Despite the fact that information periodically appears that certain ancient civilizations played a kind of football, it is officially recognized that England is the birthplace of football. However, this does not mean that quality football equipment is made only there. Currently, most of the balls are manufactured in India and Pakistan. About 80% of all quality soccer balls are made there. Thailand and China share the third place in terms of the volume of manufactured balls. From this it follows that you should not overpay for a ball that is supposedly released in Germany, although the same ball for playing football can be sold nearby much cheaper. Today Adidas is produced only in Asia.

What types of balls are there

Footballs are divided into four categories, depending on the intensity of use and the level of the players.

Professional ball. This ball is suitable for playing on any surface and in all weather conditions. When buying such a ball, you can safely ask the seller for an appropriate quality certificate, which confirms that this ball has all the qualities for playing at the highest level.

Match ball. The most durable of all types of balls. Has excellent grip during the game.

Training ball. It can rightfully be considered the most common. It has a water-repellent coating and increased durability. This type is often used to play yard football.

For futsal. This ball has a smaller radius than a regular ball. Also, its rebound is noticeably lower.

Volume and weight

Do not think that all balls are the same, both in weight and size. For football players who are not yet eight years old, a ball weighing from 311 to 340 grams and a long circumference of 57-60 centimeters has been developed.

For children from 8 to 12 years old, FIFA recommends playing with balls weighing from 340 to 368 grams and a long circumference of 62.5 to 65 centimeters.
This corresponds to 4 ball sizes.

The standard size 5 ball is suitable for all players over 12 years old. Its weight ranges from 396 to 453 grams, and its circumference is from 67.5 to 70 centimeters.

Outer layer

The strength of the ball, like its cost, depends on the material from which the outer layer is made. Nowadays, the vast majority of balls are made from synthetics. Manufacturers were forced to abandon the leather, because it stretched out after a while, which also affected the waterproof properties of the ball, which began to absorb a lot of moisture. Therefore, the ball became much heavier, moved much slower and simply lost its shape.

In addition, genuine leather is much more expensive than synthetics, moreover, it loses to it not only in strength, but also in various playing characteristics. Most often, balls are made from polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This material is actually synthetic leather, while less expensive than natural. PVC is quite strong, resembles plastic to the touch, especially in cold weather - because of this, the ball is difficult to control. Therefore, polyvinyl chloride is used to make cheap balls.

Polyurethane (PU). This material is synthetic leather - durable, strong and reliable. PU feels like natural leather. The higher the cost of the ball, the higher quality polyurethane is used in its manufacture.

If we compare balls made of polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride, it turns out that polyurethane balls are softer and their surface is more natural. Therefore, most sophisticated players prefer just such a ball.

Lining layer

Of greater importance is the backing layer that is used between the camera and the outer layer. The elasticity, weight, sphericity and other characteristics of a quality ball depend on the lining. Often, in the manufacture of balls, several layers are used - non-woven material, fabric, foam.

It is a fairly common practice when even eminent manufacturers are trying to save on the outer layer, but at the same time they strengthen the lining so that the ball meets all FIFA requirements, both in weight and in circumference.

Thanks to the fabric and foam, the ball becomes soft, but at the same time it not only absorbs moisture well, but also retains it. This negatively affects the weight of the ball, its balance.

Therefore, renowned companies, recognized leaders in the production of soccer balls, prefer nonwovens. Cotton fibers treated with polyurethane resin become water-repellent. Superimposed on each other, they form a flexible, porous system, thanks to which the balls do not absorb excess moisture, and also quickly recover their shape after impacts of any force.

Camera

The camera is another extremely important element of the ball. It shapes the product by holding air inside it. Cameras are made mainly of two materials - butyl and latex.

Balls with a latex tube have a more stable flight path. They are also more sensitive and softer. That is why professional football players give preference to just such balls. Although latex cameras have one significant drawback. Due to their porosity, they release air over time, and therefore require periodic pumping.

In contrast to latex chambers, butyl chambers are excellent at trapping air, but they are much less sensitive and more rigid.

Ball decoration and cut

Do not neglect the appearance of the ball. For the manufacture of any ball, several panels of different sizes are used. It is thanks to them that the aerodynamic properties of the ball are determined. The total number of panels depends on which particular use the ball was designed for.

At the moment, there are a huge number of design options for football balls, but despite this, the traditional 32-panel balls hold the lead. These balls are composed of twelve pentagonal and twenty hexagonal panels. Thanks to this design option, the balls have excellent playing aerodynamic properties. Also common are 18-panel and 26-panel balls.

FIFA - the International Football Federation (FIFA) has developed its recommendations for soccer balls and the requirements for them. Therefore, when choosing a ball, pay attention to whether it has one of three logos on it:
... FIFA Approved
... FIFA Inspected
... IMS - International matchball standart

Balls bearing these logos meet the highest standards, have much better performance, and have also been tested in FIFA laboratories. The stitching quality of such balls is much higher than that of ordinary ones.

How to care for the ball

The ball for playing football must be treated as a living being, your best friend, then it will serve you as long as possible.

Even the highest quality ball requires proper care. Ideally, after the game, it is recommended to lower each ball - this will make it possible to avoid stress at the seams, the ball will not stretch, lose its shape.

Before pumping, it is necessary to moisten the nipple - you can even just saliva. Damage by the needle can then be avoided. Of course, only a good pump should be used. Whether the ball is inflated correctly can be determined very simply - by raising it to the level of the head, release it. If, after bouncing off the floor, he rose to the waist - then that's right!

It is also important to maintain the correct pressure inside the ball - it should range from 0.7 to 1 atmosphere. For practice balls, 0.6 to 0.7 atmospheres.

The ball must be washed after the game. Then dust and dirt will not destroy the outer shell. If you go out to play in cold or even frosty weather, the ball must be taken out of the room dry. After all, then in small cracks residual moisture can freeze - upon impact, this will lead to an increase in cracks on the ball.

Summing up

If you do not have an excessive amount of money and can allocate insignificant funds for the purchase of the ball, then you can purchase a high-quality, but economical version of the ball. This will be a ball with a PVC tire and a latex tube. Of course, such a ball will not be as good as a polyurethane one, but the latex camera will do its part - the ball will have quite acceptable characteristics for playing football.

Polyurethane balls, no matter which camera is used in them - butyl or latex - have excellent playing characteristics. These balls can be used for various types of play and training. However, the cost of such products will be much higher.

We wish you a good choice!

Football takes the leading place in the world of sports in terms of popularity. The first thing that attracts people to this game is the almost complete lack of inventory. In any place where there is a small flat area, you can install the gate, marking them with any suitable objects - and you can start the game. But, of course, if there is such a necessary attribute of the game as the ball. Therefore, you need to know how to choose the soccer ball that is most suitable for a given situation.

An indispensable attribute of the game is a soccer ball and its size

What is the shell made of

Many people believe that a real ball should be made of leather. Of course, leather is a noble material and looks great, but it is not suitable for a soccer ball, since the property of leather to absorb moisture negatively affects the playing qualities of this accessory: it becomes heavier by absorbing liquid.

Thus, it is useful for game lovers to know how to choose a good soccer ball, what it should be made of, which material to give preference to.

Video about how soccer balls are made and how to choose them correctly

To answer these questions, you should have at least a minimal knowledge of what exactly the balls for the game are made of. Strength and cost are directly proportional to the quality of the material from which the outer layer is made - the shell. The most popular materials are:

1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
2. Polyurethane (PU).

PVC is a synthetic material that resembles plastic. The cost of a ball with such a coating is low, and, accordingly, its quality is rather low. It is difficult to control such a ball in cold weather.

As for polyurethane, it looks like natural leather. The material is strong, and such a coating will last a long time.

Polyurethane is the most suitable material

A little about the camera and lining

When choosing, you need to pay special attention to the camera. The shape of the ball and its controllability fully depend on it. The camera is based on latex or butyl.

Natural latex - the material is quite soft, but it has a drawback: it does not hold air well and often requires pumping.

Note. However, a ball with such a camera perfectly maintains a given trajectory of flight, so professional football players prefer it.

Butyl chambers, on the other hand, retain air well, but are less sensitive than latex chambers. For reliable air retention, the valve in the ball with a latex chamber is made of butyl.

To give the ball sphericity, elasticity and lightness, a spacer made of various materials is intended, which is placed between the outer shell and the chamber. This lining is made from:

• foam;
• fabrics;
• non-woven fabric.

The foam and fabric make the ball the softest, but they absorb moisture and hold it in for a long time. Therefore, in order to determine how to choose a good football ball, it should be borne in mind that most manufacturers have abandoned cheap materials in favor of non-woven samples. Spiral cotton fibers are treated with polyurethane resin. A ball with such a lining becomes moisture resistant, sufficiently elastic, and reliably holding its shape.

Lightweight and durable tube is one of the most important parts of the ball

Choose a soccer ball for a child

When choosing a ball for children, the main question is how to choose a soccer ball to play on the street. It is clear that children can choose any site for the game, while it does not always have a grass surface. This means that a ball designed for playing on grass and having the appropriate markings will break down very quickly if played on sandy ground or asphalt. The most suitable option for such cases is a polyurethane ball.

Note. The professional ball can be used in any weather and on any surface. However, such a purchase will not come cheap.

Football balls are also different in size and weight. The balls are lighter for children than for adults.... Children cope better with them.

Important! A ball weighing from 311 to 340 g and a circumference of 57-60 centimeters can be suitable for little football players under 8 years old. How to choose the right soccer ball for a 12-year-old child? FIFA recommends for children over 12 years of age a standard size 5 ball with a weight of 396 to 453 g and a circumference of 67.5 to 70 centimeters.

Table: The ball for children is selected depending on their age

Thus, in order to decide how to choose a ball for football, you need to be guided by the following: it is better to buy this football accessory from a material such as polyurethane, hand-stitched, with a latex camera, taking into account the weight, as well as the field on which the game will take place.

Often, in order to make the right purchase, you need to spend a lot of time choosing and searching. People stopped making hasty decisions and began to be guided by expert opinion, and therefore we are in a hurry to help you.

In this article, we give tips on how to choose a soccer ball and what to look out for.

What are soccer balls?

The first thing to know is that all balls are different. Some are cheap, look nice, but may be substandard; others, on the contrary, do not look presentable with high quality; it is also worth considering that each ball has its own individual purpose.

1. Match balls. They are much more massive than all others and have the best grip.

2. Professional balls. Real athletes play football with them. Their peculiarity is that they are the most practical and suitable for playing in any weather.

3. Specialized balls. They are used to practice techniques, can have a shifted center of gravity, be lighter or heavier than standard ones.

4. Practice balls. As a rule, they are laminated, inexpensive and highly durable.

Outwardly, all four types are similar, only a specialist can determine the difference. Therefore, before making a purchase, you should decide on the purpose of the purchase.

How to choose a quality soccer ball?

Many athletes say that choosing sneakers and clothing is easier than inventory, but we will try to simplify the task.

A quality soccer ball consists of three main elements - a tire, a lining, and a tube. Each element has its own characteristics, so you should take a closer look at each of them.

Tires. Modern products differ from their predecessors. Leather balls are considered an echo of the past - they quickly get wet, gaining weight, and cannot withstand intense training. Polymer coatings have become alternative materials: polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride.

Lining. It should be tough, but not firm - this is a very important point.

Camera. It can be made from a wide variety of materials (latex, polyurethane, butyl). We recommend that you purchase products where the chamber is made of butyl, which is able to retain air for a longer time.

Stitching. It can be manual or machine. Most machine-stitched balls do not hold up to stress. Good soccer balls are hand-sewn.

How to choose a soccer ball

How to choose a soccer ball for a child?

When choosing a ball for a child, you can follow the advice above, but there are a few details to consider.

Site surface. A turf-marked ball will deteriorate very quickly if played on asphalt, sandy ground or rubber courts. The best option would be a hand-stitched polyurethane ball designed for the site on which the game is planned. It will last longer.

The size. For a child under 8 years old, ball No. 3 (weight no more than 340 grams) is suitable, from 8 to 12 years old - No. 4 (weight from 369 to 425 grams), from 12 - No. 5 (from 425 to 450 grams)

If the ball has already been selected, you may find the following tips useful:

1. How to pump up a soccer ball? For this you need a special pump. You can do this both with your own hands and at any sports store. In order not to spend money on the pump, you can simply ask for help. In many cases, they will help you absolutely free of charge and thus you can easily cope with the task.

How to pump up a soccer ball if there is no needle.

2. How to sew a soccer ball? The second question is a little more complicated and, probably, it will need to be solved individually. Do not worry, because it is quite possible to sew a soccer ball on your own. You will need thick needles and strong thread. It must be sewn sequentially and along a precise line. Since the product is round, it is most convenient to fix it between the legs. The editors of the site hope that when the work is done, you will be able to play football with your favorite ball with pleasure.

In principle, it is impossible to play football without a soccer ball. There are tons of balls out there, and because of the variety, it can be difficult to choose the ball that's right for you. This guide will help you.

Types of soccer balls

It is important to understand that there are two main types of soccer balls - balls for big football and mini football balls... The main difference is that mini-football (futsal) balls have a low rebound, as they are used in areas with limited space. Footballs have a standard bounce. There are different types of balls in soccer and futsal balls: training, professional (such balls are FIFA or IMS certified), lightweight for children. Soccer balls are also available for hard surfaces, for beach soccer, souvenir mini-balls, and also balls with club symbols.

Practice balls

These are the most popular and common balls in sports schools and clubs. They differ in low cost (from 600 to 3000 rubles) and serve as “consumables” for any team or school.

Popular models:

You can find all the training balls from our range.

Professional balls

These balls are used in tournaments of the highest level - the World Championship, the Olympics, championships of different countries of the world, and so on. Professional balls always have a FIFA certificate, which confirms that this model of the ball has passed all the necessary tests (information about what each certificate means can be found below). The price of professional balls of different brands can vary from 2,000 to 8,000 rubles.

The main difference between professional balls and training balls lies in their quality of manufacture and the quality of the game process. A professional ball with a FIFA certificate always flies as the player intended and does not go off track.

Typically, professional balls from Nike, Adidas and Select come in two contrasting colors - white for the summer season, and orange and yellow for better visibility during the winter season (so-called "winter soccer balls").

Popular models:

Select Brillant Super FIFA

Select Futsal Super FIFA

Miter Delta FIFA

You can find all professional balls.

Children's (lightweight) balls

For younger players, special lightweight balls are offered. In the production of these balls, special materials of the tube and tires are used, which make the ball much lighter than standard balls of the same size. Because of this, children's lightweight balls have a number of features - 1) these balls release the pressure inside the chamber faster, that is, such balls need to be pumped up more often before the game, 2) the tire of these balls can wear out faster than standard balls.

Lightweight balls are most often used in children's sections and children's sports schools, since these balls are the best way to improve the technique of young football players without the risk of causing unnecessary foot injury.

The price of these balls is comparable to training balls from 950 to 2800 rubles.

Popular models:

Nike Lightweight

Adidas J290 and J350

You can find all children's lightweight balls.

Balls for hard surfaces

Special models of balls made for playing on hard artificial surfaces - low artificial grass, carpet, box / asphalt). As a rule, these balls use a more wear-resistant tire material.

Popular models:

Beach Soccer Balls

The beach soccer balls are covered in soft material for comfortable barefoot play. Also, such balls are usually additionally treated with a water-repellent substance.

Popular models:

All beach soccer ball models can be found.

Souvenir balls and balls with club symbols

These balls are mainly produced in the 1st size and are not used for playing, but only as a gift. The price of such balls ranges from 450 to 990 rubles.

Popular models:

You can find all souvenir balls.

Special balls

Specialty soccer balls are balls for training the reaction of goalkeepers and players. Typically, these balls can have a non-standard shape (triangular instead of spherical), a displaced center of gravity, or increased weight. In addition, there are balls for visually impaired athletes (the so-called "balls with sound").

You can find all the special balls.

Types of stitching of ball panels and their design

Nowadays, the design of balls can consist of 6, 8, 10, 16 or 32 panels, while the design of the ball does not create significant differences during the game. For example, Select has always used the classic 32-panel design, while Nike and Adidas have successfully used 6, 8 and 32-panel designs.

It is much more important to understand the method of stitching these panels:

-Mechanical stitching... The ball panels are mechanically bonded in production. This stitching method is the most unreliable, but the cheapest. Hence the increased percentage of rejects for balls with this stitching. This stitching method is usually only used in cheap practice balls and souvenir balls.

-Manual stitching... This type of stitching is the most common and is highly reliable and durable. All top-end futsal balls are usually hand-stitched to help the balls withstand high loads. Soccer balls are also manufactured with hand-stitched panels, but this can lead to increased moisture gain when played in wet weather.

-Thermal bonding... This technology has appeared relatively recently. With this method of stitching, the panels of the ball are “glued” to the chamber of the ball at a high temperature. These balls are perfectly spherical and do not pick up moisture. Ideal for big football. All top Nike, Adidas and Select professional balls are now heat-bonded.

Tire and ball tube

The camera is the heart of the ball. It is she who is filled with air when inflated and holds the pressure during the game. Chambers are often made from butyl or latex. The top-end balls have chambers made of natural latex. Latex feels better, but it retains air worse than butyl, so balls with latex tubes need to be inflated more often.

Three types of materials are mainly used for tires: PVC (polyvinyl chloride), TPU (thermopolyurethane) and PU (polyurethane). There are also balls made of genuine leather or pure rubber, but this is an exception to the rule.

Polyvinyl chloride is cheaper and sometimes more durable than polyurethane. It is often used in balls for training, futsal and street football. Polyurethane is the material for the more expensive and professional balls. Polyurethane balls are softer and respond better to impacts. TPU is used, as a rule, in budget balls.

Football ball care

The recommended pressure is usually marked on the ball next to the valve. An improperly inflated ball can be detrimental to the game and will wear out faster. When initially inflating, it is recommended to straighten the ball chamber to avoid inadvertent damage to the nipple or the shape of the ball chamber. After the initial inflation, it is recommended to leave the ball on for a few hours to smooth out any wrinkles. The ball must be cleaned of dirt and moisture after each game. It is not recommended to dry the ball in direct sunlight or on a battery - this can damage the ball at the joints of the panels. It is also not recommended to store the ball in too high or low temperatures, sit on it or put something heavy on top.

Sizes of soccer balls

Football balls are produced as standard 5 sizes, circumference 68-70 cm, weight 410-450 g. The characteristics of non-certified balls may vary. Such balls are considered traditional, and are used everywhere by adults and children.

Juniors up to 12-14 years old usually play balls 4 sizes, circumference 63-66cm, weight 350-390 gr. In addition, all futsal balls (futsal balls) are available in 4 sizes.

And for the smallest football players under 8 years old, balls are suitable Size 3 .

The size of souvenir mini-balls is 1 size.