Patent ID: 7811184

Claim:
A soccer training device in combination with a soccer goal comprising: an opaque training covering configured to obscure a net of a soccer goal, the covering forming at least one user-configurable opening that allows a player shooting a soccer ball to see the net of the soccer goal when the covering is affixed to the soccer goal; the covering being substantially cross shaped, the cross-shape having a body and a pair of arms extending laterally from a body of the covering that extends substantially from the ground to the crossbar; wherein a user may configure the covering to mimic the range of a goal keeper by varying by at least one of adjusting the location of the body of the covering relative to the posts, and removing or folding one or both arms whereby the arm no longer obscures the net; wherein when the covering is affixed to the soccer goal, the combination of the covering and soccer goal comprises at least: a configuration for shots originating substantially directly in front of the goal consisting of positioning the body and arms of the covering whereby the covering obscures the net except for openings at the top right corner, the top left corner, the bottom right corner, and the bottom left corner of the goal; a configuration for shots originating at a penalty kick position consisting of positioning the covering whereby the covering obscures the net except for a pair of openings are created along each post from the ground to the cross bar; and a configuration for shooting shots from the side of the field consisting of positioning the covering whereby the covering obscures the net except for an opening created along the post furthest from the origin of the shot, the opening being from the ground to the cross bar.