Soccer is a fantastic game that has got so many people raving, as it is the most-watched sports game in the world. Its special tournaments record-high number of viewers both physically and from their homes.
Among everything you need for a soccer game, the ball is part of the top essential item. Furthermore, since the soccer ball is the most basic of all items, let us examine the various types of it.
When it comes to the hardness and other specifications of the soccer ball, it is regulated mainly by the International Football Association Board and FIFA. These bodies give out the rules and conditions a ball must meet before being used in a game or the training ground.
Nevertheless, these are the types of soccer balls we will discuss in this article:
- Professional soccer match balls
- Street soccer balls
- Beach soccer balls
- Futsal soccer balls
- Training soccer balls
We would examine the standard hardness of a soccer ball in each of the stated types.
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Professional Soccer Match Balls
Professional match soccer balls are the highest class of soccer balls because of the amount of care put into their production. This professionalism ensures that the ball helps the players maximize their skills and abilities.
The regulatory body created the guidelines to ensure these formal games are played with soccer balls having high-performance rates, accuracy, speed, and control. And they do this by monitoring its air retention, water-resistance level, and performance is beyond par.
How hard should a professional soccer match ball be?
The International Football Association Board in 1863 created Laws guiding the play of the game. They established ‘The Laws of the Game (LOTG),’ which contained seventeen rules. Law 2 deals with the soccer ball and its specifications.
It states that the ball should have a spherical shape, must be 68 to 70cm in circumference, weigh 410-450g, and have a pressure between 8.5psi to 15.6psi.
How to check if your soccer ball is hard enough?
This generally applies to all kinds of soccer balls. They are different ways to determine the hardness or softness of a soccer ball. They include:
The Air Pressure Gauge
You can use the air pressure gauge to perfectly record the pressure in the ball. You do this by putting the needlelike side of the gauge in the ball’s opening and allowing the indicator to measure the pressure.
Then you remove the gauge after such recording. This is primarily used in formal games. For example, you have to ensure the pressure is between 8.5psi and 15.6psi for professional soccer balls.
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The Bounce Test
The bounce is another method you can use to measure the pressure in the ball. Though this method is not reliable to give you an accurate measurement, people still use it. How does it work?
You can throw the ball to quite a height, then let it fall and estimate its bounce. If it bounces 2/3 of the height it was dropped from; then, it is within the recommended pressure range.
Where it bounces higher than that, you have to reduce the pressure. Where it bounces lower than that, you might have to inflate it more.
The Squeeze Test
The Squeeze Test is another method of determining the ball’s pressure. The referee or the coach can take the ball and squeeze it.
Then, whoever it is would use their sense to estimate the ball’s pressure from ‘Low’ to ‘Alright’ to ‘High.’ However, this is also an unreliable means of gauging the pressure in the ball.
Street Soccer Balls
Basically, street Soccer is a kind of soccer game. The differentiating factor is that this type usually gets played on the street where there may be no turf. So, to enjoy the game, the ball must be a special one that can resist the harshness and unevenness of the ground.
Most street soccer players use the size 5 for their games since it is the highest-rated and biggest soccer ball size. Regardless, a street soccer ball must be tough, durable, can bounce, easily inflate, and retain air.
Why? The ball must be tough because the ground on which the ball is being played is rough, which may tear a soft and fragile ball. Plus, the ball must be durable and can withstand harsh weather.
Generally, the ability to bounce is vital to every soccer ball, of which the street soccer ball is not excluded. Since the game is mainly played in the open air, the ball should retain air. This would mean the ball’s direction in the air is dictated by the feet or head of the players and not the windy air.
How hard should a street soccer ball be?
While professional soccer balls are supposed to have 8.5psi to 15.6psi pressure within them, street soccer games are primarily informal. However, the standard rules and regulations for street soccer are modified to ensure the game is practicable and enjoyed.
It is mainly modified to fit the type of ground it is to be played on. And like the professional soccer ball, the pressure set in the ball is also measured by the toughness, bounce, and air retention.
How to check if your street soccer ball is hard enough?
You can measure the street soccer ball’s hardness using the air pressure gauge, the bounce method, or the squeeze test. We recommend you use the air pressure gauge to measure the pressure to ensure the safety of the players from injury.
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Beach Soccer Balls
Beach Soccer is a variation of professional soccer played on the beach sand instead of the grass or turf. It is a recently developed professional game with its competitions and players.
While beach soccer is similar to professional soccer, there are some differences in the rules that apply in the game. For instance, the total time spent in the game is 36 minutes divided into 3 different 12 minutes instead of the professional soccer’s two 45 minutes games.
Also, instead of the 11 players on the field, you have 5 players from each side. Plus, a lot of goals are also shipped in beach soccer. The beach soccer balls are of the same make and shape as the professional soccer ball, only the pressure put in the ball differs.
How hard should a beach soccer ball be?
The beach is a difficult place to play on with dribbles and kicking. As a result, most of the games have more aerial contests than groundwork.
Because of the peculiarity of the game, the pressure in the beach soccer ball is lesser than the professional soccer ball. While the professional soccer ball has an inflation standard of 0.6atm to 1.1atm, the beach soccer ball is between 0.4atm to 0.6atm.
This inflation standard ensures that the players get the best from the ball with little regard for the beach.
How to check if your beach soccer ball is hard enough?
While the pressure in the beach soccer ball is relatively lower than the professional soccer ball, the methods of determining the pressure in the ball are the same. You can check the pressure with the air pressure gauge or the squeeze or bounce methods.
Futsal Soccer Balls
Futsal Soccer is FIFA’s official indoor soccer. In fact, this sport occurs mainly on a hard surface similar to the basketball court, which derives from professional soccer.
It shares similar rules with professional soccer, though the differences are apparent and many. For instance, it is a game of 5 players with less time played than professional soccer. And one of the 5 players is the goalkeeper.
Also, special boots are used in this soccer game that allows the players to stand firm and run solid on the field. The goalkeepers also use pads for their elbows to prevent injuries when they land on solid ground.
How hard should a futsal soccer ball be?
Firstly, a futsal soccer ball is relatively smaller than a regular professional soccer ball. For example, while the recommended professional soccer ball size is Size 5, the recommended futsal soccer ball is Size 4. This means the futsal soccer ball is smaller in size and weight.
The futsal soccer ball is relatively hard enough for the ground it is played on. However, the ability to bounce is not an essential feature of the futsal soccer ball.
It isn’t easy to see the futsal soccer ball bounce twice in a roll. This is not because of the ball’s weight but because the ball contains some foam that reduces the bounce. The balls are designed for low bounce and low rebound to ensure maximum control on hard surfaces.
How to check if your futsal soccer ball is hard enough?
You can use different methods in determining the hardness of the futsal soccer ball. For example, you can use the air pressure gauge, the squeeze, or the bounce method.
The bounce method would work differently since it is expected that a rightly pumped futsal soccer ball should have 60% less bounce than professional soccer.
Training Soccer Balls
Soccer players often have training before a game. They go to the training ground to keep themselves fit, strengthen their feet, play according to tactics, etc.
Hence, training is quite essential to keep the fitness of the players. A critical feature of the session is the training soccer ball.
This ball is usually stiffer than the usual professional soccer ball. It is also more rigid because it helps strengthen the players’ feet. Plus, the air pressure in the training ball does not change.
The players are expected to get accustomed to the pressure level even during training. The texture and feel of the ball may change, but the air pressure does not.
How hard should a training soccer ball be?
The specified air pressure in a training soccer ball is between 8.5psi to 15.6psi, the same air pressure in the professional soccer ball.
This helps the players modify their skills and best around the similar ball they would play in the real match. However, the ball’s stiffness may affect the bounce, toughness, and durability of the ball.
How to check if your training soccer ball is hard enough?
The air pressure gauge, the squeeze or bounce method may determine if the training ball is hard enough. When the air pressure gauge is used, you should watch for the 8.5psi or 15.6psi and choose the measurement you are comfortable with.
For the bounce and squeeze methods, you use the bounce to determine the pressure or your sense of pressure after squeezing.
Conclusion
This article examined the beautiful game of soccer, particularly the soccer ball. First, we listed some types of soccer balls by classifying the soccer game according to the surfaces they are played on.
Then, we also examined the ball’s hardness with the air pressure put in each type of soccer ball. In general, the air pressure in the soccer ball is determinant on the level that protects the players and gives them the maximum opportunity to enjoy the game.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!