As a tribute to Lanita Leonard (who passed away in 2010) and to both her and Dr. Leonard - the inventors of the "kick ball game" better known as Sockey - all are invited to visit the following link, http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4284277.html, which describes their game in detail. Be sure to view the pdf, as it shows the official US patent entry for sockey (although not named there as such) and
includes some excellent 3D images that show what an incredible draftsperson Lanita was. So if anyone ever wants to play Sockey again or for the first time, you now have an authoritative source for the rules (and even a detailed description of the equipment, although this is by no means necessary to play). Sockey brought so much joy to so many kids (and a good number of adults too) from 1977 to the mid 80's. Quoted directly from the official US patent entry:
"BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game which can be played as a competitive team sport between two opposing groups or teams having no special physical skills nor special equipment, other than, at most, some familiarity with the game of soccer or, in the alternative, hockey. Too many competitive sports today place special emphasis on physical attributes of height, weight, speed, coordination, age and all sorts of skills impossible to develop or retain by the average person. All too often also, any organized league play of such team games as hockey, football, baseball, even soccer, requires special expensive player equipment. The present invention does not. Very few, if any of the aforementioned types of games are designed for play with equal suitability in both indoors and outdoors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed toward a game played by two teams on a generally rectangular playing surface, either indoors or outdoors, bounded on all sides by a flexible fence type barrier and having a generally hockey type goal at each end and wherein it is the object of each team to kick a soccer type ball into the opponent's goal. The rules of the game are unique, but nevertheless they include enough of the basic rudiments of the games of soccer and ice hockey that anyone previously associated with either game will quickly grasp an understanding of the rules and a high level of awareness of whatever skill and strategy is involved."
