The fun derived from playing soccer is beyond words. Some players say soccer connects the world and makes it go round. At the same time, others see soccer as the best form of entertainment.
However, all these can turn sour when a soccer ball begins to leak. Although soccer is unarguably a major form of entertainment, the ball has a pivotal role in making the game lively.
If the ball is not in good condition, fans, and most especially players do not get to enjoy the game. So, how to seal a leaking soccer ball? Well, in this article, you will get a clear and helpful guide to assist you in fixing a leaking soccer ball.
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Sealing A Leaking Soccer Ball
Generally, every player should know that it is better to get your soccer ball fixed rather than dispose of it. Irrespective of the condition of the ball, it is mostly always repairable. Imagine playing soccer with a leaking ball; it’s similar to driving with a flat tire! The car doesn’t move.
However, sealing a ball is not a difficult task; in fact, it can be done quickly, and without breaking the bank. If you adhere to the steps we will share with you, you can always seal your ball within 30 minutes.
Sealing your soccer ball requires specific tools, some of which include;
- eBall pump with pressure gauge
- eBall pump with digital pressure gauge
- Franklin sports ball pump
- SPORTBIT Ball pump
- 3 Awpeye set Ball Pump
Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
All the above-listed instruments are essential for fixing your leaking soccer ball. However, soccer players should pay more attention to maintaining the ball. Appropriate maintenance helps to avoid continuous leakage of the ball.
How To Seal A Leaking Soccer Ball?
In this section, you will learn the various steps of sealing your leaking ball. If you have a lot of abandoned leaking balls, it might be time to go get all of them. Some of the tools already mentioned, and others are useful in sealing a ball.
The following are the complete steps in sealing a ball.
Step 1: Get the necessary tools
The first step in sealing a ball is to get the required tools. If you do not have the needed tools, you might not get your soccer ball sealed. Here are some of the required tools:
- A flat screwdriver
- Curved needle
- A light glue
- Round-tipped scissors
- Polyester thread
- Putty and patches for bicycle repair
- eBall Pump
Ensure you have all these tools available. Each of them will be needed at the different steps of sealing the ball. To avoid an emergency, you can get at least two of each tool.
Pros
- It makes the sealing neat and professional.
- Quick and saves time.
- The use of tools helps to repair the leakage properly.
Cons
- Most of these tools are not readily available.
- They are pretty expensive.
Step 2: Locate the Leak
Before locating the leak, you should also seek the possible reason for leakage. Sometimes, soccer balls cannot hold air, which different reasons may cause. For instance, the valve might be responsible for the leakage by letting out air. Nevertheless, to locate the leak, follow these steps;
- Fill up a tub or sink that’s sufficient to grip your ball with water.
- Try inflating your soccer ball.
- Immerse your ball.
- Rotate the ball in an attempt to locate air bubbles. The exact spot where you find the bubbles is also the leakage spot.
- Dry the ball; this is necessary for gluing.
For instances where the leak could be in the inner tube, kindly follow these steps;
- Open the flask by cutting the seam thread from the opposite of the inflation valve.
- Cut the wire, and ensure no damage is done to the dowel of the ball.
- Slightly deflate the inner tube
- Remove the inner tube
- Find the hole; this can be done by inflating the tube or immersing it in water to find the hole.
- Lastly, repair the inner tube using the necessary kit.
For easy and direct sealing, note the following:
- If air is coming slowly from a gap within panels, the bladder should be resealed.
- Should the valve be damaged, then you must replace it.
- If air is leaking from a puncture, it should be glued.
- GEL FORMULA: No run control gel formula that is great for use on vertical surfaces
- ANTI CLOG CAP: Helps keep the glue from drying out. It's Gorilla tough use after use.
- IMPACT TOUGH: Specially formulated for increased impact resistance and strength
Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Players should try more than one of these fixes because there is a considerable probability that at least one will be correct, yielding the desired result.
Pros
- Locating the leak help to save time
- It helps to determine the appropriate method of repair.
- It prevents further damage to the ball
Con
- Locating the leak can be a challenging task
Step 3: Sealing
In this step, you will focus more on replacing or repairing the damage to your soccer ball. So, let’s take a look at some ways.
Replacing soccer ball valve
Most times, the actual valve in the ball breaks because of general wear and tear. However, replacing a valve is easy and can be accomplished within minutes. And the major tool to achieve this is the ball pump.
Another useful tool is the Phillips-head screwdriver; it can force the new valve through the hole. To effectively remove the old valve, you should follow these steps;
- Force the end of the hook out of the valve through the opening. You should hear a pop sound while performing this task.
- Bend the hook to an angle of 45°, and begin to pull. A lot of force is needed to get the valve out.
- Ensure you have removed the entire valve.
After removing the old valve, the next thing is to insert the new valve. Again, you could employ different methods, but the best method is the use of the pump.
To use the pump method, you will first put the valve in the hole, then force it down with the pump. The advantage of this is that it helps the ball to stay inflated.
Pros
- The initial shape of the ball is restored.
- It prevents further leakage.
- It makes the ball fit for playing.
Cons
- Valve replacement might not solve the problem of leakage.
- The process of fixing the new valve might cause another leakage.
Repairing a puncture
A punctured ball is one of the dreaded things for footballers. However, we have all had that experience at a time; it could be a nail piercing the ball or a dog biting the ball. Either way, it leaves the ball unplayable and with a hole. So, how do you seal that?
First, you should repair the outer casing and not the inner bladder to fix your punctured ball. However, you can only fix the outer casing of official match balls. And the following tools are applicable for an effective repair.
- Kitchen paper
- A knitting needle with no sharp end
- Polyurethane glue
- Isopropyl alcohol
Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
When you have these tools ready, you can repair the outer casing.
- The first step is to deflate the ball slightly to allow for the pushing of the surface.
- Find the puncture.
- Apply glue to the needle and rob the gum between the panels or into the holes.
- Gently push the side of the ball in to allow airflow through the gum.
- Clean excessive glue, and inflate the ball.
- Layer the glue around the holes to ensure the gum remains strong in the long term.
Pros
- It keeps the ball in good shape and maintains its life span.
- Repairing a puncture is pretty cheap.
- The process of fixing a puncture or hole is simple and easy.
Cons
- The process of repairing a puncture may cause further damage to the shape of the ball.
- It requires professionalism to avoid causing further leakage.
Conclusion
Understand that it is pretty normal for soccer balls to lose air. However, external factors could be responsible for the occurrence. As earlier stated, the ball is a major instrument to enjoy the game of soccer.
For that reason, should you experience air leakage on your ball, you must instantly get it fixed. If you ever experience soccer ball leakage, we advise that you follow the above step-by-step guide, and get it fixed. After that, continue to play and 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!