Soccer training device

A soccer training device adapted for use in connection with a soccer goal having first and second vertical uprights and a horizontal cross member connecting the uprights for cooperating with a base surface beneath the goal to define a substantially rectangular goal opening, said device being comprised of:

• a frame member for being attached to said first and second uprights and said cross member to circumscribe the perimeter of said goal opening;
• a relatively flat member coupled to said frame member, said flat member having a central portion extending along a minor axis of said goal opening from said base surface to said cross member and first and second wing portions extending outwardly along a major surface of said goal opening from said central portion to the respective first and second uprights when said frame member is attached to said soccer goal, said central portions being substantially rectangular and said wing portions being tapered from said central portion to the respective uprights, said flat member for being disposed within perimeter of said goal opening to define selected apertures between said flat member and said frame member representing desired target areas within the goal opening;
• a flexible backing member coupled to said frame member for substantially impeding further progress of a soccer ball after the ball has been propelled through one of the target apertures, said backing member being attached along its perimeter to said frame member, said backing member having a greater area than the area of the goal opening so that the backing member fits loosely on the frame member behind the flat member to define a curved surface, said backing member being configured to absorb the impact of the soccer ball after the ball has propelled through one of the target apertures so as to substantially impede the further progress thereof and to prevent the ball from being reflected back through the particular aperture through which the ball was initially propelled, thereby trapping the ball between the flat member and backing member to facilitate retrieval of the ball, said frame member being comprised of a plurality of relatively flat elongated flexible strips connected to define a substantially rectangular frame when said frame member is attached to the soccer goal, said frame member having first and second opposite major surfaces, said backing member being attached to one of said major surfaces;
• and
• means for attaching the device to the uprights and to cross member of the soccer goal.