Religious Game and Method

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to generally to games, more specifically but not by way of limitation a game utilizing a ball and a plurality of bases wherein the player of the game has their belief transformed and intensified during the play of the game.

BACKGROUND

Games have been played by individuals throughout civilization so as to provide entertainment and other attributes to those involved. There are numerous types of games ranging from card games, sporting games and many others that serve not only to provide a source of entertainment but also to provide teaching of a particular skill or to teach a player about a particular subject.

One particular type of game is kickball. The game of kickball is similar to baseball and other types of base games wherein a field having a plurality of plates is set up and a player begins at one plate and attempts to advance to the next plate. Once the player has advanced completely around the plates a run is scored. The game typically involves an offensive and defensive team and is played in a series of innings with each opposing team taking an offensive and defensive turn during each inning. While the game of kickball encourages team building and other similar traits it does not promote or transform the belief of a player.

One problem with kickball is that it is not focused on building attributes different than traditional sports. Attributes such as religious beliefs are not developed during the play of kickball and/or any traditional sport. A players' belief in God is not transformed and/or nurtured during the play of traditional sports as it is not included in the rules/play of traditional games.

Accordingly, there is a need for a game that facilitates the belief and/or transformation of belief of a player in God during the play of the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a game having a field of play that is similar to kickball wherein the game and the rules thereof are operable to enhance and/or transform the player's belief in God.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game that includes game pieces such as but not limited to plates and a ball wherein the game pieces have imprinted thereon inspirational religious indicia.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a religious focused game operable to enhance and/or transform the player's belief in God wherein the players will engage in prayer as a part of playing the game.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a religion-based game that promotes religious awareness during the play of the game.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a game operable to transform a player's belief in God wherein players acclaim out loud in spoken word various words of praise.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a game operable to enhance and/or transform a player's belief in God that includes numerous verbal expressions of faith during the playing thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a game operable to enhance and/or transform a player's belief in God that includes a plurality of religious observations during the playing of the game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game that is operable to promote proper religious conduct during and subsequent the game being played.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a game that promotes players to directly request divine assistance during the play of the game.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a game that promotes the belief and/or transformation of the belief of a player in God that includes a team of seven or more players.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transformational religious game that provides a means for players to overcome the stipulations of public declarations of faith.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary base plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exemplary home plate of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an exemplary ball of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a general flowchart of play of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a religious game 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

The religious game 100 includes elements to facilitate the method of play and wherein during the playing thereof either the transformation of belief of God in a player or the enhancement of their personal relationship and/or confidence in their faith. Shown in particular in FIG. 1 herein is an exemplary base plate 5. The exemplary base plate 5 is generally square in shape and planar in manner. The base plate 5 is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to rubber. While no particular size of the base plate 5 is required, good results have been achieved utilizing a base plate 5 that is approximately fifteen inches by fifteen inches with a thickness of no more than one-half an inch. During the play of the religious game 100 it is contemplated that three base plates 5 will be set up in a field similar to that arrangement of a baseball field. While three base plates 5 are desirable, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that either fewer or more than three base plates 5 could be utilized during the play of the religious game 100. The base plate 5 has indicia 10 imprinted thereon. The indicia 10 is specific to the message of faith and serves to provide a visual stimulus to a player during play of the game. The indicia 10 further functions to assist in either the deepening of the confidence of the player's faith and/or the transformation of a player's belief in God. By way of example and not by limitation, the indicia 10 could includes phrases such as but not limited to hallelujah. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different religious exclamations and/or phrases could be used to create the indicia 10.

As shown in particular in FIG. 2, the exemplary home plate 15 is pentagonal in shape and planar in manner. The home plate 15 is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to plastic or rubber. The home plate 15 further includes inspirational indicia 20 imprinted thereon. The inspirational indicia 20 are operable to provide a deepening of a player's faith in God and/or transform the belief of a player in God during use of the religious game 100. While an inspirational indicia 20 of hallelujah is illustrated herein, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the inspirational indicia 20 could be numerous different phrases and or words. The home plate 15 is positioned on a field of play wherein the home plate 15 is located at a forty-five degree angle to at least two of the base plates 5 and directly in line with one base plate 5 very much like that of a baseball field arrangement. The home plate 15 is the element wherein the offensive player will attempt to strike the ball 30 as it is rolled thereacross, discussed later herein.

Shown in particular in FIG. 3 is the ball 30. The ball 30 is a conventional ball being round in shape and substantially hollow wherein the cavity of the ball 30 is filled with air or other appropriate gas. The ball 30 is utilized during the religious game 100 between the offensive and defensive teams as subsequently discussed herein. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the ball 30 could be manufactured in numerous different sizes. Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the ball 30 could be manufactured from numerous suitable durable materials such as but not limited to rubber. The ball 30 has inspirational indicia 35 imprinted on the exterior surface thereof. The inspirational indicia 35 functions to provide transformation of belief in God during play of the religious game 100 and/or provide a deepening of faith. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the inspirational indicia 35 could be numerous sayings and/or exclamations of praise.

Following is an exemplary method of play of the religious game 100 and serves to be exemplary only and not to limit reasonable alternative embodiments within the scope of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 4 herein the method of play of the religious game 100 begins with step 305 of setting up the field of play. The field of play utilizes three base plates 5 and a home plate 15 arranged in the aforementioned configuration. The ball 30 is further provided. In step 310, the individuals that have chosen to participate in the play of the religious game will engage in a prayer. It is through the engagement of this prayer that each player's belief begins to deepen and/or their relationship with God begins a transformation. Step 315 consists of team formation. Team formation is the act of dividing the individual participants into two groups having approximately the same amount of players. It is further desired within the scope of the present invention that the team formation further utilizes the parameters of age and general athletic ability so as to have an equitable distribution of both across the two teams. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that an individual who does not believe in God or has questions concerning their faith is placed with those who have already been saved.

In step 320, a first team participates in the initial offensive round of play. During this round of play the second team will deliver the ball 30 via rolling to a player on the first team wherein the ball 30 is rolled across the home plate 15. The player on the first team that is in rotation to strike the ball 30 will attempt to do so. If the player successfully strikes the ball 30 out into the field of play, the player will advance to a first base plate 5. If a player is unsuccessful in striking the ball 30, a term, ballo, is exclaimed and the player's turn at striking the ball 30 is lost. During the successful strike of the ball 30, a player must exclaim some inspirational phrase as the player advances towards the base plate 5. If the player fails to exclaim the inspiration phrase during advancement towards a base plate 5 then the player is considered, ballo, which in the context of the present invention means that the player is considered out of play for that inning. While no particular inspirational phrase is required, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the inspirational phrase could be , “Praise God” or some other similar phrase. The offensive play continues until the first team reaches a total of three ballo's, step 325. Subsequent the first team reaching three ballo's, in step 335 the second team will take a turn at their offensive round of play wherein the first team will now deliver the ball 30 to player's of the second team wherein the player's of the second team engage in offensive play as previously described for the player's of the first team. Step 340, requires the base advancement exclamation as previously described herein. As a player advances to a subsequent base plate 5 or home plate 15, the player must make a religious exclamation out loud for all of the other player's to hear. It is this repeated base advancement exclamation that begins to harness the power of the Holy Spirit wherein the power of the Holy Spirit begins to deepen the belief of each player and wherein if a player is a non-believer that the player's belief begins to transform during the acts of the religious game 100 such as but not limited to the base advancement exclamation. Step 345 represents a ballo if a player advances to the subsequent base plate 5 without a base advancement exclamation which as previously described herein is the equivalent of an out meaning the player is removed from play during that inning. Step 350 diagrammatically represents the play of both teams wherein the teams alternate offensive and defensive possession as described herein for a particular number of rounds and/or innings. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the religious game 100 could be played using numerous different quantities of rounds and/or innings. In step 355, the winner of the two teams is determined by tabulating the number of times that a player from each team crossed home plate 15 subsequent advancing through the base plates 5. Step 330 represents a request for divine assistance. While step 330 is illustrated graphically in a certain position on the flowchart in FIG. 4, this step can be executed at anytime during the play of the religious game. During this step, a player will make a verbal request for assistance from God either pertaining to the game or perhaps an issue in the life of the person. During this prayer of petition and with the accompanying prayers described herein that take place during the play of the game the player's belief is transformed from a first state to a second state. The first state can be a state of non-belief to belief and the second state is a state of belief to a deeper understanding of the player's faith. The players' belief transformation is a desired outcome of the religious game 100. In step 360 all of the player's will gather to participate in a group prayer.

While not specifically previously discussed, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that player's can be ruled out (ballo) under the following exemplary scenarios: if a defensive team gets the ball 30 to be in possession by a baseman prior to the offensive team runner reaching the base plate 5; if the a defensive team player in possession of the ball 30 touches an offensive team player as the player is intermediate the base plates 5 or a base plate 5 and the home plate 15. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that numerous scoring scenarios could be employed during play of the religious game 100. More specifically but not by way of limitation, a home run by an individual player could be awarded two points. Each time a player crosses the home plate 15 then one point could be given to the offensive team. Point deductions are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. By way of example but not by way of limitation, a player could be deducted one-half point for failing to say a praise while running to a base. Furthermore, if a defensive player throws and hits an offensive player with the ball 30, a deduction of one-half point would be applied to the team on which the player who threw the ball 30. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that numerous scoring techniques could be employed during play of the game.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.