Is it called football or soccer? Today, it is officially called football, but soccer was used in the 1800s and was widely adopted as the correct term for the sport. It was England that reverted back to Football in the 1900s, and this has become the professional name in most countries. But there are a few countries that still use the term soccer, and usually that country has other sports they call football – Gridiron (American football), AFL (Australian rules football), Canadian football, Gaelic football, rugby league football and rugby union football. In Australia, the term Football was officially used...

How should I look after my football? Here are some things you should and shouldn’t do. Don’t over inflate your ball - Use the right pressure (Find out more about what balls different age groups should be using here) Size 5 football at 10 to 11psi (0.7 to 0.76 bar) Size 4 football at 9 to 10psi (0.62 to 0.7 bar) Size 3 football at 8 to 10psi (0.55 to 0.7 bar) Don’t leave your ball outside when not in use. Long exposure to the elements can damage your ball. Don’t use your ball on hard/rough surfaces. Concrete, tar, bricks,...

Footballs come in different qualities, panel configurations, size, weight and bounce. But all good footballs need to fit within the parameters set out by FIFA. FIFA Testing Manual The biggest differences are found when you compare the outdoor Vs indoor footballs. The indoor – also known as Futsal - ball uses a different bladder to create a low bounce ball. No other ball uses this type of bladder, making the two games quite different. The ground and netting can also be abrasive, meaning a tougher outer is sometimes used. Artificial turf, also known as a synthetic turf/pitch, can use a...

Russian Tennis Pro Signs Long-Term Contract with the Austrian Tennis Brand Kennelbach/Austria, April 2021: HEAD, the global sporting brand with a focus on delivering high-performance products across a variety of athletic disciplines, will add another Top 10 tennis professional to its exceptional roster of athletes: The current ATP Number 8 Andrey Rublev. The 23-year old Russian signed a multi-year contract with HEAD. “Andrey is an extremely exciting player,” says HEAD CEO and Chairman Johan Eliasch. “His speed is exceptional and his aggressive game is a pleasure to watch. But we are also impressed with his work ethic and devotion to...

Like any product where a range of qualities can be used, football pricing can vary significantly between the cheapest and most expensive. Navigating this can be tricky as it is not just what goes into the ball that decides the price, but external factors as well. There is also a difference between junior balls, training balls, match balls and top match balls. SO, WHAT IS THE PRICE OF A GOOD FOOTBALL? See the below list for approximate RRP for different quality balls; FUN - Around $15.00 Should give you a ball with some weight and good manufacturing SUMMIT Classic JUNIORS...

Footballs are regulated by FIFA – Football Australia (FA) for our market - for size, and should fit within these guidelines. There are three age dedicated training sizes and two mini balls - considered more fun or skills-based balls. The below chart shows the FIFA ball size guidelines and what SUMMIT uses as a benchmark for our balls. SIZE CIRCUMFERENCE (cm) - FIFA AGE Size 5 (Adult) 68 - 70 Ages 13+ Size 4 (Youth) 63.5 - 66 Under 13 Size 3 (Junior) 58.5 - 61 Under 9 Size 2 55 - 56 All Size 1 45 - 50 All...

The modern football (without going back too far) is commonly known to have 32 panels. This is the standard black and white ball with hexagons and pentagons. Today you will find footballs coming in a wide range of panel amounts, shapes and styles. A cynical person would say that this is just a marketing ploy, and in some cases you would be correct. But there are some benefits to having different panel shapes. There are documented cases of high-profile balls that have not flown well due to the aerodynamic properties of the ball, which shows there are performance differences to...

Sometimes you will hear about different valves used in balls, with standard rubber and butyl being the main two. There are also a few ways to produce valves, and this is usually dependent on the ball, quality and price. The change between rubber and butyl is usually thought of as an improvement in air retention, and while this is the case in a small way, the main reason is weight. The use of the butyl valve usually means it is lighter and weights the ball less. Roll any football on a flat surface with the valve on the side, and...

Footballs were initially made from leather but this made them prone to weight increase when wet and poor performance. Today, outers are commonly made from synthetic materials such as PU, TPU and PVC. These materials don’t absorb much water, are less affected by temperature changes, and can be easily adjusted to manufacturer needs. PU, TPU and PVC are the most commonly used materials throughout football manufacturing, however, offer different qualities and specifications depending on construction. KEEP READING TO LEARN MORE PU (Polyurethane): Polyurethane is a synthesized material which can be tailored to a range of different needs. In the case...

The heart of the ball is the bladder, and easily overlooked when choosing the right ball for you. The bladder is a hollow rubberised sphere that is inflated through a valve. The bladder then expands as air is pumped in to push the outer layers out into a ball. It looks like a round balloon, but heavier and a thicker skin. Sounds simple right? Not really, as there’s different materials, grades, thicknesses, valves and constructions - which makes things tricky. There are also bladders that are specifically made for Futsal balls which have a low bounce to them. Here we...