Abstract:
A soccer training device that comprises a net which covers the large central portion of a soccer goal but leaves limited openings in the upper corners of the goal as well as along each opposite side of the goal which are relatively harder for a goal tender to block. The objective is to train and teach soccer players to kick or otherwise lawfully propel the soccer ball through those relatively harder portions of the goal for a goal tender to block, thereby increasing the likelihood of being able to score.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of training devices for sporting activities, and in particular to the sport of soccer. It comprises a training net that is secured to a soccer goal post frame to cover the large central portion of the goal post frame which the goalie can most easily block, but leaves open the upper right and left corner portions as well as vertical portions inward a short distance from the respective right and left upright portions of the frame. The objective is to train soccer players to drive the ball into those open areas, which are the most difficult for the goalie to block.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Prior art known to the inventor include the devices disclosed and described in the following United States patents which are readily available to the public and others having an interest therein:  
                                                       6,264,572   3,856,298           5,902,194   3,840,228           5,503,402   2,256,555           4,948,147   D413,949           4,921,257   D309,486           3.944.223                      
 
 While the general objective of the prior art training devices is similar, the training device in accordance with the present invention has a number of improvements and advantages over the prior art, including the fact that it comprises an already put together unitary net that can be attached to the soccer goal framework in one piece that does not require attaching separate pieces to the goal framework or to the training net itself. It comprises almost entirely a soft, flexible cord construction that can be easily folded and compressed into a small compact unit for storage and for carrying without breaking or damaging any component part. A soft, flexible training device is less likely to cause injury than prior art devices having hard, solid component parts. Since the training net in accordance with this invention is an already put together, fully assembled, unitary structure, there are no separate parts to be lost or misplaced as is the case with prior art sports training devices.
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the entrance to a soccer goal framework with a training net in accordance with this invention shown in place thereon. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0005]     The training net for soccer in accordance with the present invention comprises a unitary net  2  made of cords  4  interconnected to form five inch by five-inch squares. The cords  4  which make up the five by five squares in the preferred embodiment are three-eighths-inch poly rope as known in the trade. Poly rope is made of synthetic fibers known as polypropylene. It is also within the scope of the invention to use cords made of natural fibers such as cotton, as well as synthetic materials other than polypropylene. The preferred embodiment uses polypropylene fibers, which are less subject to shrinking or stretching and other changes when exposed to rain, snow, ice and temperature extremes, and other weather conditions.  
         [0006]     The unitary training net  2  comprises a relatively large rectangular portion  6  at the lower end  8  interconnected with a smaller rectangular portion  10  centered at the upper end  12 . The large rectangular portion  6  extends from a first side edge  14  a distance of sixteen feet to the opposite second side edge  16  along and between a bottom edge  18  and an upper edge  20 . The smaller rectangular portion  10  is centered on the upper edge  20  of the large rectangular portion  6 , having an upwardly extending first side edge  22  spaced apart inwardly from the first side edge  14  of the large rectangular portion  6  a distance of three feet, and an upwardly extending second side edge  24  spaced apart inwardly from the second side edge  16  of the large rectangular portion  6  a distance of three feet. The small rectangular portion  10  extends for a distance of ten feet between its first side edge  22  to its second side edge  24 .  
         [0007]     The side edges  14  and  16  of the large rectangular portion  6  extend upwardly a distance of six feet. The side edges  22  and  24  of the smaller rectangular portion  10  extend upwardly a distance of two feet. The overall height of this preferred embodiment of the unitary training net  2  from the bottom edge  18  of the large rectangular portion  6  to the upper edge  26  of the small rectangular portion  10  is eight feet.  
         [0008]     The upper edge  26  of the small rectangular portion  10  is secured to the upper cross-bar  28  of a soccer goal framework  30 , at which time the bottom edge  18  of the large rectangular portion  6  of the training net  2  reaches the ground. The training net  2  is positioned on the upper cross-bar  28  of the goal framework  30  at the point where the first side edge  14  of the large rectangular portion  6  is spaced apart inwardly three feet from the first upright leg  32  of the goal framework  30  and where the second side edge  16  of the large rectangular portion  6  is spaced apart inwardly three feet from the second upright leg  34  of the goal framework  30 . At such time the first side edge  22  of the small rectangular portion  10  is spaced apart inwardly six feet from the first upright leg  32  of the goal framework  30 , and the second side edge  24  of the small rectangular portion  10  is spaced apart inwardly six feet from the second upright leg  34  of the goal framework  30 .  
         [0009]     At the corner  36  where upper edge  20  of the large rectangular portion  6  intersects the first side edge  14  thereof, a connecting loop member  38  is provided to connect laterally extending support rope  40  which extends to the first upright leg  32  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which it is secured by tying the outer end  42  of the rope  40  there around. An upwardly extending support rope  44  is also connected at one end to the connecting loop member  38 , and that support rope  44  extends upwardly to the cross-bar  28  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which the outer end  46  of the rope  44  is secured by tying around the cross-bar  28 .  
         [0010]     At the corner  48  where upper edge  20  of the large rectangular portion  6  intersects the second side edge  16  thereof, a connecting loop member  50  is provided to connect one end of the laterally extending support rope  52  which extends to the second upright leg  34  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which the outer end  54  of rope  52  is secured by tying around the upright leg  34 . An upwardly extending support rope  56  is also connected at one end to the connecting loop member  50 , and such rope  56  extends upwardly to the cross-bar  28  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which the outer end  58  of the rope  56  is secured by tying around the cross-bar  28 .  
         [0011]     A loop-connecting member  60  is secured to the corner  62  of the large rectangular portion  6  at which the bottom edge  18  intersects the lower end of the first side edge  14 . The first end  64  of a laterally extending support rope  66  is connected to the loop connecting member  60 , and the support rope  66  extends laterally to the first upright leg  32  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which the outer end  68  of the rope  66  is secured by tying there around.  
         [0012]     Another loop connecting member  70  is secured to the corner  72  of the large rectangular portion  6  at which the bottom edge  18  intersects the lower end of the second side edge  16 . The first end  74  of a laterally extending support rope  76  is connected to the loop connecting member  70 , and the support rope  76  extends laterally to the second upright leg  34  of the soccer goal framework  30  to which the outer end  78  of the rope  76  is secured by tying there around.  
         [0013]     Another loop connecting member  80  is secured to the corner  82  of the small rectangular portion  10  at which the upper edge  26  thereof intersects the upper end of the first side edge  22 . A tie portion of a rope  84  extends through the loop-connecting member  80  and around the cross-bar  28  of the soccer goal framework  30 .  
         [0014]     Another loop connecting member  90  is secured to the corner  92  of the small rectangular portion  10  at which the upper edge  26  thereof intersects the upper end of the second side edge  24 . A tie portion of a rope  94  extends through the loop-connecting member  90  and around the cross-bar  28  of the soccer goal framework  30 .  
         [0015]     The upper edge  26  of the small rectangular portion  10  is thus held adjacent to and parallel to the cross-bar  28  of the soccer goal framework  30 .  
         [0016]     A first doubled back cord  100  extends upwardly along and inwardly of the first side edge  14  of the large rectangular portion  6  and then laterally along and inwardly of the upper edge  20  of the large rectangular portion  6  to terminate at the first side edge  22  of the small rectangular portion  10 .  
         [0017]     A second doubled back cord  102  extends upwardly along and inwardly of the second side edge  16  of the large rectangular portion  6  and then laterally along and inwardly of the upper edge  20  of the large rectangular portion  6  to terminate at the second side edge  24  of the small rectangular portion  10 . The double back cords  100  and  102  reinforce and stabilize the respective edges of the unitary training net  2  along which they extend.  
         [0018]     When the training net  2  is in place on the soccer goal framework  30  as described, it blocks the large central portion of the goal that is most easily defended by the goal tender or goalie, but it provides openings of about three feet in width and about eight feet in height along each opposite side of the goal along and inward of the first and second upright legs  32  and  34 , and openings about six feet wide and two feet high in each of the opposite upper corners  104  and  106  of the goal. The objective is to train soccer players to kick or otherwise lawfully propel the soccer ball through those relatively smaller openings along each opposite side and in each opposite upper corner, which are relatively more difficult for a player acting as the goal tender to block.