1. Determine the size of the football
The size of the football varies according to the age and purpose of the user:
Size 5 (standard match ball): diameter of about 22 cm, circumference of 68-70 cm, weight of 410-450 grams. Suitable for teenagers over 12 years old and adults, it is the standard ball for official matches.
Size 4: circumference of 63.5-66 cm, weight of 350-390 grams. Suitable for children aged 8-12 or adolescent training.
Size 3: circumference of 58-61 cm, weight of 300-320 grams. Suitable for children under 6 years old, mainly used for fun exercises.
Size 1 (mini football): usually used as a souvenir or indoor entertainment.
2. Choose the type according to the purpose
Match ball: must meet FIFA standards (such as FIFA Quality Pro or FIFA Quality certification), with finer materials and craftsmanship, and higher prices.
Training ball: focus on durability and cost-effectiveness, suitable for frequent use.
Recreational balls: Choose lightweight, colorful styles, suitable for leisure scenes such as beaches and parks.
Indoor football: Choose a special indoor football (Futsal Ball) with high surface friction and low elasticity.
3. Choice of outer material
PVC (polyvinyl chloride): cheap, average wear resistance, suitable for beginners or training.
PU (polyurethane): the most common material, soft to the touch, wear-resistant and waterproof, suitable for competitions and daily training.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane): lighter and more elastic than PU, commonly used for high-end competition balls.
Genuine leather: traditional material, easy to become heavy after absorbing moisture, requires regular maintenance, and is now rarely used in modern footballs.
4. Internal structure and process
Liner: High-quality footballs usually use latex liner (good elasticity but need to be inflated frequently) or butyl liner (good airtightness, suitable for long-term use).
Sewing process:
Machine sewing: average durability, low price.
Hand sewing: tighter seams and better touch.
Thermal bonding: no stitches, smoother surface, good waterproofness (commonly used in high-end balls).
5. Pay attention to certification and performance
FIFA certification: Footballs marked with FIFA Quality Pro (professional level) or FIFA Quality (amateur level) have passed rigorous testing and are suitable for official competitions.
Waterproofness: The waterproof treatment of the outer layer can prevent water absorption and weight gain on rainy days.
Flight stability: The splicing design of high-quality footballs (such as hexagons + pentagons) can reduce air resistance and have a more stable trajectory.
6. Other considerations
Air nozzle design: Hidden air nozzle can reduce the impact of touch.
Site adaptation: It is recommended to choose a wear-resistant outer layer for hard ground or artificial grass.
Test kick experience: You can test kick when buying in a physical store to check whether the elasticity and touch meet your expectations.
Personalized needs: If you need printing or customized patterns, choose a brand that supports customization.
Summary suggestions
Children's entry: Size 4 or Size 3 PVC/PU material training ball.
Adult competition: FIFA-certified Size 5 thermal bonded PU football
Indoor football: Select Futsal special ball.
Through the above steps, combined with budget and usage scenarios, you can choose a suitable football. Before purchasing, you can check user reviews or professional reviews to ensure that the performance and durability meet the standards.
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