Soccer Balls
Score Great Goals With Quality Soccer Balls. Balls Available For Practices As Well As Big Games
The one thing that you absolutely need for playing soccer is of course a soccer ball. But, which ball to get can be confusing because there are a couple of main things to consider when purchasing soccer balls: size and construction.
It is also important to have the ball pumped up correctly to prevent injury to players. Tip: always carry a small hand-held pump in your soccer bag!
Whilst many soccer associations and leagues have their own requirements as to which size soccer ball should be used, there are basically 3 sizes of balls to choose from: -
| Size | Description | AYSO | Club | 3 | Size 3 balls are best suited for children that are 8 years old and younger. The balls weigh less than a 1 pound and the ball circumference is about 24 inches. | U8 and below | N/A | 4 | Size 4 balls are used for players between the ages of 8 and 12. The ball weight is about the same as the size 3 balls but is slightly larger in circumference at about 26 inches. | U10,U12 | up to U12 | 5 | These are the largest size balls you can purchase and are suited for players aged 13 and older. These balls weigh about 1 pound with a circumference of about 28 inches. This is also the international match ball standard. | U14+ | U13+ |
There are several different facets to consider when it comes to ball construction, the most important being the cover. Generally the price, level of player skill, and the usage of the ball should help you determine which ball to purchase. During practice and scrimmage games, a practice ball would suffice but you would want a good quality match play ball for the big games.
There are three main types of ball covers: -
- Synthetic. The best quality, and the most expensive, balls are made from synthetic materials. Although these balls are softer, they are also less durable and less water resistant. You probably won’t want to use these balls too much in rainy practices!
- Polyurethane. These balls have leather-like qualities and are similar in feel to the synthetics, but are much more durable. They are scrape and water resistant, ideal for wet weather.
- PVC. These balls are made out of PVC type material and are usually the least expensive. They are usually covered with a glossy coating and are extremely durable, water and scratch resistant. These balls would be good for hard surface play as well as for younger players.
Soccer.com offers a huge, quality selection of balls and other soccer gear. They also often provide great deals in the way of sale items, specials, and discontinued items, and sometimes free shipping to your designated delivery destination.
