ELECTRONIC, RFID-EQUIPPED SOCCER GAME SYSTEM

Abstract

A gamified soccer practice system, configured to employ RFID technology to facilitate the tracking of pertinent metrics of the kicks of players engaged with the system. Vertical goals positioned in a field are equipped with RFID readers which are configured to read RFID chips embedded within soccer balls kicked by the players. The kick speed, height, distance, vector, and other metrics are captured and relayed to the player. Games may be conducted, alone or with others, based on these metrics. Further, the metrics provide insight as to the improvement of the game of the player over time.

Description

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of sport activities, and more specifically relates to system of tracking a player's soccer performance on a variety of criteria which employs RFID-equipped soccer balls and targets.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Practicing soccer can be a time-consuming and lackluster activity. Without the thrill of an actual game or skirmish, many players find that practice is not as enthralling as it is generally lacking structure and gamified rules. Unfortunately, some individuals may not have the patience to practice alone, and their game suffers as a result. If there were a way in which soccer players could practice in a gamified fashion, the practice would be more enjoyable, the duration of practice would be extended, and players would get better at the game easier.

Further, many players lack insight into how their game can improve. Many metrics, such as kick speed, distance kicked, vector accuracy, and height are lacking, especially at most practice fields. If players were able to obtain metrics on their kicks, the players would be able to target areas of their game that have the most room for improvement. Further, such metrics would provide real insight into a player's progress over time. Practicing kicks on goal individually is also frustrating because of the time consumed by retrieving errant balls or collecting balls from goals.

Thus, there is a need for a gamified means by which soccer players may practice kicking soccer balls that provides useful metrics that provide insight to the areas in which the player can improve. Such a gamified system preferably employs RFID technology to facilitate the capture of the pertinent metrics and easily associate them to a specific player. There are also no soccer themed entertainment options for novice players or the average non-sporty person not familiar with the game of soccer and would be intimated to play the game without a gamified experience that is centered on entertainment rather than the serious pressure of practice in a traditional practice or game environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a gamified soccer practice and training system configured to facilitate a playful and fun means by which players may practice soccer, individually or in groups, experienced or novice, in such a manner as to obtain and record pertinent performance metrics related to the kick of each player. RFID technology is preferably employed to facilitate the gathering of the metrics over time. Accelerometers, ultrawide band, and/or Bluetooth™ 5.3 or above.

The following brief and detailed descriptions of the drawings are provided to explain possible embodiments of the present invention but are not provided to limit the scope of the present invention as expressed herein this summary section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein:

FIG. 1 details a view of a field equipped with the system of the present invention as seen from above.

FIG. 2 exhibits a flow chart detailing the process of use of the system of the present invention by a user.

FIG. 3 depicts a view of the ‘tee’ employed in the system of the present invention to facilitate the capture of pertinent metrics and ensure they are associated with the correct player.

FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of the RFID-equipped, illuminating ball of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of the field (pitch) and ball collection/return gutter of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a three-dimensional of render of the pitch of the system of the present invention, detailing the target's obstacles, the opening through which the balls pass to the subfloor upon entering the goal (target), and the angled walls of the pitch.

FIG. 7 depicts the rear of the goals of the pitch, detailing the angled ball directors and subfloor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s).

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

The present invention is a gamified system for practicing soccer kicks. The system employs at least one RFID reader (10), at least one RFID writer (20) (or transmitter), RFID tags (30), a registration system (preferably disposed on a computer or the mobile device of the user via a mobile device application), soccer balls (50), an inclined field (60), also referred to as a “pitch,” and targets (70), referenced in the field as “goals.” RFID readers (10) are preferably disposed within the field (60) itself, as well as within targets (70) positioned within the field (60). The at least one RFID writer (20) is disposed within a tee (80) (at minimum represented by a kick line (90)) preferably present at the base of the inclined field (60). The soccer balls (50) are each equipped with an RFID tag (30), preferably embedded within the shell of the ball. As such, the RFID tags (30) employed in the system of the present invention are preferably equipped with a durable adhesive to ensure adhesion to the interior and/or exterior of the balls (50). Alternately, the RFID tags (30) may be embedded within the material of the shell of the ball (50) itself. Ball lights (55) are preferably present in or around threads or seams of the ball, and are configured to illuminate when the ball (50) strikes a target (70) and/or comes to rest to facilitate identification of the user's ball (50), helping to differentiate their ball from other balls on the field (60).

As shown in FIG. 1, the targets (70) preferably take the form of vertical goal posts akin to a soccer goal with a two horizontal posts and a horizontal top bar, two sides, one top, and one back side (preferably a net (55)) which, when struck by a soccer ball (50), register the strike as originating from the unique player registered to the particular ball (50) which struck the target (70). Behind the back side net (55) of the targets (70), angled ball directors (25) are preferably present as shown in FIG. 70. There are preferably two angled ball directors (25) for each target (70). The angled ball directors (25) are preferably triangular, and are angled (10 to 25 degrees) to redirect balls (50) as they roll back down the inclined field (60), preventing the balls (50) from getting stuck behind the net (55). Some targets (70) preferably range in surface area (square footage) such that tighter targets (70) award the player more points than targets (70) exhibiting a larger surface area. Further, points awarded preferably vary with respect to the distance the target (70) is from the player.

Once targets (70) are struck, they are preferably configured to illuminate via at least one LED light (85). The color at which the target (70) illuminates is determined by the player at registration. As players register, colors can be assigned in rotation to help players distinguish their goals from the goals of other players, e.g. the first 10 registrants are assigned a unique color and the next 10 registrants are assigned a unique color from the same color pool in the same order. Further, when a target (70) is struck, the system may be configured to audibly announce the goal over a speaker.

Additionally, some targets (70) are preferably equipped with obstacles (45) present in the form of humanoid cutouts to represent goalies or soccer players in a line similar to that of a goal kick as shown in FIG. 6. In some alternate embodiments of the present invention, the obstacles (45) may be configured to oscillate, moving side-to-side in front of the target (70) (goal) to provide an additional challenge to the players. The obstacles (45) amount to vertical obstruction that users have to kick the ball over for certain targets (70). The targets (70) are preferably equipped with a net (55) similar to a conventional soccer goal.

The inclined field (60) is preferably bordered by three rebound paneled walls (125) as shown in FIG. 6. The rebound paneled walls (125) are angled, preferably between 10 to 15 degrees, to encourage any and all balls kicked towards the rebound paneled walls (125) to rebound the balls back towards a center of the field (60). High fencing is preferably disposed behind the three rebound paneled walls (125) and are configured to ensure that balls that are kicked above the rebound paneled walls (125) are prevented from leaving the field (60). This prevents balls (50) from entering adjacent inclined fields (60) in the event that multiple pitches are present at the facility hosting the system and apparatus of the present invention.

The long kick line (90), a 4 inch-wide white line which stretches the distance of the pitch kicking zone, is equipped with a continuous embedded RFID writer (20) to track each ball (50) placed anywhere on the kick line (90), allowing for quick kick-and-go play. The kick line (90) serves as the tee (80). Balls (50) must be kicked from the line (90) to qualify for points. Dividers (95) may be present between tees (80) for safety and privacy in some embodiments of the present invention.

From the time the ball (50) is kicked from the kick line (90), where the ball is initially registered by the RFID writer (20), ground level and aerial RFID readers (10) along the pitch are configured track the ball's distance as it travels, allowing for a time/distance calculation to determine the ball's top speed. Ball trajectory will also be tracked via height and distance utilizing the aerial RFID readers (10). A wristband is preferably configured to connect with a mobile device application for players to store and analyze their performance metrics, and is preferably equipped with an RFID tag. Based on the skill being tested on each pitch, players can use the mobile device application to provide an interactive coaching tip for each shot based on the location. Therefore, from where the player stands, the player can point their mobile device towards the goal they want to score on and the app will show the distance, speed, and trajectory needed to hit the goal. A video or images will also show how the player needs to kick the ball (the necessary technique) to achieve the goal.

As outlined in FIG. 2, the process of use of the apparatus of the present invention by a user is preferably as follows:

1. First the player registers as a unique player with a representative, at a kiosk, or via a mobile device application of a facility equipped with the system of the present invention and is issued a RFID wristband registered to them individually. (100)

2. Once registered, the user is allowed to access any pitch with an unlimited number of soccer balls. (110) The number of balls may require purchase. Each pitch contains specific targets to test various skills, from which the user and choose in any order.

3. The player walks to the tee of the pitch they choose. (120)

4. Next, the user reaches in the ball collection gutter (as shown in FIG. 5) in front of the tee and picks out any ball. The user touches the ball with their issued RFID wristband thus registering the ball to them individually. (130)

5. The player then places the ball, preferably with their feet, over a white kick line within the tee. (140) It should be noted that the kick line serves as a continuous tee, and therefore the tees for separate players need not be separated in preferred embodiments of the present invention. Further, in other embodiments, the kick line serves as an activation beacon, indicating to the backend computer system of the present invention that a ball has been kicked, as the initial registration of the ball preferably occurs via the RFID-equipped wristband or armband of the system of the present invention.

6. RFID transmitters disposed underneath the white line register the RFID chip(s) of the ball to confirm the ball is ready for play. (150)

7. Once the ball is registered, the user is alerted to the successful registration via a light within the ball. (160)

8. The user then kicks the ball out into the field, aiming for at least one target. (170)

9. As the ball travels, the ball is registered by at least one RFID reader which serves as a contact point and/or relay point to facilitate the calculation of kicking metrics such as ball speed, ball direction/accuracy, distance traveled, and other statistics. (180)

10. Once the ball comes to rest, a final read of the RFID chip is taken which determines the ultimate distance the ball traveled. (190)

11. Once the ball enters the goal, it drops down an opening (a hole) in the ground (in plane of the net of the goal) and is returned to the collection gutter via a subsurface, gravity powered chute. (200)

12. Balls that rebound off the targets will roll via gravity down the pitch and into the collection gutter sized to prevent the ball from skipping past the gutter into the kick line area. (210) The portion of the pitch nearest the gutter will contain taller artificial grass blades or other technology to slow the ball's roll.

13. In the event that the ball enters the fence within a goal frame and/or strikes a goal, a vibration sensor within the goal takes note of the strike, and an RFID sensor within the goal detects the presence of the ball, indicating to the system which player struck the goal with their kicked ball. (220)

14. The player then repeats this process until they decide to conclude play. (230)

15. The screen (monitor) adjacent to the player and the users mobile device application then provides a summary of the recorded kicked balls, and informs the player(s) of a winner if a game has been selected. (240) The screen may also provide comparisons of the player to other players that have kicked balls that day, that week, that month, and/or that year.

It should be noted that alternate embodiments of the present invention may employ ultra-wide band communication frequencies or similar known RF technologies to obtain refined data on the position and movements of the balls (50) equipped with the RFID technology to function with the system of the present invention. Further, some embodiments of the present invention may employ balls (50) equipped with an accelerometer to provide additional metrics such as the rotation direction and rotation speed of the ball once it has been kicked.

Points obtained by successfully kicked balls (50) are tracked on a mobile device application, allowing players to compete against each other. Groups can organically assign teams on the mobile device application with any other player that has a registered wristband. Players can compete for different skills depending on what pitch they select. Players can move freely from pitch to pitch as part of their competition. Additionally, large leaderboards (scoreboards) are preferably present near the field (60) that allow the entire body of players to see who is scoring the highest by time increments such as 15 minutes. Likewise, digital armbands and/or wristbands that utilize conventional technology may be assigned to players. The armbands/wristbands may be configured to illuminate in colors allowing other players to see how well others are scoring, e.g red illumination indicates low scoring, yellow means average scoring, green high scoring, purple expert scoring, etc. The armbands mimic the captain bands used in soccer. The armbands will be a reference basis for solo players when forming teams or determining who they want to challenge individually. Players who don't want to download the smartphone app can tap their wristband on a physical screen located at a stanchion/kiosk to view their points and other stats.

As depicted in FIG. 5, the system and method of the present invention is equipped with a ball return system which includes a gutter (65) disposed at a forward end of the tee (80), closest to the inclined field (60). The gutter (65) is the terminus of a collection chute (75) which is disposed in a subfloor (105) under the inclined field (60). Openings (85) between the inclined field (60) and the collection chute (75) of the subfloor (105) are present at each target (70) (i.e. within each goal). A deflector (95) is present at a rear end of each target (70) area, behind the opening (85). The deflector (95) is configured to angle the ball (50), once kicked into the target (70), towards the opening (85) such that the ball may roll down to the collection chute (75) and be channeled back down the inclined field (60) to the gutter (65) of the tee (80). Additionally, the targets (70) may be equipped with nets (55) as depicted in FIG. 5. Instead of conventional nets (55), a semi-rigid material that emulates a conventional net may be present.

Further, in other alternate embodiments of the present invention, spring-loaded panels may be disposed within the targets (70) which are configured to pop up at (or around) a 45-degree angle once the RFID reader (10) of the target (70) has registered that a ball (50) has entered the goal, helping to ensure that the ball (50) remains within the confines of the target (70) as surrounded by the net (55), and is encouraged to fall down through an opening (85) to the subfloor (105) of the ball return. This ensures that the player receives the correct points for the scored goal (getting the ball to the target (70)). Additionally, alternate embodiments of the present invention may be equipped with rubberized padding disposed at, on, or within the net (55) of the target (70) to absorb some of the force from the kicked ball (50) and help to prevent the ball (50) from bouncing out of the opening of the target (70). This rubberized padding may be disposed on a front surface of the deflector (95) or on a rear surface of the angled ball directors (25) (the side facing the net). In some other embodiments, the deflector (95) and the angled ball directors (25) are of the same body and material, composed of a dense rubberized padding or foam.

Having illustrated the present invention, it should be understood that various adjustments and versions might be implemented without venturing away from the essence of the present invention. Further, it should be understood that the present invention is not solely limited to the invention as described in the embodiments above, but further comprises any and all embodiments within the scope of this application.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. An electronic soccer game system for use by a player comprising: an inclined field, said inclined field having a bottom, a top, a right side, and a left side;a kick line, said kick line disposed at said bottom of said inclined field;rebound walls, said rebound walls disposed along said top, said right side, and said left side of said inclined field;a ball, said ball equipped with at least one RFID tag;targets, said targets disposed in multiple positions within said inclined field;an RFID-equipped bracelet, said RFID-equipped bracelet configured to be worn by the player;a first set of RFID readers, said first set of RFID readers disposed in communication with said kick line to facilitate registration of said ball to said RFID-equipped bracelet of the player;a second set of RFID readers, said second set of RFID readers disposed in communication with said targets;wherein said first set of RFID readers are configured to scan said RFID tag of said ball when said ball is proximal to said first set of RFID readers, assigning the RFID tag of the ball to said RFID-equipped bracelet of the player;wherein said second set of RFID readers are configured to scan said at least one RFID tag of said ball when said ball encounters said targets; andwherein a score is added to said RFID-equipped bracelet of the player upon the second set of RFID readers reading said at least one RFID tag of said ball.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a subfloor, said subfloor disposed under said inclined field, running parallel to said inclined field such that said subfloor is inclined;wherein said ball is configured to fall through an opening of the field upon entering the target, said opening leading to a subfloor; andwherein said subfloor channels said ball down to a gutter disposed at said bottom of said field.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said targets exhibit the shape of soccer goals.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a fence, said fence disposed outside of said rebound walls; anddividers, said dividers disposed along said kick line, perpendicular to said kick line, separating said bottom of said field into tee boxes of varying widths, andenabling play by multiple players simultaneously.

5. A gamified system for practicing soccer kicks, comprising: an inclined field having a kick line;at least one RFID reader disposed within the inclined field and at least one RFID writer disposed within the kick line;at least one soccer ball equipped with at least one RFID tag;a target positioned within the inclined field, the target including a net and configured to illuminate upon being struck by the soccer ball;a registration system configured to assign unique identifiers to users and associate each identifier with a specific soccer ball via a wristband RFID tag;wherein the RFID reader and RFID writer track the movement and performance of the soccer ball, including ball speed, trajectory, impact force, and distance; andwherein the registration system provides performance metrics via a mobile device application.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the target includes one or more obstacles configured to simulate goalies or soccer players, wherein said obstacles are fixed in position to increase difficulty.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said obstacles are animated to increase difficulty; and wherein said net is composed of a semi-rigid material emulating a cloth net.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising: ball lights disposed on said soccer ball which illuminate upon striking said target or coming to rest to aid in identifying said ball and distinguishing it from others.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising: target lights, said LED target lights disposed on said target;wherein said target lights are configured to illuminate in different colors based on the registered user's preferences;wherein the illumination color is configurable through the registration system; andwherein said target lights, when illuminated upon contact of said ball with said target, are configured to trigger sounds to notify players of the successful kick.

10. A method for using a gamified soccer practice system, comprising: registering a user with a unique identifier using a registration system and issuing an RFID wristband to the user;selecting a soccer ball and registering the soccer ball to the user by interacting with an RFID reader using the wristband;placing the soccer ball on a kick line which includes an RFID writer;kicking the soccer ball into an inclined field having one or more targets;tracking the movement of the soccer ball and performance metrics using RFID readers disposed along the field; andreceiving performance feedback and interactive coaching tips via a mobile device application based on the tracked metrics.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the registration system assigns and tracks performance points based on the distance of the target from the kick line and the surface area of the target, and wherein the performance metrics are displayed to the user through the mobile device application in real-time and on a video screen.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device application includes a feature for setting up competitive games or challenges between multiple users, and wherein the system tracks and displays scores, rankings, and performance metrics for each user participating in the game or challenge.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said targets exhibit the shape of soccer goals.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the interactive coaching tips provided by the mobile device application are customized based on the user's historical performance data, including previous kick distances, accuracy, and speed, to offer personalized recommendations for skill improvement.

15. A method for a player practicing soccer kicks using a gamified system, comprising: registering a player as a unique individual by interacting with a representative, a kiosk, or a mobile device application of a facility equipped with the system, and issuing to the player an RFID wristband that is uniquely associated with the player;the player accessing any inclined field within the facility and providing the player with an unlimited number of soccer balls, where the number of soccer balls may be subject to purchase, and where each pitch contains various targets for skill testing;directing the player to a tee located on the selected inclined field, the tee exhibiting a kick line;the player selecting a soccer ball from a ball collection gutter positioned in front of the tee and register the soccer ball to the player by touching the ball with the player's RFID wristband;placing the soccer ball on the kick line, where the kick line serves as a continuous tee and acts as an RFID activation beacon to indicate that the ball is ready for play;using RFID transmitters located underneath the white kick line to confirm the ball's registration by reading the RFID chip embedded in the ball;providing an alert to the player of successful ball registration via an illumination signal from a light within the ball;the player kicking the ball into the field, aiming at one or more targets;tracking the ball's travel using at least one RFID reader positioned in the field, which measures and records kicking metrics including ball speed, direction, accuracy, and distance traveled;taking a final reading of the ball's RFID chip once the ball comes to rest to determine the total distance traveled;facilitating the retrieval of the ball by allowing it to drop into an opening within in the target and then be returned to a collection gutter via a subsurface, gravity-powered chute, or by having the ball roll down the pitch and into the collection gutter if it rebounds off targets;detecting a ball strike on a goal by using a vibration sensor within the goal to note the strike and an RFID sensor within the goal to confirm the presence of the ball, thereby identifying the player who struck the goal;the player repeating the process of selecting, registering, kicking, and tracking the ball until the player decides to conclude play; andproviding a summary of recorded kicks and performance metrics to the player through a screen adjacent to the pitch and/or the mobile device application, which may include comparisons to other players' performance on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis and announcing the winner if a game mode was selected.