Abstract:
A portable target for a soccer goal designed with rods that enable an individual to stand on the ground and lift the portable target so that it can be lifted over the top horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal and then set in place. The target has elongated rods with curved hook attaching members designed in a manner that enables an individual to stand on the ground and simply lift the target so that the curved hook attaching members can be extended over the top horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal and then lowered onto the top horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal to be removably affixed thereto. The rod are removably retained within interior channels within the target.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of portable soccer goal targets which can be removably affixed to a soccer goal at given locations to enable an individual to practice kicking a soccer ball through the soccer goal at specific desired locations. 
         [0003]    2. Detailed Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    In general the concept of having targets affixed to soccer goals or other types of athletic structures is known. The following 23 patents and published patent applications are relevant. 
         [0005]    1. U.S. Pat. No. 613,383 issued to Anne E. Morgan on Nov. 1, 1898 for “Game Apparatus” (hereafter the “Morgan patent”); 
         [0006]    2. U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,747 issued to Harold E. Kenney et al. on Aug. 4, 1953 for “Football Target Game Apparatus” (hereafter the “Kenney patent”); 
         [0007]    3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,843 issued to Denis O. Griggs on Jan. 20, 1981 for “Hockey Target” (hereafter the “Griggs patent”); 
         [0008]    4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,648 issued to Theodore D. Stromback on Oct. 20, 1981 for “Baseball Pitcher&#39;s Target” (hereafter the “Stromback patent”); 
         [0009]    5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,166 issued to Richard M. Baker et al. on May 2, 1989 for “Football Target Assembly” (hereafter the “Baker patent”); 
         [0010]    6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,283 issued to Kenneth LeBel et al. on Jun. 27, 1989 for “Target Assembly” (hereafter the “LeBel patent”); 
         [0011]    7. U.S. pat. No. Des. 303,824 issued to William J. Maloney, II on Oct. 3, 1989 for “Soccer Goal” (hereafter the “Maloney patent”); 
         [0012]    8. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,147 issued to Michel Pallanca on Aug. 14, 1990 for “Soccer Target” (hereafter the “Pallanca patent”); 
         [0013]    9. U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,809 issued to Hsi-Shih Chiang on Jan. 15, 1991 for “Ball Game Device” (hereafter the “Chiang patent”); 
         [0014]    10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,725 issued to Nicholas J. Leras et al. on Jan. 26, 1993 for “Soccer Shooting Training Target” (hereafter the “Leras patent”); 
         [0015]    11. U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,402 issued to Norman R. Moss, Jr. on Apr. 2, 1996 for “Soccer Practice Focal Device” (hereafter the “Moss patent”); 
         [0016]    12. U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,153 issued to James Steven Masin on Mar. 30, 1999 for “Portable Shot Target Assembly” (hereafter the “Masin patent”); 
         [0017]    13. U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,876 issued to Kevin Franklin on Apr. 3, 2001 for “Football Target Game” (hereafter the “Franklin patent”); 
         [0018]    14. U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,641 issued to William J. Lee on Jun. 11, 2002 for “Movable Target For Sports Goal” (hereafter the “Lee patent”); 
         [0019]    15. United States Published Patent Application No. 2002/0111234 to Kevin MacNichol on Aug. 15, 2002 for “Sports Practice Net For Arresting Flying Projectile Objects” (hereafter the “MacNichol Published patent application”); 
         [0020]    16. U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,729 issued to Warren V. Coltrane et al. on Jan. 21, 2003 for “Goal Shot Training System” (hereafter the “Coltrane patent”); 
         [0021]    17. U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,384 issued to Shelley Bains on Feb. 17, 2004 for “Apparatus for Defining Goal Target Area” (hereafter the “Baths patent”); 
         [0022]    18. U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,976 issued to Paul D. Smith on Nov. 14, 2006 for “Sports Training Device And Method of Using The Same” (hereafter the “Smith patent”); 
         [0023]    19. U.S. Pat. No. D537,489 issued to Kevin M. McAdams et al. on Feb. 7, 2007 for “Target” (hereafter the “McAdams Design patent”); 
         [0024]    20. U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,604 issued to Arthur Birss on Aug. 7, 2007 for “Target Apparatus For A Sport Goal” (hereafter the “Birss patent”); 
         [0025]    21. United States Published Patent Application No. 2008/0272548 to Glenn Brant Hensley on Nov. 6, 2008 for “Target Hanger And Target Support System” (hereafter the “Hensley Published patent application”); 
         [0026]    22. United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0176603 to Donnie Travis Prince on Jul. 9, 2009 for “Soccer Training Target, Method For Practicing Kicking Using Same, And Method For Advertising Using Same” (hereafter the “Prince Published patent application”); 
         [0027]    23. U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,679 to Ernest Wing Mah et al. on Feb. 16, 2010 for “Electronic Target System For Sports” (hereafter the “Mah patent”). 
         [0028]    The Morgan patent involves a game which represents a multiplicity of rings to shoot at as a target or to aim it as a target as described. 
         [0029]    The Kenney patent essentially is a target for practice through which a ball may be thrown or kicked. The structure is essentially on the ground and as best illustrated from the side view, has a rectangular shaped board  10  having an opening  12  through which the ball can be thrown and kicked. Behind the structure is a netting  28  through which the ball can fall through to be retrieved. 
         [0030]    The Griggs patent discloses a hockey target which is affixed to the side of a hockey net by the affixing means shown in  FIG. 2 . There is a goal through which the hockey puck is intended to be kicked. The hockey net is obviously closer to the ground and this can be affixed to the side of the hockey net post by simple manual means. 
         [0031]    The Stromback patent discloses a baseball pitchers target. Specifically, the target is a donut shaped member  12  hung from a string  11  and placed in what is typically known as a “strike zone”. Clearly, the target is in the mid section of the strike zone. Specifically, the patent discloses:
       “Within the strike zone  6  of the preferred embodiment  1  is suspended a circular target  12 . The target  12  which is ancillary to the strike zone  6  is supported by a cord  11  which is attached by a simple knot to the target  12  and upper cross-member  2 . Target  12  can be repositioned within the zone  6  by moving its point of attachment to member  2  and lengthening or shortening cord  11 , for the purpose of designating a particular area of the zone  6 , such as, the inside or outside corner.”       
 
         [0033]    The Baker patent discloses a football target practice member which includes having a boom  16  so that the target can be moved to different locations and repositioned after the ball has been thrown through the target. In concept this embodies the general concept of having a target for a football but it is not specifically focusing on soccer and the target can be on any type of structure as the goal is to present a moving target which can be repositioned so that a football can be thrown through the target. 
         [0034]    The LeBel patent deals with creating targets for a hockey goal post and they can be fixed to the goal posts as shown in  FIG. 1 . Clearly, the targets are at the four corners and it is shown that the hockey puck can be hit to aim for one of the four posts. However, because the hockey goal itself is shorter than human height, it is easy to simply stand adjacent it and to affix the solid target at any location on the posts of the hockey goal. 
         [0035]    The Maloney patent is a design patent which discloses the concept of having a target affixed to the top posts of a structure to form a soccer goal but there is no indication that this is part of a soccer post arrangement and simply appears to be an arranged post so that someone can kick a soccer ball through the central goal. 
         [0036]    The Pallanca patent discloses a large framework for providing soccer targets at different locations including the upper left and upper right portion as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, this is a very cumbersome device which needs to be affixed with posts and probably takes a substantial amount of time to set up. 
         [0037]    The Chiang patent discloses a ball game device which contains a target with a receiving end on the bottom so that the ball can fall into the net after it goes through the target. 
         [0038]    The Leras patent discloses:
       “A soccer shooting training target which may be easily rolled up and transported can be installed over an existing soccer goal. The target comprises a plurality of individual targets containing flaps sized to admit passage to a soccer ball. The soccer shooting training target&#39;s upper edge is tied in place to the goal rear crossbar using a weighted rope. The bottom corners of the soccer shooting training target are tied down using elastic cord and stakes in order to render the target stable in the presence of wind. Alternate soccer shooting training target configurations include a stand mounted free standing version and a canister housed target permanently mounted to a soccer goal crossbar.”       
 
         [0040]    The Moss patent discloses a soccer practice apparatus which in broad concept focuses on placing on a soccer goal a target in the upper left and upper right quadrant as shown. However, the device is an L-shaped member  12  which is affixed by fastening means  22  and therefore the way the device is fastened requires time to attach it and disconnect it. 
         [0041]    The Masin patent is a portable shot target device which can be affixed to a hockey goal post by a clamping device  18  to create a basket to shoot the hockey puck. 
         [0042]    The Franklin patent discloses a football target game wherein a target is bolted to a frame assembly so that a football can be thrown through it. 
         [0043]    The Lee patent discloses a movable target for a sports goal. Essentially it is a target that is suspended from the upper cross bar by movable straps  22  so that the target can be moved along the horizontal length of the goal. 
         [0044]    The MacNichol Published patent Application discloses having a target suspended by two elastic suspension means  20  wrapped around the upper post. 
         [0045]    The Coltrane patent discloses a goal shot training system where a multiplicity of straps are wrapped around the goal to break the goal into different sections for aiming a soccer or other ball. 
         [0046]    The Bains patent discloses an apparatus for defining a target which contains a pair of telescoping members that have adjoining tubular members that are wrapped around right angle locations on the first and second section of a cross bar of a goal to form a target in the upper left or upper right portion of the goal. 
         [0047]    The Smith patent discloses the concept of having multiple straps affixing targets at different locations in the soccer goal posts. The affixation method is described as follows:
       “While a target device  100  may be removably attached to a soccer goal post, cross-bar or other rigid post in any number of ways,  FIG. 1  shows the support member  160  ready for secure attachment to a rigid elongated strut  180  which then has multiple straps  200  attached thereto. The straps  200  provide a mechanism for attaching the target device  100  to a rigid post. The straps  200  incorporate a buckle  205 , having a pin  210  and a series of strap openings  215  for receipt of the buckle pin  210  to permit the straps  200  to accommodate various post sizes. The strut  180  can also be clamped or similarly joined to a post or the like. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the strut  180  is generally shaped to conform to the exterior cylindrical shape of a post. In other words, the strut  180  may have a concave surface which generally matches the contour of a cylindrical post.”       
 
         [0049]    The McAdams patent discloses effectively hanging a target over the net but the hanging incorporates having a dumbbell shaped target so that it not only hangs over the upper cross bar but rests on the ground as well. 
         [0050]    The Birss patent is still in full force and effect and is a target apparatus for a sports goal. The targets are mounted by mounting brackets on the various sides or behind the posts as illustrated. 
         [0051]    The Hensley Published patent Application discloses hanging members  21  which serve to hang the target over a vertical post. 
         [0052]    The Prince Published patent Application discloses a target which is effectively hooked to the mesh netting as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    The Mah patent discloses an electronic target apparatus which is affixed to the side posts of a goal and has means to register a signal when an object has been shot through or kicked through the goal. 
         [0054]    There is a significant need for an improved target apparatus which can be quickly removed from a soccer goal which target enables an individual to aim at certain specific desired areas which are the most difficult areas for a goalie to defend. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0055]    The present invention is a portable target which can be quickly and removably affixed to the top post of a soccer goal to provide a target to enable an individual to practice kicking the soccer ball in the upper left quadrant or the upper right quadrant of a soccer goal which are the most difficult portions of the goal for a goalie to defend. 
         [0056]    The present invention enables an individual to stand on the ground and to lift the target over the goal posts and through an improved affixing hook, enables the target to be quickly affixed to the top horizontal crossbar of a goal post and moved to a specific location anywhere along the top horizontal crossbar, but preferably at a location so that the target is positioned in the upper right quadrant or the upper left quadrant of the soccer goal which are the most difficult locations for a goalie to defend. 
         [0057]    The portable goal is designed with rods that enable an individual to stand on the ground and lift the portable target so that it can be lifted over the top horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal and then set in place. This is a significant improvement over prior art targets where an individual must stand on a ladder to affix the target to the soccer goal or alternatively the target cannot be quickly and removably affixed to the soccer goal but needs to be affixed by more permanent means with an individual standing on a ladder or other structure so they can reach the height of the upper portions of the soccer goal to affix the target thereto. The present invention eliminates this time consuming effort by having elongated rods with curved hook attaching members designed in a manner that enables an individual to stand on the ground and simply lift the target so that the curved hook attaching members can be extended over the top horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal and then lowered onto the top horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal to be removably affixed thereto. This saves a lot of time and effort in not requiring an individual to affix the target to a soccer goal in a more permanent manner and also eliminates the need to have ladders or other structures on which the individual must stand. 
         [0058]    Therefore, the present invention significantly reduces the time that it takes to affix the target to the soccer goal and also enables the target to be very quickly removed from the soccer goal. Therefore, in addition to facilitating practice of kicking the soccer ball at any time when the game is not going to be played, it also provides a method to have an individual practice kicking the soccer ball immediately before a game and thereafter the target can be quickly removed before the game starts. 
         [0059]    The present invention portable target can be quickly disassembled and carried in a carrying bag or pouch and then quickly assembled at the location of the soccer goal. 
         [0060]    It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a soccer target is made out of flexible material and if the flexible material has a pair of receiving openings at either transverse end to receive a longitudinal shaft having a hook connecting member at its upper end, then the target can be easily placed over the upper horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal because the target is of sufficient height that an individual can stand on the ground and raise the target above his head until the hooked ends of the attaching members rest over the horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal and then can be lowered so that the hook members retain the target on the upper horizontal crossbar at any desired location. 
         [0061]    It has also been discovered that if the leading edge of each hook has a rounded end, then this facilitates placing the hook over the top of the horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal in a more efficient and quick manner. 
         [0062]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable target which can be removably affixed to the top horizontal crossbar of a soccer goal by an individually stand on the ground in front of the soccer goal and raising the target so that the curved hook ends of the oppositely disposed target retaining rods can be positioned above the horizontal crossbar and then lowered so that the curved hook members are removably affixed onto the horizontal crossbar over the soccer goal with the target being positioned at any desired location along the top of the soccer goal, and preferably adjacent to one vertical post of the soccer goal so that the target is in the upper left quadrant or the upper right quadrant of the soccer goal. 
         [0063]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means by which the removable target can be affixed to a soccer goal without requiring the use of a ladder or any other elevational apparatus which requires an individual to be elevated above the ground to affix the target to the soccer goal and which enables an individual to stand on the ground and removably affix the target to the soccer goal to thereby enable the target to be quickly affixed and removed as needed. 
         [0064]    It is an addition object of the present invention to provide a pair of hook members each having a rounded leading edge to facilitate the placement of the target retaining hook members onto the top horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal and also facilitate the removal of such target retaining hook members when the target is no longer needed. 
         [0065]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
         [0066]    The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitutes a part of the specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         [0067]    Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING SUMMARY 
         [0068]    Referring particularly to the drawings for the purposes of illustration only and not limitation therein is illustrated: 
           [0069]      FIG. 1  is front perspective view of a soccer goal with a goalie standing in front of the soccer goal and two targets of the present invention removably affixed to the top horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal at the upper left quadrant and the upper right quadrant which are the most difficult locations for a goalie to defend; 
           [0070]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention portable target; 
           [0071]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the present invention portable target; 
           [0072]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0073]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken long line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0074]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of two sections of the longitudinal connecting rod which is used in the present invention; 
           [0075]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of one of the connecting rods of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0076]    Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , there is illustrated the present invention portable target  490  for use with a soccer goal. Specifically, the present invention comprises a flexible frame  500 . A preferred embodiment of the flexible frame  500  is to be generally square or rectangular in shape having an upper wall  510  with a top edge  512 , a parallel lower wall  520  with a bottom edge  522 , a first longitudinal side wall  530  with a first lengthwise side  532 , and a second longitudinal side wall  540  with a second lengthwise side  542  which enclose the interior target  600  which can either be rectangular, square, circular, oval or any other desired shape. The preferred material for the target frame  500  is a flexible fabric material although it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention for the target frame  500  to be made of any other portable light weight but strong material. 
         [0078]    The frame  500  contains an interior channel on either lengthwise side. Referring to  FIG. 4 , first side wall  530  contains an interior lengthwise channel  700  which extends from the top edge  512  of upper wall  510  to the bottom edge  522  of lower wall  520  with the channel  700  extending through the entire vertical length “L1” of the first longitudinal section  530 . Similarly, there is a parallel oppositely disposed second interior channel  800  which extends from the top edge  512  of the upper wall  512  to the bottom edge  522  of the lower wall  520  with the channel  800  extending through the entire vertical length “L1” of the second longitudinal section  520 . 
         [0079]    By way of example, the exterior dimensions of the frame  500  can be a height or length “L1” of approximately 41 inches and a width “W1” of approximately 36 inches. The interior target can have a height or length “L2” of approximately 29 inches and a width of approximately 27½ inches. This is assuming that the soccer goalpost itself has a horizontal width “W3” of approximately 24 feet and has a height “H1” of approximately 8 feet. 
         [0080]    Received within each channel  700  and  800  is a connecting rod  900 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to facilitate portability of the target and its connecting rods, the connecting rod  900  is preferably made in at least two separate sections such as a first section  910  and a second section  920  which can be interconnected by mating fastening members. By way of example, first section  910  can have a threads  902  at one distal end  904  and the second section  920  can have a connecting member  924  having internal female threads  926  to receive the threads  902  from first section  910  so that the two sections of the connecting rod  900  can be rotatably affixed together. 
         [0081]    Connected at the proximal end  906  of first connecting rod section  910  is a flexible connecting member  908  which receives a curved hook retaining member  940 . At its proximal end  930  the hook retaining member  940  is retained onto the connecting member  908  by rivets or other affixation means. The hook retaining member  940  comprises a generally arc shaped section  950  which terminates in a rounded transverse tip  960 . The curved retaining hook  940  has an interior retaining opening  970  which is surrounded for approximately three quarters of its circumference by arc shaped section  950 . An opening  980  between transverse tip  960  and proximal end  930  leads to interior retaining opening  970 . This illustration assumes that the top horizontal crossbar  110  of the soccer goalpost is round. It will be appreciated that the top horizontal crossbar  110  of the soccer goalpost can have any cross-sectional shape which includes round, square, rectangular etc. Therefore, the hook retaining member  940  will have a section  950  which has a shape which conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the top horizontal crossbar  110  of the soccer goalpost. 
         [0082]    One key aspect of the present invention is the design of the hook member  940 . Currently, the hook is made of metal which is thin enough to allow it to bend (flexible) to expand when needed to be pulled or snapped over the top horizontal crossbar  110  of the soccer goalpost  100  when in use or released or pushed off the top crossbar after use, whether the crossbar is round, square or even rectangular. Soccer goal posts are manufactured with round bars, square bars and even rectangular bars. Furthermore, the diameter of the bars being used to construct the soccer goals are varying dimensions. Therefore, the interior section  950  of the hook  940  will have a diameter that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the horizontal crossbar so that it can be snapped in place over the horizontal crossbar. The transverse lip  960  on the end of the hook of the flexibility of the metal together allow the target to be used on types and sizes of soccer goals. 
         [0083]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a first connecting rod  900  has its bottom end  922  resting adjacent lower edge  522  and extends the entire length “L1” of channel  700 . An interior lengthwise wall  534  encloses the length of channel  700  so that first connecting rod  900  rests within channel  700  between first side wall  932  and interior lengthwise wall  934 . The channel  700  has a top opening  710  extending out of top edge  512  so that the distal end  906  of rod section  910  extends out of the opening  710  so that hook retaining member  940  is positioned above top end  512  of top edge  510  of frame  500 . 
         [0084]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a second identical connecting rod  900  has its bottom end  922  resting adjacent lower edge  522  and extends the entire length “L1” of channel  800 . An interior lengthwise wall  544  encloses the length of channel  800  so that second identical connecting rod  900  rests within channel  800  between second side wall  942  and interior lengthwise wall  944 . The channel  800  has a top opening  810  extending out of top edge  512  so that the distal end  906  of rod section  910  extends out of the opening  810  so that hook retaining member  940  is positioned above top end  512  of top edge  510  of frame  500 . 
         [0085]    The flexible material of the frame  500  is sufficient tight so that the connecting rods  900  are retained by a press fit within the respective channels  700  and  800  of frame  500 . It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have additional fastening members at the top of connecting rod  900  to fasten the connecting rods to the frame  500 . 
         [0086]    The entire apparatus in illustrated in place on a soccer goal in  FIG. 1 . The soccer goal  100  comprises a first vertical post  120 , a second vertical post  130  and an upper horizontal crossbar  110 . Horizontal crossbar  100  has a first end  112  and a second end  114 . First vertical post  120  has a top end  122  and a bottom end  124 . Second vertical post  130  has a top end  132  and a bottom end  134 . The soccer goal  100  also includes a first transverse bottom wall  126  having a front end  125  and a rear end  127 . The soccer goal  100  also includes a second transverse bottom wall  136  having a front end  125  and a rear end  137 . The soccer goal  100  also includes a lower horizontal wall  116  having a first end  115  and a second end  117 . 
         [0087]    Top horizontal crossbar  110  is connected at its first end  112  to the top end  122  of first vertical post  120  and connected at its second end  114  to the top end  132  of second vertical post  130 . Lower horizontal wall  116  is connected at its first end  115  to rear end  127  of first transverse bottom wall  126  and connected at its second end  117  to the rear end  137  of second transverse bottom wall  136 . The first vertical post  120  is connected at its bottom end  124  to front end  125  of first transverse bottom wall  126  and second vertical post  130  is connected at its bottom end  134  to the front end  135  of second transverse bottom wall  136 . 
         [0088]    The soccer net  150  is retained by top horizontal crossbar  110 , first vertical post  110 , first transverse bottom wall  126 , second vertical post  130 , second transverse bottom wall  136 , and lower horizontal wall  116 . A goalie  200  is shown in position in front of the soccer goal  100 . 
         [0089]    The present invention portable target  490  is removably affixed to the top crossbar  110  of the soccer goal  100  by an individual standing on the ground and lifting the frame  500  of the portable target  490  so that the curved hook sections  540  of each of the connecting rods  900  extends above the upper crossbar  110  and the rounded transverse tip  960  of each of the curved hook second  540  is placed over the top horizontal crossbar  110 . Entry into the interior retaining opening  570  is gained by passing opening  580  over top horizontal crossbar  110  with the rounded transverse tip  960  facilitating passage of the opening  970  over the top horizontal cross-bar  100  so that the horizontal crossbar rests within interior retaining opening  970  of each curved hook section  940  of each retaining rod  900 . 
         [0090]    In  FIG. 1 , the curved hook sections  940  are oriented so that the rounded transverse tip faces the front of the soccer goal  100 . It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention for the target  490  to be orientated in the opposite way so that the rounded transverse tip  960  faces the rear of the soccer goal  100 . 
         [0091]    Once the rounded tips  960  come in contact with the top horizontal crossbar  110  of the soccer goal  100 , it is easy to slip the curved hook sections  940  over the top of the top horizontal crossbar  110  and have them remain in place. The rounded interior  970  of each curved connecting hook  940  easily accommodates the top crossbar  110  of the soccer goal  100 . The benefit of the present invention is that an individual does not have to stand on a ladder or any other elevated structure but can stand on the ground and lift the portable target  490  so that the connecting hooks  940  of the connecting rods  900  rise over the top crossbar  110  and then the target  490  is lowered so that the connecting hooks  940  can be lowered over the top horizontal crossbar of the soccer goal  100  and rest in place. 
         [0092]    The present invention enables even a child in addition to an adult to easily place and remove the soccer goal over the horizontal crossbar of a soccer net. Therefore, this target can be used by children and adults of all ages. Even a child can easily assemble the target and then hold the target from the bottom of the poles and lift it into place over any size goal without any assistance and when finished, be able to push the target off the crossbar and disassemble the target and place it back into a carrying bag. 
         [0093]    A further benefit of the present invention is that the targets  490  can be located in the upper right quadrant and the upper left quadrant of a soccer goal  100  so that the interior target  600  is presented at these locations which are the most difficult locations for a goalie to defend. By being able to quickly and removably affix the target  490  in this manner, practice can be done at any time even immediately before a game since the target  490  can be quickly removed right before the game starts. The individual practices kicking a soccer ball through the interior target  600 . In  FIG. 1  targets  490  are illustrated in both the upper right quadrant and the upper left quadrant. In general, only one target  490  is used and positioned at either of these locations. However, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention for the present invention to have two or more targets in use at the same time. The target  490  can be located at any location on the top horizontal crossbar. 
         [0094]    Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein; since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.