Pioneering football product protects people and pitches

An inflatable blocking mannequin called ‘Packaman’ sold by Packaworld International Limited has the potential to take the pain out of training and save on damage to sportsgrounds around the world.

Packaworld CEO Peter Roberts says football teams have long used blocking dummies during training to protect players in ‘the wall’, a formation used to block free kicks, but the majority of traditional football dummies are cumbersome and use spikes to secure themselves to the ground.

This is not an option on modern artificial pitches, so the solution lies in the portable, inflatable technology used to produce Packaman, Mr Roberts says.

“Many teams train on artificial pitches these days, and old-style training dummies just don’t work on these surfaces. This is a challenge for football teams looking to hone their free kicks without half the team just standing around.

“We thought the solution was clear. Packaman will not only take the sting out of training for those who would have been in the wall, it’s also incredibly easy to transport and inflate.”

He says while this technology is not a new thing, Packaman includes a fast-release valve that allows it to be inflated and deflated in seconds. It also has a base weighted through a cleverly designed water compartment that will not damage football pitches.

Wellington football supplies store Football Central stocks Packaman, and has put it to the test in-store. See Packaman in action at Football Central.

To order Packaman, visit the Football Central store or visit the Packaworld website.