Training system for an article of footwear with a ball control portion

1. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions; and

in accordance with the training instructions, moving along a predetermined path and kicking a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc;

wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other; and

wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the training instructions are provided in a written format.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the training instructions are provided in a video format.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the training instructions are provided in an audible format.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the training instructions are provided in a training kit, the training kit including the article of footwear.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the training instructions provide instructions for training multiple athletes simultaneously.

7. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions; and

in accordance with the training instructions, dribbling a ball around at least one marker and kicking the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the plurality of protrusions are configured to bend in a manner so that the gripping portions confront a surface of the ball during the kick;

wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc extending from a forefoot region of the upper to a midfoot region of the upper;

wherein the arc extends from the midfoot region proximate a sole structure of the article of footwear to the forefoot region, the arc also extending in an upward direction as the arc proceeds toward the forefoot region;

wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other; and

wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the set of instructions are provided on removable media.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the training instructions are provided in an instruction booklet.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the training instructions are provided on a website.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the training instructions are provided in a software application.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a computer.

13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the training instructions are configured to be accessed on a mobile device.

14. A method of using an article of footwear, comprising the steps of:

receiving training instructions;

in accordance with the training instructions, moving along a predetermined path, the predetermined path being determined from the training instructions;

kicking a ball by contacting the ball with a ball control portion of the article of footwear, the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis;

each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a planar gripping portion that extends in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis; and

wherein the major axes of some protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are aligned with a curve on a surface of a ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick;

wherein the protrusions aligned with the curve on a surface of a ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick are disposed in an arc-like configuration along an arc extending from a forefoot region of the upper to a midfoot region of the upper;

wherein adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the adjacent protrusions in substantial alignment with each other; and

wherein non-adjacent protrusions along the arc are arranged with the major axes of the non-adjacent protrusions in substantial non-alignment with each other.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the training instructions and the article of footwear are received in a training kit.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of using a computing device to read digital information related to the training instructions.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of receiving the training instructions from a website.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of reading an instruction booklet that includes the training instructions.

19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of downloading a training application onto a mobile device, the training application including information about the training instructions.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of watching a training video, the training video including information about the training instructions.