Apparatus and method of play for a soccer kicking and trapping game

Abstract

An apparatus and method of play for a soccer kicking and trapping game incorporating a goal. The game includes a goal panel that is elevated above the playing field by foldable supports. One set of goals is provided under the goal panel between the supports on opposite sides. In addition, the goal panel has an aperture that serves as a horizontal goal. To play one goal is set in the middle of a playing field, or two goals are set at either end of the playing field. Teams take turns kicking, passing and trapping in pursuit of having the soccer ball hit or enter one of the goals to score various levels of points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soccer kicking and trapping game comprising:
 a multi-faceted goal panel having an aperture disposed in the center thereof, a top surface and a bottom surface and further including a front edge, a rear edge and left and right sides forming a periphery of the goal panel; and   a left and a right support pivotally coupled to the left and right sides, respectively, wherein said supports fold against said bottom surface for portability and storage and wherein said supports fold outwardly to form legs that elevate the goal panel for game play above a playing surface;   wherein in the game play configuration, the space below the front edge and between the legs forms a first goal, the space between the rear edge and the legs forms a second goal, and the aperture forms a third goal.   
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein each of said supports includes:
 an upper end pivotally coupled to said goal panel;   a lower end with a width greater than said upper end; and   a semi-circular cutout formed within said lower end so that the supports avoid occluding the aperture when said supports are folded against said bottom surface, whereby a soccer ball can be disposed within the aperture and cutouts for portability and storage.   
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 2 , further including a soccer ball having a width W, wherein said aperture has a diameter that is between about 2.0 times and about 2.4 times greater than width W. 
     
     
         4 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein said supports elevate the goal panel a distance above the playing surface that is between about 2.0 times and about 2.4 times greater than width W. 
     
     
         5 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein said supports when folded outwardly form an angle between about 100 degrees and 120 degrees to said goal panel. 
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 5 , wherein said goal panel and said supports are made from a material durable enough to withstand multiple repeated strikes from soccer balls. 
     
     
         7 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein said goal panel and said supports are made from a material selected from wood, wood composites, plywood, natural materials treated to provide water resistance, plastic, synthetic material and metal. 
     
     
         8 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein said goal panel and said supports are formed from injection molded plastic, blow molded plastic or foam injection molded plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein said goal panel is integrally formed from molded plastic and includes a flat top surface, a pair of bosses extending off the bottom surface at each of the left and right sides and structural ribs on the bottom surface disposed between the aperture and the bosses;
 wherein each support is made from molded plastic in a generally isosceles trapezoidal shape with the lower end being parallel to and longer than said upper end and including a hinge panel extending from said upper end which is shorter than said upper end and a pair of hinge pins disposed on said hinge panel for engaging said bosses, and structural ribs extending around a periphery of the support and extending between the semi-circular cutout and the hinge panel; and   wherein a diameter of the semi-circular cutout along the lower end of the support is approximately the same length as said hinge panel.   
     
     
         10 . A method of playing a soccer kicking and trapping game comprising the steps of:
 configuring a goal by unfolding supports and locating the goal at approximately a middle point on a playing field;   dividing two or more players into teams A and B and a choosing a starting team and an ending team;   playing a round by having a player from the starting team kick a soccer ball toward the goal, then having a player from the ending team kick a soccer ball toward the goal;   awarding various points for different interactions between the soccer ball and the goal including an automatic win interaction; and   determining a score for each team at the end of each round (a) if a threshold number of point is awarded or an automatic win interaction is achieved declaring that team the winner (b) if the winning score is not achieved repeating the playing, awarding and determining steps (c) if both teams are tied at or above the threshold continuing to an overtime round.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the goal includes an elevated goal panel having an aperture disposed in the center thereof, a front edge, and a rear edge; wherein said awarding various points step comprises:
 awarding points when a player passes the ball on the ground below the front edge of their goal;   awarding additional points when a player passes the ball in the air which hits the goal directly or after being redirected by a team member;   awarding more additional points when a player passes the ball in the air which is redirected below the rear edge or through the aperture; and   awarding a more higher additional points when a player passes the ball in the air through the aperture.   
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a soccer kicking and trapping game comprising the steps of:
 configuring two goals A and B by unfolding supports and locating the goals at opposing ends of a playing field;   dividing two or more players into teams A and B assigned to goals A and B, respectively, and choosing a starting team and an ending team;   playing a round by giving a turn to a player from the starting team by having the player kick a soccer ball toward one of goal A or a team member wherein the team member optionally traps the soccer ball and kicks the soccer ball toward their respective goal or a team member, kicking and trapping until a goal shot is taken; a player from the ending team then gets a turn with turns alternating between the teams until all players have had a turn thereby completing a round;   awarding various points for different interactions between the soccer ball and the goal result including an automatic win interaction; and   determining a score for each team at the end of each round (a) if a threshold number of point is awarded or an automatic win interaction is achieved declaring that team the winner (b) if the winning score is not achieved repeating the playing, awarding and determining steps (c) if both teams are tied at or above the threshold continuing to an overtime round.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each goal includes an elevated goal panel having an aperture disposed in the center thereof, a front edge, and a rear edge; wherein said awarding various points step comprises:
 awarding points when a player passes the ball on the ground below the front edge of their goal;   awarding additional points when a player passes the ball in the air which hits the goal directly or after being redirected by a team member;   awarding more additional points when a player passes the ball in the air which is redirected below the rear edge or through the aperture; and   awarding a more higher additional points when a player passes the ball in the air through the aperture including declaring awarding an automatic win interaction.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each goal includes an elevated goal panel having an aperture disposed in the center thereof, a front edge, and a rear edge;
 wherein said awarding various points step comprises awarding 1 point when a player passes the ball on the ground below the front edge of their goal; awarding 3 points when a player passes the ball in the air which hits the goal directly or after being redirected by a team member; awarding 5 points when a player passes the ball in the air which is redirected below the rear edge or through the aperture; and awarding an automatic win interaction when a player passes the ball in the air through the aperture;   wherein said determining a score for each team comprises (a) if 25 points are solely awarded or an automatic win interaction has been achieved declaring that team the winner (b) if neither team achieves 25 points repeating the playing, awarding and determining steps (c) if both teams are tied at or above 25 points continuing to an overtime round.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of playing an overtime round;
 awarding various overtime points for different interactions between the soccer ball and the goal result including an automatic win interaction; and   determining an overtime score for each team at the end of each overtime round (a) if a team is awarded more points than the other team, declaring that team the winner (b) if an automatic win interaction is achieved declaring that team the winner (c) if both teams are tied repeating said steps of playing an overtime round, awarding various overtime points, and determining an overtime score.