Soccer balls

Dimensions

The ball used in football (soccer) is called a football or soccer ball. Law 2 of the game specifies the ball to be an air-filled sphere with a circumference of 68–70 cm (or 27–28 inches), a weight of 410–450 g (or 14–16 ounces), inflated to a pressure of 60–110 kPa (or 8.5–15.6 psi), and covered in leather or "other suitable" material. ^[1] The weight specified for a ball is the dry weight: older balls often became significantly heavier in the course of a match played in wet weather. The standard ball is a Size 5. Smaller sizes exist; Size 3 is standard for team handball; others are used in underage games or as novelty items.

Construction

 

A truncated icosahedron (left) compared to an association football/soccer ball.

Most modern soccer balls are stitched from 32 panels of waterproofed leather or plastic: 12 regular pentagons and 20 regular hexagons. The 32-panel configuration is similar to the polyhedron known as the truncated icosahedron, except that it is more spherical, because the faces bulge due to the pressure of the air inside. The first 32-panel soccer ball was marketed by Select in the 1950s in Denmark. This configuration became common throughout Continental Europe in the 1960s, and was publicized worldwide by the Adidas Telstar, the official ball of the 1970 World Cup.

Older soccer balls were usually stitched from 18 oblong non-waterproof leather panels, similar to the design of modern volleyballs and Gaelic footballs, and laced to allow access to the internal air bladder. This configuration is still common, as are more novel ones, such as the 26-panel Mitre PRO 100T, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup football, the 14-panel Adidas +Teamgeist (a truncated octahedron). There are also indoor footballs, which are made of one or two pieces of plastic. Often these have designs printed on them to resemble a stitched leather ball.

Patterns

The archetype, black pentagon/white hexagon design was intended for maximum visibility on monochrome television sets. It is still used for generic soccer balls and symbolic representations of the game. However, premium branded balls have other more elaborate patterns. The Nike Total 90 Aerow has rings intended to aid goalkeepers to determine the spin on the ball. "Official replicas" of the Teamgeist have its 14-panel pattern superimposed on a cheaper 28-panel ball. The official soccer ball of the UEFA Champions League, the Adidas Finale has stars on the ball. Older soccer balls were monochrome: originally brown; and later white, especially for floodlit matches. Brightly-coloured balls are used on snow-covered pitches.

adidas 2006 Teamgeist FIFA World Cup™ Official Match Ball   adidas' Teamgeist is the official match ball of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. High quality materials in the cover, Backing and Bladder allow the ball to fly exceptionally true. COVER: Thermal-bonded, seamless surface for a more predictable trajectory, better touch and low water uptake. Bladder: Latex for excellent rebound characteristics. FIFA approved. Imported. The adidas +Teamgeist combines tradition and innovation. The match ball is designed in white, black and gold, the colors of German football and the FIFA World Cup . As a tribute to host Germany's greatest football moments and its traditional uniforms, the adidas design team returned to traditional black and white as the dominating colors for the FIFA World Cup Match Ball. The fine gold accents along the rounded propellers are inspired by the golden FIFA World Cup Trophy. The revolutionary new panel shape is designed to minimize corners and to create a more homogenous system in terms of performance and look. The radiant lines of the graphics surrounding the propeller shape symbolize movement and energy. Teamgeist combines everything needed to become a state-of-the-art product. The name "Teamgeist" is based on the single most decisive characteristic every team needs to have to lift the golden trophy: team spirit! At the world's biggest sporting event, where global football stars are born and individual strength, skill and power are celebrated on the world's biggest stage, it still comes down to what the individual is willing to give to the team and what the team is able to do for its individual stars. The best ball but pricy. $129       adidas DC United Ball COVER: 32-panel, machine-stitched soft PU. Bladder: Butyl for extended air retention. Imported. Not a bad ball for $19       adidas MB League Match Ball COVER: Hand-stitched PU for softer touch. Bladder: Latex for excellent rebound characteristics. FIFA approved. Imported. Much like the FIFA ball this is an awesome ball.