
     
         13 ) The training aid of  claim 12  wherein the body comprises an outer shell constructed of a plurality of panels made of a pliable material, the outer shell defines an interior space containing a fill material, the fill material comprising one or more of a rag material, a sand material, and a grain material. 
     
     
         14 ) The training aid of  claim 13  wherein the outer shell further comprises a reclosable opening for adding or removing the material. 
     
     
         15 ) The training aid of  claim 12  wherein the body further comprises a second kicking face opposite the first kicking face, the second kicking instructional graphic matching the first kicking instructional graphic. 
     
     
         16 ) A training aid for practicing proper kicking technique, the training aid comprising:
 a body comprising a kicking face, a first face opposite the kicking face, a non-kicking face spanning between the kicking face and the first face, a second face opposite the non-kicking face and spanning between the kicking face and the first face, a bottom face, and a top face opposite the bottom face;   a kicking instructional graphic located on the kicking face, the kicking instructional graphic configured to communicate a kicking instruction comprising a kicking limb orientation relative to the kicking instructional graphic and a striking location on the kicking instructional graphic; and   a foot plant instructional graphic on the non-kicking face configured to communicate a foot plant location relative to the body.   
     
     
         17 ) The training aid of  claim 16  wherein the kicking instruction comprises one or more of an elongated horizontal graphic positioned below a middle portion of the kicking face, a first elongated diagonal graphic positioned across the kicking face, and a second elongated diagonal graphic positioned across the first kicking face and intersecting the first elongated diagonal graphic. 
     
     
         18 ) The training aid of  claim 16  wherein the first face comprises a second kicking face with a second kicking instructional graphic located on the second kicking face the second face comprises a second non-kicking face with a second foot plant instructional graphic on the non-kicking face.