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Friday, 1 October 2010

How To Find A Top Quality Soccer Ball

By Edith Green

It is widely regarded as the most well-known game on earth. Played by millions of people from nearly every walk of life, and in almost every nation, soccer - football or futbol as it is commonly known beyond the borders of the United States - is a sport that can be played by almost anyone. Aside from the skills needed to maneuver the ball utilizing your body, but not your hands - except for the goal keeper - soccer owes a lot of its international appeal to the fact that all you need to play is an open space and a single ball.

The mountains of equipment needed to play other sports - like tennis, golf, baseball, American football, and so many others - are an anathema to the soccer player. It is the ball, and only the ball, that a person requires to play the sport. However the soccer ball isn't a generic item; there are many kinds of soccer balls in the marketplace, and each one has its own qualities that differentiate it from the other balls.

At first glance, it is difficult to identify one soccer ball from another. Typically made in the same distinctive style, the trademark pentagonal and hexagonal panels make a soccer ball instantly recognizable. Nevertheless, when you are attempting to tell the difference among one ball and another, the first place to begin is the cover.

The manner the panels of the soccer ball are stitched together is another indication of the quality of the ball. A high quality ball is going to be hand stitched with polyester cord or Kevlar reinforced polyester. Hand stitching allows the panels to be sewn tighter, which makes for a stronger and longer lasting soccer ball. Second-tier soccer balls are generally stitched also, however the stitching is done by machine thus it lacks the uncompromising quality that a hand stitched ball will have. Inexpensive balls are usually not stitched in any way, and rather are held together by gluing the panels onto the lining of the ball.

Soccer balls come in various sizes also: Size 3, Size 4, and Size 5. Size 3 balls are the smallest balls and are typically utilized by players under the age of eight. Size 4 balls are the next size up, and players around the ages of 8 and 12 use this size of ball. Size 5 balls are the standard size for adult play and would be the standard size balls for all international play.

When buying for a soccer ball, it's essential to have a close look for its size and construction. If you are unsure that the ball you are considering is of great quality, check out see if the ball is approved by either FIFA or NFHS. FIFA, Fdration Internationale de Football Association, and NFHS, the National Federation of State High School Association, both approve balls that meet up with the strict specifications that are outlined by each organization. If you purchase a ball that is approved by either governing body then you are almost guaranteed of a ball that's of high quality in both construction and performance.

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