The vast majority of soccer balls produced in the world today are in sizes 3, 4 and 5. The smaller size 3 and 4 balls are intended for youth play and the size 5 soccer balls are the international standard size for ages 13 and over. Size 5 soccer balls dominate the market and there are more size 5 balls in the world than all other sizes combined. However, size 1, 2 and 3 soccer balls, also known as mini soccer balls, do exist, you just won’t see them in play anywhere.

Mini soccer balls are mainly used as novelty or promotional items. Some people do utilize mini balls for indoor soccer ball control practice drills, such as juggling the ball with the feet, but most mini soccer balls don’t see much use other than as desktop or mantle display items. The most expensive mini soccer balls are constructed just like their larger size 5 counterparts with stitched multiple panels, and inflatable bladders. The cheapest mini balls are strictly decorative items made of non-inflatable hard plastic. Between the two extremes there are mini soccer balls constructed in a variety of materials at different price points.

If you plan on kicking your mini ball around at all you’ll need to purchase one made like the real thing, but many minis are created solely as promotional items with custom or advertising imprints on them. Unlike match soccer balls, promotional balls make great display items and conversation pieces even though they can’t really be used for any play. Most soccer fanatics own a few mini soccer balls. They are also great advertising tools for soccer-related businesses or soccer events. Mini balls can also be very affordable, especially when ordered in bulk. The next time someone tells you that soccer balls only come in sizes 3, 4 and 5, you will have to politely correct them and tell them about mini soccer balls.

A good example of a very useable mini soccer ball is the Adidas LA Galaxy TeamGeist II. This mini is about half the size of a standard size 3 soccer ball and features excellent feel and durability thanks to a machine-stitched, nylon-wound construction over a real butyl air bladder. This mini is perfect for indoor practice drills as well as display thanks to the official Galaxy team graphic imprint.

Mini promotional balls can be imprinted with anything you want to pay for. The result is a very nice advertising and display tool for all soccer-related business purposes.

When buying a soccer ball, there are various factors to consider, and people often wonder what the difference is between a cheap soccer ball and one that is triple the price.When it comes to soccer balls, the price varies because of the materials used – but if you are buying a ball for a child, then two cheap soccer balls are better than one expensive soccer ball!

The cheapest soccer balls are rubber or nylon based and moulded from plastic-like materials. They are very durable, scuff resistant and water resistant. This means that a cheaper ball offers more wear and tear for your cash, and you won’t be too upset if you loose it in your neighbour’s garden!
The downside to cheap soccer balls is that they offer less feel and softness than an expensive ball, so you will lose the ‘professional’ quality touch. Cheap soccer balls usually have tough inner butyl air bladders that rarely need attention and their plastic construction provides great protection from the elements.

In the mid-price range, are polyvinyl chloride soccer balls (PVC) and they offer all of the benefits of costly synthetic-leather soccer balls for feel and the cheaper plastics for durability – so these balls actually feel like leather and they are only slightly less durable then professional-grade soccer balls. PVC soccer balls also have a glossy finish, so for a little extra cash, you can have many of the same benefits of a professional soccer ball for half the price.

At the top end of the market are synthetic-leather soccer balls, and these are the best quality professional soccer balls. The synthetic leather is actually high grade polyurethane (PU). The PU match grade balls offer superior feel and softness but they are less durable and water resistant than the cheaper PVC counterparts and they are far more expensive. The latex air bladders inside the PU balls do not air as well as the cheap soccer balls with butyl bladders either..

So, you do not need to spend a fortune to get a good soccer ball – in fact, cheap soccer balls can actually be better value for money than expensive soccer balls, and you won’t be afraid to use them for a bit of rough and tumble!

There are a lot of different soccer balls out there, in an array of sizes, colors and materials – from the cheaper rubber and PVC soccer balls, right up to the most expensive synthetic match soccer balls.

Match soccer balls are probably the best quality soccer balls that you can buy and the prices range from $25 and up to over $125. Match soccer balls are usually reserved for professional soccer players, but now just about anyone can buy a professional ball or a replica of the same ball that they can see out on the World Cup playing field.

When searching for a match soccer ball, you must make sure that it is clearly marked on the ball “FIFA Approved” so that you know it is the authentic article. All World Cup tournament soccer balls are FIFA Approved. A ball marked “FIFA Inspected” is still a great ball but of less quality than the match soccer balls.

Match soccer balls offer the player exceptional feel and longevity, and some of the brands that you can expect to find on the shelves that make the best match soccer balls are:

• Select
• Spalding
• Diadora
• Brine
• Adidas
• Baden
• Voit
• Nike
• Puma

Since 1970, Adidas have provided the official match balls for World Cup tournament games, and today they are usually thermally bonded, machine pressed balls.These days, the FIFA alternates between Nike and Adidas for their match soccer balls. So if you want a soccer ball that you can be proud of, and perhaps show off to your friends, then a match soccer ball is for you. Remember though, match soccer balls only come in size 5, and are meant to be used for professional games, so it is best to stick to smaller and cheaper balls for those under 13 years old. A match soccer ball could be too heavy for kids to play well with as well.

The reasons why match soccer balls are more expensive and sought after are:

• They are approved for quality and performance
• They are used in professional matches
• The highest technology goes into the ball production
• They are used in league and international competitions

When it comes to match soccer balls, quality materials and quality construction are the keys and you pay for the best.

Every major ball sport has a few rough edges and the soccer ball sport is no exception. With soccer being the biggest sport shared worldwide, there are bound to be a few odd incidents and interesting happenings here and there. Here is a list of obscure soccer ball facts you probably didn’t know about your favorite sport:

Luigi Riva, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team, once broke the arm of a spectator with one of his powerful soccer ball shots.

In 1950, India dropped out of the World Cup because the FIFA would not let their team play barefoot.

In 1937, the first televised soccer ball game was a UK broadcast covering an Arsenal Team practice match.

In the UK, during the 1995 season, a Manchester City fan was banned from attendance due to his habit of celebrating City soccer ball goals by swinging dead chickens around his head.

Kuwait qualified for their first FIFA World Cup match in 1982.

Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.

In 1957, a Salisbury, Rhodesia soccer team paid £10 (about $20) to hire a witch doctor to improve their performance. Salisbury had lost every match the previous year and was obviously looking to purchase some mojo.

In 1954, the Germans were the first European team to win the FIFA World Cup.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, AKA “Pele”, scored over 1,200 soccer ball goals during his career before retiring in 1977.

A Tanzanian soccer referee was arrested for smoking marijuana prior to kick-off at a 1978 match in his country.

In 1998, Romanian midfielder Ion Radu was sold to a rival team for one-ton (500kg) of pork meat. (really!)

In 1993, 20 red cards (player expulsions) were shown during one soccer ball game in Paraguay.

The Cote D’Ivoire team went unbeaten in their league for 108 games from ’89 to ’94 even though they represented one of the poorest countries in the world.

European Teams have reached the final of every World Cup except in 1930 and 1950.

In 1990, the entire Albanian national soccer team was thrown out of England after landing at Heathrow Airport and helping themselves to a shop-lifting spree. That’s as far as they got.

In 1980, the Liberian soccer team escaped imprisonment by holding opponent Gambia to a goal-less tie. The team had been threatened by their own government with jail if they lost.

Arthur Wharton was the first black professional soccer ball player. He played for the English League team Rotherham United way back in 1889.

World Cup soccer ball matches are the most watched televised sport in history with viewership over a billion. In comparison, the U.S. Super Bowl reaches an audience of just over a million.

Understanding soccer ball competition at any age or skill level requires a basic knowledge of the words and phrases commonly used that are specific to the sport. You will have to brush upon your soccer vocabulary if you want to make sense of the action on the soccer ball field. Here is a basic glossary to help you better understand all that soccer ball talk:

Advantage rule –
Play is not stopped for fouls if the action is detrimental to the fouled team.

Assist –
One of two passes preceding a goal allowed to be credited as assists.

Attacking Midfielder –
The mid-fielder closest to the opposing goal.

Attacker -
Any player with offensive possession of the soccer ball.

AYSO-
American Youth Soccer Organization. The largest youth soccer organization in the United States.

Back –
A defending player.

Banana Kick –
A kick with a curved or arcing trajectory.

Bicycle Kick –
When a player kicks the soccer ball backwards over his head.

Breakaway –
An attacking player without opposition.

Bundesliga -
The professional soccer ball league in Germany.

Carrying –
A goalkeeper foul for taking more than four steps with the soccer ball.

Center & Cross Kick –
A pass from the sideline to the center of the field.

Center Circle –
The kickoff circle in the center of the field.

Charge –
Legal contact with an opponent from the front or side.

Chip Pass & Chip Shot –
A short kick over the head of an opponent.

Corner Arc -
Quarter-circle located at each corner of the field.

Defender –
Any player without possession of the soccer ball.

Defensemen –
Also called defensive fullbacks. The last line of defense protecting the soccer ball goal.

Direct & Free Kick -
A kick awarded for foul using a stationary soccer ball with no opposition within 10 yards.

Dribbling –
Forward motion soccer ball control with the feet.

Drop Ball –
Referee restart droppingthe soccer ball between two facing players.

Drop Kick –
Legal goalie kick after dropping the soccer ball.

European Cup -
Annual European championship tournament.
.
Far Post -
Goal post farthest from the soccer ball.

FIFA:
Federation Internationale de Football Association. The governing organization of international soccer and World Cup matches.

Foot Trap –
Using the feet to stop and control a moving soccer ball.

Forwards -
Four players in front of the rest of their team.

Foul -
Any violation of the rules.

Goal -
The 8-foot high, 24-foot wide structure with posts and a net where goals are scored.

Goal Kick -
Restart with the soccer ball kicked from inside the goal area away from the goal.

Goalkeeper -
The player in front of the goal who is allowed to use his hands and arms to defend.

Hacking -
Kicking an opponent.

Hand Ball -
A foul for touching the soccer ball with a hand or arm.

Hat Trick -
Three goals scored in a single game by one player.

Header -
Hitting a soccer ball in the air with the head.

Injury Time -
Time added to the match by the referee to make up for time lost to player injuries.

Instep Drive –
A kick with the instep of the foot.

Intermission -
A 5-minute rest between periods.

Juggling -
Keeping the soccer ball in the air with any part of the body except the hands or arms.
.
Laws of the Game -
The 17 rules for soccer established by the FIFA.

Lead Pass:
A pass that arrives at a location at the same time a teammate does.

Linesmen –
Two officials assisting the referee at the sidelines.

Marking -
Preventing an opponent him from advancing the soccer ball.

Match -
A soccer ball game.

Midfield Line -
The line that divides the field in half.

Midfielders -
The four players behind the forwards.

MLS -
Major League Soccer. The United States outdoor soccer league.

MSL -
Major Soccer League. The United States indoor soccer league.

National Team -
A team of the best players in a country assembled for international World Cup competitions.

Obstruction -
Preventing an offensive player from playing the soccer ball.

Official Game Clock –
The clock carried by the referee on the field

Open -
An attacking player without opposition.

Out of Play -
A soccer ball outside the boundaries of the field.

Overtime –
Extra period of play after tie game.

Penalty Area –
The area where the goalkeeper can use his hands to block or control the soccer ball.

Penalty Shot & Kick -
A kick from the penalty spot against the opposing goalie without opposition within10 yards.

Penalty Spot -
A circular spot 12 yards in front of the goal line for penalty kicks

Periods –
The two 45-minute halves of a game.

Play On –
A referee’s Advantage Rule call for no game stoppage.

Receiver -
Any player getting a pass from a teammate.

Red Card -
The referee’s card used to indicate a player removed from the game.

Regulation Game –
A game that has completed two periods.

Save -
Stopping the soccer ball from scoring a goal.

Shielding –
Protecting the soccer ball from a defender.

Shorthanded -
A team playing with less than 11 players.

Sliding Tackle -
Sliding on the ground feet-first into the something ball.

Square Pass -
A pass to a teammate running alongside.

Starter -
Any player who is on the field to play at the start of a game.

Striker -
A team’s best forward at center field.

Substitution –
One of three permitted player exchanges per game.

Sweeper -
The defensive player in front of the goalkeeper.

Tackling -
Taking the soccer ball away from an opponent with your feet.

Thigh Trap -
Using the thigh to stop and control a soccer ball in the air.

Through Pass -
A pass that penetrates a line of defenders.

Throw-In -
A restart with the soccer ball thrown from behind the head with both hands while standing behind a sideline.

Tiebreaker –
A series of penalty kicks are taken by players from both teams to decide a tie game.

Trap –
Stopping and controlling a moving ball using chest, thighs or feet.

Volley -
A soccer ball kicked when it is off the ground.

Wall -
A line of shoulder-to-shoulder defending players protecting the goal against a close free kick.

Wings & Wingers -
The outside forward players.

World Cup -
The FIFA international soccer competition held every four years between the top national teams in the world.

Many people have claimed that kicking soccer balls up and down a field for 90 minutes is the most physically demanding sport on the planet. Even if soccer is not your pick as the most demanding sport, there is no denying the high levels of strength and endurance required to play the game. Mastering the art of soccer balls also means developing speed, agility and flexibility. Playing with soccer balls is a great way for people of all body types and sizes to develop their coordination and stay physically fit.

Soccer is extremely popular today. Televised World Cup soccer matches have more viewers worldwide than any other sporting event by a far margin. There are literally hundreds of millions of people that kick soccer balls around and more participants are getting into the sport every day. Both men and women are attracted to the game’s simple requirements, equipment and rules.

However, the soccer ball art is not without risk and player injuries are common among amateur and professional athletes alike. With millions of people playing a running and kicking game it is understandable that soccer specific leg injuries can result. The key to preventing soccer ball related injuries seems to be the player’s degree of preparation. Studies have shown that over 90% of the injuries related to playing with soccer balls are due to insufficient warm-up and workout preparations. Players in top physical condition will obviously experience fewer injuries, but statistics show most players will still experience about 5 injuries a year. Although it is impossible to completely avoid all soccer ball related injuries, with more training, longer warm-up times and better practice routines the overall injury rate can be significantly reduced and the fun factor increased.
Most Common S B Injuries by Type:

* Thigh – 28 (per one hundred reported injuries)
* Feet – 25
* Knees – 15
* Ankles – 15
* Hips – 4
* Back – 4
* Neck – 3
* Wrists – 3
* Elbow – 1
* Shoulders – 1

Injuries are a reality for all competitive sports and soccer is certainly no exception. You can take your own steps reduce the number of injuries related to kicking soccer balls around with more effective warm-up and training routines. The world’s most demanding sport is a lot more fun to play if you are not injured.

If you’ve got a good memory for soccer ball details here is a name you might want to remember, Madin Mohammed. The Algerian-born, French kid is the sport’s current child prodigy when it comes to controlling soccer balls on the field. Young Madin is already being compared to retired French-Algerian soccer ball superstar Zinedine Zidane, long considered one of the greatest talents to ever kick a soccer ball. The real surprise here is that Madin Mohammed is only six years old.

Everyone who has seen Madin play agrees the youngster’s soccer ball control on the field is nothing short of amazing. The four-foot talent can cross, pass and swerve the soccer ball with complete confidence as he effortlessly advances through hapless and totally ineffective defenders in his age group. To watch Madin play is like watching an adult play with children, he’s that good with soccer balls.

The European press outlets have fallen in love with the kid, Madin has appeared on French television several times and has recently been awarded a scholarship by the French national football association. There are even rumors in the UK press hinting that the professional teams Chelsea and Real Madrid are looking to sign the young soccer ball genius.

It may be a long time before young Madin Mohammed actually becomes the next Zinedine Zidane or Pele’, but you can watch his soccer ball magic today thanks to the phenomenon of YouTube. With all the recent buzz in the news about Madin, it was only a matter of time before his skills with soccer balls turned up on the popular online video website.

You can check out Madin’s soccer ball magic for yourself at the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XejtYoetNcQ

The history of soccer is full of memorable moments and dazzling displays of soccer ball mastery. Along the way some truly astonishing feats of soccer ball control have occurred. Some of these magical soccer ball moments were the result of team play and others came from individual player effort. In the process, records have been established and records have been broken. One thing is for sure though, with the current worldwide popularity of the soccer ball sport, any records set using soccer balls are likely to be broken eventually. People have managed to do some amazing things with soccer balls.
Here are some of the current record-setting feats from the world of soccer balls:

2003 – Brazil – Martinho Eduardo Orige juggled a soccer ball in the air for 19 hours 30 minutes with his feet, legs and head.

2002 – Switzerland – Paul Sahi climbed 109 rungs up a ladder while juggling a soccer ball in the air with his feet and head.

1992 – Brazil – Ricardo Neves walked 448 miles for 12 days while keeping a soccer ball aloft.

2005 – USA- (Illinois) Tim Crowe sets a record for most touches (147) on a soccer ball in 30 seconds while juggling the ball in the air.

2002 – Germany – Agim Agushi of Kosovo kept a soccer ball aloft for 3 hours and 12 minutes using only his head as he walked 9 miles.

2002 – USA – (Michigan) – A. Munoz walked up and down 2754 stairs steps for over a hour while keeping a soccer ball aloft with his head and feet.

1997 – Brazil – Milene Domingues sets female record for soccer ball touches (55,187) times) while juggling the ball for 9 hours.

2001 – Sweden – Tomas Lundman keeps a soccer ball aloft for one hour and 27 minutes while in a seated position.

1990 – Poland – Jan Skorkovský ran a 26-mile marathon while keeping a soccer ball aloft for 7 hours and 18 minutes.

2004 – Sweden – Tomas Lundman (again!) keeps a soccer ball aloft with his head for 8 hours 32 minutes.

1986 – Czech Republic – Josef Lochman covered 5 miles running for one hour while keeping a soccer ball aloft.

2004 – Cuba – Erick Hernandez records 319 touches of a soccer ball in one minute while keeping the ball aloft using his head.

2002 – USA – (Michigan) Adalberto Sanchez of Mexico balances a soccer ball on his head for 2 hours.

1986 – Czech Republic – Josef Lochman (again!) runs 1000 meters in 5 minutes while keeping a soccer ball aloft.

2000 – USA – (Illinois) A. Munoz (again!) completes a 200-meter run in 40 seconds while keeping a soccer ball aloft.

2001 – USA – A. Munoz (!) balances a soccer ball on his foot for 13 hours and 36 minutes.

2003 – USA – (Georgia) Tasha Terani sets the female record for 269 touches on a soccer ball in one minute while keeping the e ball aloft.

1993 – Poland – Jacek Roszkowski heads a soccer ball 173 times in 30 seconds.

1996 – Switzerland – Manfred Wagner runs 100 meters in 15.9 seconds while keeping a soccer ball aloft.

Soccer enjoys the most participants, the most players, the most fans and the largest television viewing audience of any sport in the world today. A big part of the attraction is due to the efforts of the international governing organization working with six confederations to create the World Cup system of international rankings for national soccer ball teams all over the world. The World Cup system has almost become a type of Olympics of Soccer, with the best teams from around the world eventually meeting at the finals. Passions can run high when national soccer ball teams go head to head.

The organization that makes World Cup play possible is the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). In support of FIFA there are six continental confederations representing the national soccer ball associations within their own membership zones. This allows integration of individual leagues, clubs and teams around the world into a system that also qualifies and ranks them for international competition. It also creates a dedicated worldwide soccer fan base and some real rags to riches stories along the way when young players from far away places make it to the world stage that is World Cup.

It can be a bit confusing attempting to keep track of the myriad national leagues from each country around the world. It is far easier to remember the six Confederations that represent all those national soccer ball teams. The Confederations stage soccer matches at the club level and the FIFA issues the official World Rankings. Because nearly every nation in the world is associated with FIFA, there are also sub-federations within the six major continental zone Confederations. A closer look at the Confederations will tell you exactly which Confederation any particular national team belongs to. Listed below are the Confederations and sub-federations created to enable the current system of international soccer.

1. – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) covers a huge territory and is divided into five sub-federations including:
West Asian Football Federation (WAFF)
East Asian Football Federation (EAFF)
Central and South Asian Football Federation (CESAFA)
ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) – (includes Australia)
South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)

AFC – Asian Football Confederation
AFC House, Jalan 1/155B
KUALA LUMPUR 57000
Malaysia

2. – In Africa the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) is the parent organization and includes:
Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECACAF)
Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA)
Union of West African Football Associations (WAFU)
Union of North African Federations (UNAF)
Union des Federations du Football de Afrique Centrale (UNIFFAC)

CAF – Confederation Africaine de Football
3 Abdel Khalek Sarwat Street
6TH OCTOBER CITY
Egypt

3.- The American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) is divided into just three regional federations:
Caribbean Football Union (CFU)
North American Football Union (NAFU) – (includes USA, Canada & Mexico)
Union Centroamericana de Futbol (UNCAF)

CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
725 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor
NEW YORK NY 10022
USA

4. – Covering all of South America, the Confederacion Sudamerica de Futbol (CONMEBOL) handles the following countries:

Argentina
Bolivia
Colombia
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

CONMEBOL – Confederation Sudamericana de Futbol
Autopista Aeropuerto Internacional km 12 y
LUQUE
Paraguay

5. – The Oceania Football Association (OFC) includes:

American Samoa
Cook Islands
Fiji
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Tahiti
Tonga
Vanuatu

OFC – Oceania Football Confederation
Mount Smart Stadium
AUCKLAND
New Zealand

6. – The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) includes every country in you’ve ever heard of on the greater European continent and probably several you’ve never heard of as well:

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Republic of Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Republic of Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
Netherlands
Northern Ireland
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
Wales

UEFA – Union des associations europeennes de football
Route de Genève 46
NYON 1260
Switzerland

Columbian soccer player Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was shot and killed outside a bar in Medellin, Columbia under suspicious circumstances back in July of 1994. Andres’ girlfriend at the time claimed she heard the killer shout “Goooooooooaaaal!” with each of the twelve shots fired into Andres’ body. The long, drawn out shout mimicked the habit of Latin American sports commentators that are known for shouting “Goooooooooaaaal” every time a soccer goal is a scored.

Andres had been a soccer ball player on the Columbian national team and just weeks prior to his death had been on the field against the USA team during first round 1994 FIFA World Cup play. Columbia was heavily favored to win the soccer ball game and move on to the second round matches. However, Andres made a huge error during the soccer ball match and accidentally scored a goal against his own team, causing them to lose the match and the chance to move on to the second round of World Cup matches. Apparently, that mistake cost Andres his life.

Medellin was a hotbed of narcotics trafficking in Columbia at the time of the incident and home to several drug syndicates that bet heavily on local soccer ball matches. It was reported that several of Medellin’s drug lords lost large amounts of money bet on the Columbian team’s certain move past the Americans and into qualification for second round play in the ’94 World Cup. Although it was never proved, Andres’ unusual and unexplained death was widely assumed to be caused by his inadvertent goal for the American team.

A year later Humberto Muñoz Castro was found guilty of Andres’ death and sentenced to 43 years in prison. Castro served 11 years of his sentence and was subsequently released on good behavior. Today, the reason for the murder is still cause for speculation and Andres is still revered by Columbian soccer ball fans. The only lesson that can be taken from the curious case of Andres Escobar Saldarriaga is that if you are going to score soccer goals for the opposite team, you might want to leave town shortly thereafter.