Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and it doesn't matter - it's suitable for everyone and for all situations! You can get off to a great start in games with just a ball. You can get goals, protections and other equipment as long as your enthusiasm for the game continues. Buying a suitable football is not difficult, as long as you take into account a few points presented in this text.
Purpose of use
The first question is whether you play indoors or outdoors. Indoor soccer, i.e. futsal, uses a different soccer ball than outdoors. A futsal ball is slightly heavier than a regular soccer ball, and it does not bounce as much. According to the official instructions of the Finnish Football Association, the futsal ball may bounce 50–65 cm when it is dropped on the floor from a height of 2 meters. This text discusses the choice of outdoor soccer in more depth.
Material
Balls are made in different materials. The most common surface materials are PU and PVC. These are durable and give the ball an easily controlled feel. The inner part of the ball, i.e. the bladder, can be either latex, butyl or rubber. Match balls are often equipped with latex rubber. It gives the ball the best trajectory, bounce and contact. The butyl bladder lasts longer than latex, it doesn't need to be filled as often, and that's why it's popular in training balls. The cheapest, recreational balls usually have a rubber bladder. This holds the air pressure the longest and is quite durable. However, it does not offer quite as good contact or flight characteristics as the previous two.
Always remember to check what type of court the ball is intended for, and choose the material according to where you plan to play. There are specially designed balls for sand courts and grass courts. In addition, there are universal balls that work on grass, artificial grass and sand. This is a great choice for the hobbyist.
Footballs are usually designed for summer use, but there are also balls suitable for winter games on the market. Winter balls are made of slightly more durable materials and are usually brightly colored to stand out better from the snow. Winter balls are also designed to withstand large temperature fluctuations without affecting the pressure of the inner bladder. When playing in cold and wet weather, it is good to make sure the ball is waterproof.
Size
The size of the soccer ball is indicated by the number 1–5. Balls of different sizes are used for children and adults. The official game ball for adults is size 5. The children's game ball is either 3 or 4, depending on age. Adults may also sometimes use a smaller ball, for example in technique training. However, it is a good idea for an ambitious player to use the same size ball in training as in matches, so that you immediately get the right feel for the ball.
General football size chart:
|
Size |
Circumference (cm) |
Weight (g) |
Age class |
|
1 |
Less than 55 cm |
Less than 270 g |
Mini and technical ball for all ages |
|
3 |
55-60 cm |
270-320 g |
children up to 9 years old |
|
4 |
62-66 cm |
340-390 g |
10-13 year old children |
|
5 |
68-70 cm |
410-450 g |
Over 14 years old and adults |
Certification
You can recognize high-quality soccer by the FIFA QUALITY PRO (match balls), FIFA QUALITY (training balls) or IMS (hobby balls) marking. The certificate ensures that the football meets the shape, size, weight and pressure requirements set for it. The ball must also retain its properties long enough to be certified.
Football treatment
The football should always be cleaned after use, for example with a damp cloth. The surface of a dirty ball wears faster, and the service life of the ball is also shortened.
Next to the football valve there is often a mark on how full the ball can be filled. Always follow the recommendation according to the instructions! The recommended pressure is generally something between 0.6 bar and 1.1 bar, depending on the size of the ball. Avoid valve wear and stretching by using valve oil when pumping. If the valve gets worn, the ball will probably start to let air out. A ball with too little air is heavy and difficult to control.
Check out the football selection of training rooms from here.
Did you have any questions? Our customer service can help! You can contact us by calling: 050 466 7269 (weekdays 8-18) or by email customer service@trainikamat.fi You can also contact us on social media, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook with the nickname @treenikamat