What You Need To Know About Soccer Balls

You may not know it, but soccer is one of the most popular games on earth. Soccer or fut bol as known in the majority of the world, is played and adored by millions. There really is only one requirement to play soccer, that's the soccer ball. Soccer balls come in many different sizes, colors and patterns.

The simplicity of equipment needed to play soccer is what makes it so appealing. Unlike Football, golf or baseball which require various equipment, to play soccer you simply need a soccer ball. Don't be mislead, the soccer ball is not a generic item and each have different characteristics that make them unique from other balls.

Sure, from a distance all soccer balls may resemble one another, but upon closer inspection you'll begin to see the variations. Granted, soccer balls have their widely identifiable hexagonal and pentagonal panels, but their cover is what differentiates them from others.

The majority of soccer balls today are made from synthetic leather which helps in in climate weather conditions. The two types of synthetic leather most widely used are polyurethane and poly vinyl chloride. For the competitions like a match, polyurethane balls are used as opposed to the poly vinyl chloride which are mainly used as practice balls.

When looking at the panels on a soccer ball, notice the stitching used to adhere the panels together. The high end balls will be hand stitched together with a special polyester cord or Kevlar reinforced polyester. Lower end balls will also be stitched or glued together. Instead of being hand stitched, lower end balls will be done by a machine.

You may have noticed that not all soccer balls are the same size. There are actually three sizes to choose from, size 3 balls are the smallest and used by players that are under 8 years old. Size 4 balls are the next size up and are widely used by players between the ages of 8 and 12. Finally, we have the size 5 ball which is considered standard and is used by adults and international players.

When your out shopping for your next ball it is a good idea to take into consideration the age of the player and their skill level. You should also look to see if the ball is approved by either FIFA or NFHS which will be denoted on the ball itself. This will ensure a top quality ball. Make sure to pick the ball that's right for you and strike away!

Click Here For The Umbro Endorsed, Leading Soccer Drills Software Now!