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The Soccket: soccer as an energy source

Soccer isn't just the world's most popular sport, it's also set to be the most powerful.

For-profit social enterprise Uncharted Play has developed a soccer ball that can generate electricity. Just 30 minutes of kicking the ball can power an LED light for three hours.

"The Soccket is a portable generator in the form of a size 5 soccer ball. Its internal mechanism takes the kinetic energy from rolling and converts and stores it as electrical energy. After the game is finished, the included single bulb LED lamp can be plugged into the ball to provide hours of light from just minutes of play," the Uncharted Play website explains.

The Soccket soccer ball is just one ounce heavier than a standard soccer ball, is water-resistant and, because of its solid construction, requires no inflation.

Uncharted Play hopes to see the Soccket generate power for families without light in "resource-poor" areas of the world.

"The Soccket is currently being used in rural off-grid areas of Mexico and economically disadvantaged areas of the United States, with plans for expanding throughout the world. Our funding partners sponsor an order of Socckets, which are then distributed to communities in need through our implementation partners," its creators write.

The Soccket is also being used in schools as a tool to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, TIME reports.

The company is using Kickstarter to raise funds for the Soccket's mass production. Uncharted Play has already exceeded its goal of $75,000. If the company reaches its "stretch goal" of $150,000, it will add two upgrades to the "energy-harnessing" balls: an energy-tracking device and an emergency cell phone charger that can connect to the Soccket.

According to the Soccket's Kickstarter page, Uncharted Play has already built working prototypes of both upgrades.