Abstract:
A soccer training court and methods for game play therein. A soccer training court that includes a cuboidal form with an end wall, a pair of side walls, a rear wall, an overhead wall, and a floor is provided. A box soccer game can be played within the court to aid players in increasing proficiency with ball striking, reading opponents actions, and understanding ball-travel characteristics. The box soccer game requires a player to strike the ball against the end wall causing it to rebound toward one or more additional walls and to rebound therefrom. A second player attempts to intercept the ball with a one-touch strike that sends the ball back toward the end wall to start the volley over. If the ball completes a predetermined number of wall contacts, the striking player is awarded a point.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The game of soccer is played and enjoyed worldwide. Coaches, players, and other students of the game always endeavor to find new ways of teaching, learning, and enhancing techniques and skills for playing the game. A multitude of devices and training methods have been developed to aid players in honing their skills. For example, devices like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,725 to Leras et al. provide targets or designate target areas within a goal at which players can aim to practice goal-shooting skills. Other devices such as that described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0344998 to Adema provide rigid rebound surfaces to deflect the ball back toward the player or in another direction to increase the touch-rate of the player with the ball and to train the player&#39;s anticipation of ball movements. 
         [0002]    As with most skills, repetition of the skill is key to increasing proficiency. Known devices fail to provide optimal touch-rates and intensity for achieving player development in a highly efficient and valuable manner. Targeting devices like that described in the &#39;725 patent provide a user with a target, but once the shot is taken the player must chase down the ball and return to the shooting location before attempting subsequent shots. Similarly, rebound devices may increase touch-rates, but missed shots or passes on the rebound device or failure to properly receive the ball on the rebound again require the player to chase down the ball before resuming the activity. 
         [0003]    What is needed in the art is a device, system, and method that greatly increases the touch-rate of the player with the ball. Such a system that also places the player in an environment in which the player can learn and experience ball movement and rebounding characteristics as well as characteristics of ball handling and interactions with other players is needed. Provision of this environment in an intense, engaging, and fun gameplay format would also be beneficial. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is provided here to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the Detailed-Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief, this disclosure describes, among other things, a soccer training court and methods for playing box soccer therein. 
         [0005]    The soccer training court includes a generally rectangular court constructed with an end wall, two sidewalls, a rear wall, an overhead wall, and a floor. The end wall and two sidewalls provide a uniform, substantially rigid continuous surface. The rear wall includes a lower portion that is constructed like the end wall and sidewalls and an upper portion constructed from a substantially rigid mesh or grid. A door for entry into the court is also provided in the rear wall. The overhead wall is constructed of the substantially rigid mesh or grid while the floor is preferably provided with an available athletic court or sport court tile, coating, or covering. 
         [0006]    The court thus surrounds players with rebound or deflection surfaces that can be struck by a kicked ball. The ball is also able to rebound from one wall to another (including the overhead wall) as it is kicked by the players. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a method of game play in the soccer training court is designed for two players. The players are positioned inside the court and a first player kicks or strikes the ball. The ball must first contact the end wall and then rebound to contact one or more of the sidewalls or overhead wall. The second player attempts to intercept the ball on its rebound path and strike the ball against the end wall with a single touch to begin a new rebound path. The first player then similarly attempts to intercept the rebounding ball and strike it toward the end wall. Play continues in this succession. Players score points by causing the ball to contact a pre-determined number of walls before the other player intercepts it. Play can continue for a pre-determined time period or until a predetermined number of points is achieved. Stoppage of the ball&#39;s motion results in a reset, loss of points, or in a turnover of possession to the player that did not cause the stoppage. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method of play for a single player is provided. In a single-player game, the player must strike the ball such that it contacts the end wall followed by one of the sidewalls before striking the ball again toward the end wall. The player cannot allow the ball to contact four walls before again striking the ball toward the end wall. All strikes must be a single touch, e.g. the player cannot settle the ball and then strike it. Two methods of game play are provided: the player can continue this sequence for a predetermined period of time while counting the number of proper strikes taken during the time period; or the player can count the number of strikes taken before an error is made, e.g. the number of strikes taken before the ball strikes four walls, fails to strike the walls in the proper sequence, or stops moving. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective overhead view of a soccer training court shown with an overhead wall partially removed and depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic overhead view of two players engaged in a box-soccer game in a soccer training court depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram depicting a method for playing a two-player box-soccer game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic overhead view of a single player engaged in a box-soccer game in a soccer training court depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting a method for playing a single-player box-soccer game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein denote deviations from the exact value by +/−10%, preferably by +/−5% and/or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant to the function. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a soccer training court  10  is described in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The court  10  comprises an end wall  12 , a pair of sidewalls  14 ,  16 , a rear wall  18 , an overhead wall  20 , and a floor  22  (collectively referred to as walls  24 ). Each of the walls  24  is substantially planar and is oriented substantially orthogonally to each adjacent wall  24  to form a cuboidal space therein. Two exemplary court sizes have been developed, each for an intended age group of players. A first court size has interior dimensions of approximately 8 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and 20 feet long and is intended for use by players ages between approximately eight and 12 years of age; a second court size has interior dimensions of approximately 8 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 20 feet long and is intended for use by players ages 13 and up. The court dimensions are configured to provide a relatively small, enclosed space, in which players are able to cause the ball to remain in substantially continuous motion while also having sufficient room to move around one another in a one-on-one, match-play-styled interaction. The size of the court  10  are greatly reduced relative to that available in outdoor or indoor match play. For example, in outdoor match play there is more than about 2000 square feet of playing field per player, in indoor match play there is more than about 1,400 square feet per player. In contrast, the dimensions of the court  10  are preferably maintained within about 7-10 feet tall, 8-15 feet wide, and 15-25 feet long. As such players are provided with less than about 400 square feet per player in a single-player game or less than about 200 square feet per player in a two-player game. Preferably the dimensions for a one-player game are configured to provide less than about 375 square feet, or more preferably less than about 240 square feet of playing space; two-player games are thus preferably provide less than about 188 square feet or more preferably less than about 120 square feet of playing space per player. Larger or smaller courts and courts of cuboidal and non-cuboidal forms can be employed that provide a similar game play environment without departing from the scope of embodiments of the invention described herein. 
         [0017]    The end wall  12  and the sidewalls  14 ,  16  each include a rectangular frame  26  comprising a pair of upright members  28  and a pair of cross-members  30  joined at their respective ends. One or more additional support members (not shown) can also be included as desired. The frame  26  is constructed from square steel tubing but other materials can be employed. A decking  32  is attached to the frame  26  in a conventional manner, such as by a plurality of fasteners. Although a particular frame  26  configuration is described herein, it is understood that one of skill in the art will recognize other configurations that can be implemented; such configurations are understood as falling within the scope of embodiments of the invention described herein. 
         [0018]    The decking  32  includes one or more panels comprised of a substantially rigid material that provides a continuous, generally smooth surface. The decking  32  is preferably selected from one or more materials commonly referred to and used as dasher boards which can be constructed from one or more of plastics like high-density polyethylene, PLEXIGLAS, tempered glass, metals, wood, or the like. In one embodiment, the decking  32  comprises a plurality of 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of material fastened to the frame  26  in an upstanding, side-by-side, abutting relationship. The decking  32  can also be comprised of sections of materials of other dimensions or from a continuous sheet of material. The end wall  12 , and sidewalls  14 ,  16  are preferably opaque so as to provide players with good visibility of the ball, but all or a portion of the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  can be translucent or transparent as desired. Transparent walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  may aid bystanders ability to watch players in the court  10 . 
         [0019]    The rear wall  18  is constructed similarly to the end wall  12  and sidewalls  14 ,  16  but includes a door  34  disposed therein and a second cross-member  36  extending between each respective upright member  28  and the door  34  to generally bisect the rear wall  18  into an upper portion  38  and a lower portion  40 . The door  34  can alternatively be located in another of the walls  24  as desired. In another embodiment, the rear wall  18  is not bisected into an upper and a lower portion  38 ,  40 . The lower portion  40  is provided with the decking  32  while the upper portion  38  includes a mesh or grid material  42 . 
         [0020]    The grid material  42  preferably comprises a grid of interlaced steel rods formed from two sets of spaced-apart parallel rods arranged at right angles to one another. The grid material  42  might alternatively be constructed from a variety of other materials including other metals, expanded metal sheets, or the decking  32 , among others. The grid material  42  has substantially the same rigidity as the decking  32  so as to provide similar ball rebounding when contacted thereby. In some embodiments, the grid material  42  may be less rigid than the decking  32  as desired or as a result of the properties of a chosen grid material  42 . Preferably, the grid material  42  enables viewing of the interior of the court  10  and ventilation thereof, e.g. the grid material  42  may include apertures therethrough or may comprise a clear or at least partially visually transparent material. In another embodiment, the upper portion  38  is provided with the decking  32 . 
         [0021]    The overhead wall  20  is comprised of the grid material  42  extending between the top edges of the end wall  12 , the side walls  14 ,  16 , and the rear wall  18  to enclose the top of the court  10 . The overhead wall  20  might alternatively be comprised of the decking  32  or similar materials. The grid material  42  or other material chosen for the overhead wall  20  preferably includes apertures therethrough to provide ventilation of the court  10 , but other configurations may be employed, e.g. a ventilation system or HVAC system can be provided for the court  10 . Preferably, the overhead wall  20  has substantially the same rigidity as the end wall  12 , the side walls  14 ,  16 , and the rear wall  18  but may have less rigidity as desired. In some embodiments, it is desirable to provide the overhead wall  20  (and/or the upper portion  38  of the rear wall  18 ) with less rigidity than the other walls  24  of the court  10  to produce a less desirable rebound to a ball contacting the overhead wall  20  and thereby to deter players from contacting the overhead wall  20  with the ball. One or more support beams  44  can be provided extending between two or more of the end wall  12 , the sidewalls  14 ,  16 , and the rear wall  18  to provide support for the materials forming the overhead wall  18 . 
         [0022]    The floor  22  of the court  10  can comprise any flooring material or construction desired. Preferably, the floor  22  is constructed from or covered with what is commonly referred to as a sport court tile or coating comprising one or more plastics, rubbers, or similar materials that provide a rigid flooring that is also substantially non-slip. The floor  22  might also be formed from or include concrete, wood, tile, turf, carpet, or the like. The floor  22  may include one or more indicia  46  disposed thereon, including lines, symbols, or the like. The indicia  46  may include, for example, a centerline  48  indicating a front area  50  and a rear area  52  of the floor  22  and a service spot  54  at which the ball is placed to begin a game as described more fully below. 
         [0023]    With additional reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a method  100  for playing a two-player box-soccer game in the court  10  is described in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Although a particular play pattern is described herein, it is understood that minor variations and alterations might be employed without departing from the scope of embodiments of the invention described herein. A box-soccer game employs standard or well-known rules for ball handling, e.g. a player  60 ,  62  may strike a ball  64  with any part of his or her body except that the player shall not deliberately strike the ball with the hands or arms. Similarly, well-known or understood practices and rules related to contact with other players, sportsmanship, and the like should also be observed. 
         [0024]    The ball  64  used in a box-soccer game is preferably a fully inflated outdoor soccer ball of a size smaller than that used for regulation match play. The ball  64  size may be selected based on an age group of the players  60 ,  62 . For example, players  60 ,  62  under age eight might use a size three ball  64 , players ages nine to twelve use a size four, and players thirteen years of age and up use a size five. Other ball  64  sizes and ball types, e.g. futsal-style balls, can be employed as desired without departing from the scope of embodiments of the invention described herein. 
         [0025]    Prior to commencing play, a wall count is determined as depicted at step  102 . The wall count is a designation of a number of the walls  24  that must be contacted by the ball  64  in order for a player  60 ,  62  to score a point. The wall count is determined based on one or more of the age and proficiency of the players  60 ,  62  involved in the game. The wall count is typically set between three and seven but greater or lesser numbers can be used. 
         [0026]    Box-soccer games can be played for a predetermined duration of time at which the player  60 ,  62  with the greatest number of points scored is the winner. Or the game can be played until one of the players  60 ,  62  scores a predetermined number of points. 
         [0027]    The ball  64  is initially placed on the service spot  54 . The service spot  54  can be positioned at any location within the court  10  but is preferably located centrally along the length and width of the floor  22 . The first player  60  is the serving player and the second player  62  is positioned behind the first player  60  and within the rear area  52  of the floor  22 . The identification of the players as first and second players  60 ,  62  can be made by any desired method. In one embodiment, the players take turns striking the ball  64  toward an upper right or left corner of the end wall  12 ; the player causing the ball  64  to contact closest to the selected corner is identified as the first player  60  and is given initial possession of the ball  64 . In some embodiments, a target indicia  56  may be provided on the end wall  12  at which the players  60 ,  62  can aim to determine which player gets initial possession of the ball  64 . Hereinafter, the player  60 ,  62  striking the ball is referred to as being in possession of the ball  64 ; possession continues until the other player strikes the ball  64  or the possessing player fails to properly execute the game play as described below. A point can only be scored by the player in possession. 
         [0028]    Game play begins by the first player  60  striking the ball  64  toward the end wall  12 , as depicted at step  104  and as shown by arrow  66  in  FIG. 2 . The first player&#39;s strike on the ball must be a toe-poke, e.g. a kick using the toe portion of the kicking foot—not the top, instep, or outside of the foot. In another embodiment, another form of strike on the ball  64  might be employed. The first player&#39;s strike must cause the ball  64  to contact the end wall  12  before contacting any other wall  24 , as depicted in step  106 . If another wall  24  is contacted before the end wall  12  then possession of the ball  64  is given to the second player  62  (steps  108  and  110 ) who restarts the game play by placing the ball  64  on the service spot  54  and returning to step  104  of the method  100 . 
         [0029]    After contacting the end wall  12 , the ball  64  must contact one of the side walls  14 ,  16  as indicated at step  112  and shown by arrow  68 . Or the ball  64  must contact the overhead wall  20  and then one of the side walls  14 ,  16  as indicated at steps  114  and  116 . If the ball  64  contacts the rear wall  18  immediately following the end wall  12 , then the first player  60  loses possession as indicated at steps  118  and  120 . The ball  64  can contact the floor  22  at any time and any number of times before or after contacting any of the other walls  24 , including the end wall  12 . After contacting the end wall  12  and at least one of the side walls  14 ,  16 , the ball  64  may contact any of the walls  24 , including the overhead wall  20 , any number of times, as indicated at step  122  and shown by arrows  70  and  72 . Once the total number of times the ball  64  contacts the walls  24  has reached the wall count (step  124 ), the first player  60  scores a point, as indicated at step  126 . For example, as shown by arrows  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 , the ball  64  contacts the end wall  12 , the side wall  14 , and the rear wall  18  to produce a wall count of three. Contact with the overhead wall  20  is counted toward the wall count. 
         [0030]    The second player  62  may attempt to strike the ball  64  at any time following service of the ball  64  by the first player (step  128 ). The goal of the second player  62  is to strike the ball  64  prior to the ball  64  reaching the wall count so as to prevent the first player  60  from scoring a point. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the second player  62  may strike the ball  64  before the ball  64  reaches the rear wall  18 , as shown by arrow  74 . The second player&#39;s strike on the ball  64  must be a one-touch strike, e.g. the second player  62  must strike the ball  64  while the ball  64  is on the move without first stopping or settling the ball  64 . Preferably the second player  62  strikes the ball  64  such that the ball  64  contacts the end wall  12  (step  106 ) and play continues as depicted by the method  100 . 
         [0031]    If the second player  62  fails to properly strike the ball  64  to contact the end wall  12  followed by the side wall  14 ,  16  or the overhead  20  and the side wall  14 ,  16 , then possession is returned to the first player  60  (steps  108 ,  110 ) who restarts the sequence by striking the ball  64  toward the end wall  12  (the method returns to step  104 ). In one embodiment, the first player  60  returns the ball  64  to the service spot  54  before restarting the method  100  at step  104 . If the ball  64  comes to a stop prior to the second player  62  striking the ball  64  (step  130 ), then the first player  60  is awarded a point (step  132 ) and restarts the sequence by striking the ball  64  from the point where the ball  64  stopped (return to step  104 ). 
         [0032]    If the strike by the second player  62  causes the ball  64  to achieve the number of wall contacts equal to the wall count then the second player  62  is awarded a point. Play then returns to step  104  with the second player  62  maintaining possession. Following the second player&#39;s strike, the first player  60  attempts to intercept and strike the ball  64  before the wall count is achieved (and to return the method  100  to step  106 ). Play thus continues until the predetermined amount of time has elapsed or until the predetermined score is reached by one of the players  60 ,  62 . 
         [0033]    Points can also be awarded to one of the players  60 ,  62  when the other improperly contacts the ball  64 . For example, if the first player  60  strikes the ball and is then struck or contacted by the rebounding ball  64  before the second player  62  touches the ball  64 , the second player  62  receives a point and restarts play by striking the ball  64  from its current location or from the service spot  54 . Additionally, if the second player  62  strikes the ball  64  toward the end wall  12  and the ball  64  contacts the first player  60  before hitting the end wall  12 , then the second player  62  is awarded a point; play is resumed by the second player  62  striking the ball  64  from its current position or from the service spot  54 . However, it is preferable that the second player  62  not deliberately aim at or hit the first player  60  with the ball  64 . Further, if the second player  62  is impeded from striking the ball  64  by the first player  60 , the second player  62  can call for a replay of the point. It is to be understood that these scoring patterns also operate with the players  60 ,  62  reversed. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a method  200  for playing a one-player box-soccer game in the court  10  is described in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Selection of the ball  64  and the rules for ball handling described for the method  100  apply as well to the method  200 ; all strikes on the ball  64  must be one-touch style strikes using the foot, body, or head. In one embodiment, the player  80  must strike the ball  64  from the rear area  52  of the court  10  at all times. As the one-player box-soccer game in an individual competition, the goal of a player  80  is to beat his or her own personal best score. Various forms of individual competition can be designed. For example, the player  80  can attempt to complete a maximum number, or beat a personal best number of strikes on the ball  64  without committing an error, as described below. Or the player  80  might determine how many strikes he or she can complete within a pre-determined time period, e.g. two minutes. 
         [0035]    To initiate a one-player box-soccer game, the player  80  strikes the ball  64  using a toe-poke style kick toward the end wall  12 , as depicted at step  202  and shown by arrow  82  in  FIG. 5 . In other embodiments, another style of kick or contact on the ball  64  might be employed. The ball  64  must contact the end wall  12  before contacting any other wall  24 , as indicated at step  204 . The ball  64  may then contact one of the side walls  14 ,  16  (step  206 ) as shown by the arrow  84 , or may contact the overhead wall  20  followed by one of the side walls  14 ,  16  (steps  208  and  210 ). In another embodiment, the ball  64  must contact one of the side walls  14 ,  16  immediately following contact with the end wall  12 , e.g. the ball  64  cannot contact the overhead wall  20  immediately following the end wall  12 . If the ball  64  rebounds off of the end wall  12  and then immediately thereafter contacts the player  80 , contacts the rear wall  18 , or comes to a stop (step  212 ) then the sequence or volley ends (step  214 ) and the player  80  must restart the volley by beginning again at step  202 . In one embodiment, the player  80  returns the ball  64  to the service spot  54  before restarting the sequence or the player  80  may begin again by striking the ball  64  at its current location. 
         [0036]    After the ball  64  has contacted one of the side walls  14 ,  16 , as depicted by arrow  86 , the player  80  may again strike the ball  64  toward the end wall  12  (step  222  and as shown by arrow  88 ) to complete a successful volley (step  224 ) and to continue the sequence by returning to step  204 . Each successful volley is counted toward a total number of successful volleys that are either completed without an error (steps  212  and  214 ) or that are completed within a predetermined time period. 
         [0037]    Alternatively, after contacting one of the side walls  14 ,  16  the player  80  may allow the ball  64  to contact one or more additional walls  24  (step  216  and as shown by arrows  86 ,  90 , and  92 ) before again striking the ball  64  (arrow  94 ) to complete a successful sequence (steps  222 ,  224 ). If the ball  64  is allowed to contact four or more walls  24  total (step  218  and as shown by arrow  96  and a fourth contact point  98 ) then the sequence ends (step  220 ) and a new sequence or volley must be started (return to step  202 ). The maximum number of allowable wall contacts is preferably four but another number can be chosen as desired. 
         [0038]    Engagement of players  60 ,  62  or  80  in a box-soccer game following the respective methods  100 ,  200  provides valuable training experience. The containment of the ball  64  within the confines of the court  10  eliminates time delays found in known training apparatus in that players do not spend time chasing down and collecting arrant balls. And the court  10  provides players with fast-paced and engaging game play that aids players in learning ball rebounding characteristics, opponent actions, and one-touch striking—a more difficult striking skill—which can then be related and transferred to regular match play situations and skills. Additionally, the fast pace of the game play provides players with a much greater number of ball striking opportunities within a given time period than that found in known training and practice methods. For example, in the court  10 , players may achieve 10-20 times more ball striking attempts in a given time period than they might achieve on an outdoor field—up to 500-600 shots per hour per player. 
         [0039]    Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Identification of structures as being configured to perform a particular function in this disclosure and in the claims below is intended to demarcate those structures as including a plurality of possible arrangements or designs within the scope of this disclosure and readily identifiable by one of skill in the art to perform the particular function in a similar way without specifically listing all such arrangements or designs. Certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.