Kick training device to measure the strength and accuracy of a dominant and weak leg kick

Abstract

A training device for performing a training kick includes a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface. The device further includes a ball, a front frame attached to the base and defining a first slot, a rear frame attached to the base between the front frame and the rear side of the base, the rear frame defining a second slot, a ball holder assembly comprising a first guide slidable within the first slot and a second guide slidable within the second slot, the ball holder assembly fixed to the ball and movable relative to the base such that the ball is movable in a kicking action toward the rear side from a first position to a second position, and a resistance band coupled to the base and operable to bias the ball holder toward the first position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training device for performing a training kick, the device comprising:
 a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and having a front side, a rear side, a right side, and a left side, the left and right sides defining a side-to-side direction;   a ball;   a front frame attached to the base and defining a first slot;   a rear frame attached to the base between the front frame and the rear side of the base, the rear frame defining a second slot;   a ball holder assembly comprising a first guide slidable within the first slot and a second guide slidable within the second slot, the ball holder assembly fixed to the ball and movable relative to the base such that the ball is movable in a kicking action toward the rear side from a first position to a second position; and   a resistance band coupled to the base and operable to bias the ball holder toward the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot is narrower than the second slot such that the ball holder assembly pivots at the first slot in the side-to-side direction. 
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are integrally formed as a single component. 
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a ramp at the front side and wherein the first guide is positioned at a height below the top of the ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding gauge mounted to the second guide and configured to slide relative to the second guide and indicate a maximum horizontal movement of the ball relative to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The training device of  claim 5 , wherein the sliding gauge abuts the rear frame during the kicking action, and wherein the sliding gauge is spaced apart from the rear frame after the kicking action in response to the bias of the resistance band. 
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 5 , further comprising a template configured to indicate a relative position of the sliding gauge relative to the second guide. 
     
     
         8 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the second guide is configured to move relative to the base to indicate a direction of the kicking action in the side-to-side direction. 
     
     
         9 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide and the second guide have rectangular cross-sections. 
     
     
         10 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide and second guide have circular cross-sections. 
     
     
         11 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance band is a first resistance band, the training device further comprising a second resistance band selectively mounted to the base to increase the bias. 
     
     
         12 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is positioned above the front frame in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The training device of  claim 12 , wherein the ball is positioned between the front frame and the rear frame in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the second guide in the second position indicates a directional accuracy and kick strength of the kicking action. 
     
     
         15 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover extending over the front frame to prohibit contact between a user and the first guide during the kicking action. 
     
     
         16 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is one of a soccer ball, a football, or a hemispherical portion of a soccer ball or football. 
     
     
         17 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bumper mounted to an end of the second guide. 
     
     
         18 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide deforms the resistance band in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a platform configured to support a foot of a user during the kicking action. 
     
     
         20 . A training device for performing a training kick, the device comprising:
 a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal support surface and having a front side, a rear side, a right side, and a left side, the left and right sides defining a side-to-side direction;   a ball;   a front frame attached to the base and defining a first slot;   a rear frame attached to the base between the front frame and the rear side of the base, the rear frame defining a second slot;   a ball holder assembly comprising a first guide slidable within the first slot and a second guide slidable within the second slot, the ball holder assembly fixed to the ball and movable relative to the base such that the ball is movable in a kicking action toward the rear side from a first position to a second position;   a direction pointer attached to the ball holder and configured to indicate a direction of the kicking action in the side-to-side direction; and   a sliding gauge mounted to the ball holder and configured to slide relative to the ball holder to indicate a maximum horizontal movement of the ball relative to the base.