Soccer shoe ball contacting zones training aid

Abstract

A soccer training aid thin rubberized tube slips over the front of a soccer shoe with holes in the bottom of the tube for the shoe's cleats to extend down through. Demarked, preferably colored, “strike” or soccer ball contacting zones on the sides and tops of the tube to indicate where the foot should contact the ball to achieve different maneuvers on the ball. Matching demarked areas on a soccer ball may also be used in conjunction with the mating soccer ball contacting zones on the soccer shoe cover tube.

1 . A soccer shoe cover training device comprising:
 a soccer shoe cover tube removably attached over a front portion of a soccer shoe covering the soccer shoe from a toe to a top of the lacings and around two sides and a bottom of the shoe, the shoe cover tube comprising an elasticized tube being structured to fit over a front of a soccer shoe with a tight friction fit, the shoe cover tube bearing a plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contact zones over the top surface covering the soccer shoe from the toe to the top of the lacings and down the sides to a sole of the shoe and a an array of cleat openings in the bottom of the shoe cover tube to allow shoe cleats to pass out through the cleat openings while the shoe cover tube grips the front of the soccer shoe tightly conforming to the shape of the front portion of the soccer shoe, each of the demarked soccer ball contact zones demarking a surface area of the soccer shoe for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer so that all of the demarked soccer ball contact zones together used individually and in a variety of combinations comprise all of the locations on the upper front and both sides of a soccer shoe used in playing a game of soccer to contact the soccer ball for complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking by contacting the soccer ball with each appropriate demarked soccer ball contact zone for each desired contact with the soccer ball enabling a soccer player to learn and practice and play using the demarked soccer ball contact zones as a soccer shoe cover training device for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match for complete soccer ball handling, controlling, and kicking including passing, stopping, shooting, touching, shielding, swerving, bending, dribbling, controlling, turning, tricking, and faking the ball in a given sequence of soccer ball contacting zones.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a first demarked ball contacting zone extending from a top of the lacings of the soccer shoe to a bottom of the lacings of the soccer shoe and from a left side to a right side of the lacings of the soccer shoe, the first demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to contact the soccer ball to dribble a soccer ball at speed, to control a soccer ball from the air, to juggle a soccer ball, to volley a soccer ball in flight, to play a long driven pass on the ground, to play long floated balls in the air, to shoot a soccer ball with power, alternately used by a goal keeper to punt a soccer ball from the hands of the goal keeper, and alternately used by a player in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a second demarked ball contacting zone extending from an outer side edge of the lacings down the outer side of the soccer shoe to a sole of the soccer shoe and from an outer side toe area to an outer side area below a top of the lacings of the soccer shoe, the second demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control the soccer ball when the player is positioned sideways on to an opposing player, to shield the soccer ball from an opposing player, to control the soccer ball to a player's outside, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn outside, to pass the ball to the outside, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the outside, to juggle a soccer ball, to swerve a soccer ball around an opposing player when passing and shooting, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a third demarked ball contacting zone extending from an inner side edge of the lacings down the inner side of the soccer shoe to a sole of the soccer shoe and from an inner side toe area to an inner side area of the soccer shoe adjacent to a ball of a foot of the soccer shoe wearer, the third demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to change direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to turn inside, to bend a soccer ball when passing and shooting, to stop a soccer ball and position oneself between the soccer ball and an opposing player simultaneously, to roll a soccer ball across the player's body, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a fourth demarked ball contacting zone extending from an inner side edge of the lacings down the inner side of the soccer shoe to a sole of the soccer shoe and from an inner side area adjacent to a ball of a foot of the soccer shoe wearer back over an inner side area of the soccer shoe adjacent to a portion of the arch of the soccer shoe wearer, the fourth demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to control a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to control a soccer ball in the air, to control a soccer ball in a forward direction, to turn up to 180 degrees, to pass a soccer ball on the ground playing a push pass, to roll a soccer ball to the inside across the player's body, to side volley a soccer ball in the air, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  comprising a fifth demarked ball contacting zone extending from a bottom of the lacings of the soccer shoe forward over a top of a toe area of the soccer shoe, the fifth demarked ball contacting zone alternately used by a player to chip a soccer ball sending the soccer ball on a long slow ascent into the air and a short quick dissent, to pick up a soccer ball approaching from the front, to put backspin on a soccer ball, to score when a goalkeeper is applying pressure close to the ball, to flick a soccer ball into space behind opposing players, and alternately used in quick succession with other zones to trick, unbalance and beat an opposing player. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the soccer shoe cover tube comprises a stretchy molded rubber tube stretched over the front of the soccer shoe and secured with a tight tension fit. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the soccer shoe cover tube comprises a stretchy synthetic rubber tube stretched over the front of the soccer shoe and secured with a tight tension fit. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the soccer shoe cover tube comprises a stretchy synthetic tube stretched over the front of the soccer shoe and secured with a tight tension fit. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contact zones comprise differently colored areas on an outer surface of the soccer shoe cover tube. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contact zones comprise five differently colored areas imprinted on the outer surface of the soccer shoe cover tube. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a demarked soccer ball having mating demarked areas on an outer surface of the ball matching the plurality of differently demarked soccer ball contact zones on the soccer shoe cover tube for use with the soccer shoe cover tube for a soccer player to learn and practice and play effectively by using all of the demarked soccer ball contact zones together on the soccer shoe cover tubes used individually and in a variety of combinations to contact the mating demarked areas on the demarked soccer ball for learning and practicing effective play in all aspects of contacting a soccer ball in a soccer match. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the demarked soccer ball further comprises demarked directional arrows on the outer surface for assisting a player in determining a direction of travel of the demarked soccer ball in association with the mating demarked areas. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an instruction guide indicating the use of the device for self-use by a player and use by a soccer coach, trainer, or instructor in training soccer players to use the demarked ball contacting zones for contacting a soccer ball for a full range of activities and maneuvers with the soccer ball performed in each demarked ball contacting zone and in various combinations of demarked ball contacting zones in playing a game of soccer.