A Complete Guide on Selecting Soccer Balls for Every Player, Game and Surface
Are you looking to spruce up your soccer game? From different match balls to training balls, you can find a huge range of soccer balls available online. Thus, finding the best ball is essential as it impacts a player’s skills, and performance. Apart from that, selecting a ball with good quality, size, and type can significantly impact a player’s experience. In essence, a carefully chosen ball can increase control, precision, and confidence, whereas a badly selected option can result in injuries, annoyance, and restricted growth.
In this guide, we will help you with a careful selection of the soccer balls according to your different gaming requirements.
Different Types of Soccer Balls with Their Specific Usage
With the availability of various types of soccer balls, each one is designed for a specific playing surface, condition, or skill level. All of these come with different features of materials, weight, and bounce, manufactured for different surroundings and playing levels.
What Materials Are Soccer Balls Made Of?
These balls are normally manufactured from a combination of different materials, like an outer cover, lining, and a rubber bladder.
1. For Training Purposes
Training balls are considered the best for practising and improving skill levels. They are long-lasting, can be effective for recurrent use, and are manufactured using robust materials. These can be specifically practice balls made for playing on an artificial turf surface.
2. For Playing Matches
Match balls are normally preferred in many soccer matches as well as competitions. They have less weight, come with high quality, and are manufactured for outstanding durability and player performance.
3. For Turf Surfaces
Turf balls are particularly made to play on artificial turf surfaces. They are more lesion-resistant and sturdy to handle on bumpy or uneven surfaces. They have a tough rubberized cover for safe play on the street.
4. Futsal Balls for Indoor Games
Bulkier and less bouncy than conventional soccer balls, Futsal balls are made for fast-moving indoor games. They provide better control on a solid or hard surface.
5. For Beaches
Beach balls are a good option for playing sand soccer. They are generally softer, lighter, and cushioned than standard soccer balls. They are the best for sand play.
1. Outer Cover
PVC and PU are the materials used to construct the outer layers of a soccer ball. PU is considered for making high-end match balls because of its smoothness and waterproofing abilities. On the other hand, PVC is more stable, inexpensive and is frequently used for making indoor and training balls.
Natural leather, which is not commonly used now, was the conventional material for ball making. It offers the finest feel and touch, but can be more pricey and less waterproof.
2. Lining
It is primarily composed of fabric layers, typically of regular polyester or cotton, and provides a unique structure and base for the bladder.
3. Bladder
There are two types of bladders, namely latex and butyl. Latex bladders are recognized for their smoothness and increased responsiveness, offering a good touch for the ball. Alternatively, butyl bladders are highly sturdy and can sustain air for a long time. Thus, they are a well-known option preferred in many soccer balls.
Finding An Appropriate Size for Soccer Balls
Soccer balls come in four different sizes. These are one, three, four and five, in which one is the smallest and five is the largest.
1. Size One
It is also called minis, which has a girth of 18″-20″. Some people might use it for skill training, with the primary purpose being regular fun and collection. Various relic balls featuring club designs or player tags come in size one for their easy use and collectability.
2. Size Three
This size is best matched for children eight years old or younger. Its circumference size is 23 to 24 inches, and weight is 300 to 320 grams. This small ball is a good choice for children as it supports appropriate ball handling for young kids and is well-proportioned to most of them in this age category.
3. Size Four
This size is mainly used by young players. Its dimensions are 25″-26″ in girth and 350 to 390 grams in weight. This reduction in size allows young players to improve their skills. Maybe players of a young age might find it difficult to practice their ball-holding or dribbling skills if they go with a size five, as it can be very big and bulky for successful player training.
4. Size Five
These soccer balls are suitable for players aged 12 and older, such as professionals and adults. They come with a girth of 27″-28″, and their weight is approximately 410 to 450 grams. For playing matches, this size category involves a FIFA-approved tag, which shows that they have passed a testing phase for girth, circularity, weight, bounce back, water resistance, pressure trouble, and withholding of size and shape.
Choosing the Right Soccer Ball According to Surface
For selecting the best ball for soccer, depending on the surface, you need to understand different surfaces, such as:
1. For a grassy area, a long-lasting ball with a good bounce back is suggested.
2. To play on an artificial turf, you need a ball with an abrasion-proof material.
3. For playing on streets, a sturdy, rubberized ball is essential.
4. Indoor surfaces require a low-bounce futsal ball.
Final Words
The selection of an appropriate ball for soccer is not only about taking one from the shelf. It all depends on a player’s playing method, skill, and the ground’s surface. From various match soccer balls to long-lasting training and beach balls, you can find the perfect ball according to your requirements. When you buy a soccer ball that goes with your playing method, you will experience improved performance and have a gaming advantage to its complete potential. In addition, discovering a huge variety of these balls at Vizari will definitely take your gaming skills to a higher level! Vizari, as a bulk sports ball provider, has many options to fulfil your needs.
References:
- https://www.soccerbox.com/blog/choosing-right-soccer-ball
2.https://sendaathletics.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-right-soccer-ball?srsltid=AfmBOoqrCIqH-TtLGeYRfz7ijPSml1ouKTiNY2VrA66BbmUNj-m2D8Cb
3.https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/protips/sports-and-activities/soccer/soccer-ball-size-breakdown
