Portable training device for soccer players

An apparatus for assisting an athlete to improve foot-eye coordination when dribbling a soccer ball, the apparatus comprising:

• a base member having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, the base member further including oppositely spaced edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending parallel thereto along a length of the base member, the base member further including a flexible handle having opposed end portions connected thereto for assisting a user to transport the apparatus between remote locations;
• a plurality of mounting brackets removably securable to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom, the mounting brackets being equidistantly offset from a vertical axis and facing inwardly towards a center of the base member;
• a plurality of bearings operably attached to the mounting brackets respectively, said plurality of bearing including a first pair of bearings and a second pair of bearings, the bearings facing outwardly from the mounting brackets and maintaining an equidistant spatial relationship along the base member such that a rotational movement of said first pair of the bearings induces an opposite and cooperating rotation of said second pair of the bearings respectively;
• a spherical body removably positionable on the bearings and being centered therebetween such that the spherical body is caused to rotate about a central axis extending along a substantially vertical plane, the spherical body being provided with a cavity and a threaded opening passing thereto;
• and
• means for selectively altering a weight of the spherical body, the weight altering means cooperating with the cavity and the opening for assisting to maintain the spherical body at a substantially stable position during operating conditions.

An apparatus for assisting an athlete to improve foot-eye coordination when dribbling a soccer ball, the apparatus comprising:

• a base member having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, the base member further including oppositely spaced edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending parallel thereto along a length of the base member, the base member further including a flexible handle having opposed end portions connected thereto for assisting a user to transport the apparatus between remote locations;
• a plurality of mounting brackets removably securable to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom, the mounting brackets being equidistantly offset from a vertical axis and facing inwardly towards a center of the base member, the mounting brackets including raised lateral edge portions facing away from the center of the base member;
• a plurality of bearings operably attached to the mounting brackets respectively, said plurality of bearing including a first pair of bearings and a second pair of bearings, the bearings facing outwardly from the mounting brackets and maintaining an equidistant spatial relationship along the base member such that a rotational movement of said first pair of the bearings induces an opposite and cooperating rotation of said second pair of the bearings respectively;
• a spherical body removably positionable on the bearings and being centered therebetween such that the spherical body is caused to rotate about a central axis extending along a substantially vertical plane, the spherical body being provided with a cavity and a threaded opening passing thereto;
• and
• means for selectively altering a weight of the spherical body, the weight altering means cooperating with the cavity and the opening for assisting to maintain the spherical body at a substantially stable position during operating conditions.