Articles

What is the best reflex crazy net for catching, kicking or training? Find out where rebounders are used, the benefits of rebound nets and more in this 60 second quick read.

Learn how to deflate a soccer ball properly with our simple guide. Follow these steps to ensure your soccer ball stays in top condition for longer

Learn the basic rules of soccer in our beginner's guide. Understand key rules like offside and how to play soccer with confidence. 

Learn how many players are needed in a soccer match. Understand the roles of midfielders, strikers, and goalkeepers in this beginner's guide. 

Learn how to play soccer with our beginner’s guide! Get tips on skills, rules, and equipment to get started with soccer. 

Discover what makes a good sports coach and how to become a great one. Learn the essential qualities every coach needs to succeed in this guide.

Learn how to coach kids soccer with our beginner's guide. Get tips on explaining positions, teaching basic skills, and making soccer fun for kids. 

Does it have a warranty? Will it be used professionally or for recreational use? What is it made from? We take a deep dive into the top things you should consider when shopping for a goal.

Learn Correct Size Soccer Ball for Age Groups Footballs are available in size 5, size 4 and size 3. Which one is right for you?

We consider the PVC pipe goal an obsolete goal, and recommend that you seriously consider other styles of goals before purchasing. We break down the things you need to know about PVC goals.

Considered the premium goal and the go-to for professionals, Four Pillar portable goals have a lot of the advantages of fixed goals, without any of the drawbacks.

Respect for Referees in Sports: Green Whistles are a Win! Basketball Victoria says: “IF THEIR WHISTLE IS GREEN, THEY ARE UNDER 18“. We discuss the importance of junior referees in sport and what we can do to improve our game.

Everything you need to know about pop-up goals. Find out about different styles of pop-up goals, how to fold them, all the benefits and more.

What size should I buy? How much does a good soccer ball cost? What is a soccer ball made out of? We answer a few common questions.

Footballs & Soccer balls: what you should and shouldn't do to keep the ball in perfect working order. Want to know what are the things you should do to make sure you ball is kept in perfect condition? Here you will find a list that will explain what you should and shouldn't do when looking after your soccer ball. 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, rocks can cut the surface and destroy the outer of the ball Do not sit or stand on your ball. This will deform it Regular use is ideal. Ball materials can go stiff if left in one spot for long periods. An example is leaving a ball in a garage, which has heat cycles, of hot and cold for a year or two Really hot areas are not good for materials. So hot cars, sunny areas, heaters are not good Keep your ball dry when not being used. Good balls don’t take up much water, but over time water will affect any ball Important information to know when pumping/inflating up a ball: Moisten needle before insertion (needle oil is best but saliva can work). Note, some automotive oils are not good with rubber, so don’t use just any type of oil Push the needle gently as it is easy to hit the bladder on a folded ball. This will make a hole in the bladder If you don’t have a pump that has an in-line pressure gauge (like the SUMMIT Aluminum Pump and Gauge) make sure you keep feeling the pressure with your hand. It should not be super hard. You may have a separate pressure gauge – if so, remove the pump and test regularly

THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SOCCER BALL CAN ALTER THE FEEL AND FLIGHT OF THE BALL DRAMATICALLY Soccer balls were initially made from leather but this made them prone to weight increase when wet and poor performance. PU, TPU and PVC are the most commonly used materials, however, offer different qualities and specs depending on construction. 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 (Polyurethane): Polyurethane is a synthesized material which can be tailored to a range of different needs. In the case of footballs, it is considered the best material for match or high-quality balls. When manufactured, it can be made in different qualities, thicknesses and styles which affect the ball’s performance. Unfortunately, this also means that you need to be careful when trying to compare grades of balls - as not all materials are created equally. If you are concerned about toxins and not adding to the world’s plastics, PU is a non-toxic material and biodegrades. Don’t worry, it won’t fall apart as it takes more than a few years before it starts degrading. Therefore, it is not just a great ball to play with, it is the choice for the environmentally concerned footballer. Polyurethane can be soft to the touch and not stretch too much. Stretch is the enemy of a good quality ball as stretch allows the ball to go out of shape. The nature of the material permits finer manufacturing tolerances with better results for size, shape and finishing. The result is a ball that plays well, feels good, looks great and is durable. POSITIVES OF A PU BALL Very good playability Soft feel Less stretch Quality finish Water resistant Durable Non-toxic material Environmentally friendly NEGATIVES: Costs more Not all PU is made equally leading to some brands using subpar blends Balls Available in PU: Evolution X Evolution Ignite Resist Evolution Ignite TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): Thermoplastic Polyurethane is another synthesized material and sometimes considered a step down from PU materials. This is not always the case as TPU can come in a range of qualities and benefits of its own. The material has good strength and flexibility similar to rubber/plastic while having impressive UV resistance. The nature of the material lends itself to abrasion resistance and robustness, making it a great option for training. It does have more stretch than PU, so needs to be used with quality backing and/or wound bladder to stop premature deformation. Although considered the cheaper alternative to PU, TPU has recently been seeing quality increases, but at a cost premium which begs the question, “which is better, PU or TPU footballs?”. On face value, TPU is a good all-round material for training and entry-level match balls. When used with quality lining and a wound bladder, TPU will provide a good alternative to PU, albeit maybe not quite the same feel at top level. POSITIVES OF A TPU BALL: Good performance High abrasion resistance High UV stability and less surface cracking Robust Can be recycled and degrades (slowly) Usually a slightly cheaper alternative to PU NEGATIVES: Touch not quite as good as PU Performance reduces with cheaper materials Less performance for experienced players Best used with higher quality lining and/or wound bladder Balls Available in TPU: Advance 2.0 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Polyvinyl Chloride is a plastic material and the cheapest option for any football worth considering (there are cheaper products out there). Like any ball, PVC footballs can come in a very wide range of qualities and performance. Because of this, there can be vast ranges in price and playability of the balls. At their cheapest (think supermarket balls), they are considered a toy and not suitable for anyone looking to train or play matches. But if used correctly with the right lining, bladder and stitching, PVC balls can be perfectly suitable for juniors and standard players. One thing to keep in mind with PVC, it is a plastic and won’t degrade and would be very hard (if not impossible) to have recycled due to the way it is glued to linings. For this reason, SUMMIT has been reducing the use of PVC in manufacturing and packaging where possible. For example, our only training ball that has PVC in the material – Launch – is a blended PVC with cloth liner and rubber wound bladder, making it not just strong but also allowing parts of the ball to be degradable once destroyed. PVC balls are a good alternative for people on a budget, or clubs that want a ball to train juniors - as they can combine playability, good touch at a lower cost if made correctly. When considering PVC footballs, you need to understand the limitations of the material as it will stretch and cut up if made cheaply. Even good quality PVC will have a low elasticity and will stretch out of shape more than PU and TPU. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get good PVC footballs. If made with quality liners and a wound bladder they can be an effective and playable footballs. This will also give the ball more density and weight, which most PVC balls are lacking, but at higher costs to purchase. POSITIVES OF A PVC BALL: Cost effective solution for juniors and general players If made correctly, can be a good training ball PVC is durable (when made correctly) Easy playability for juniors Good entry point into football NEGATIVES: Poor shape retention Doesn’t biodegrade Less performance for experienced players Supermarket bargain bin balls are toys Balls Available in PVC: Launch

Valves can be made from different materials and produced in different ways, all of which alter the feel of the ball Sometimes you will hear about different valves used in soccer balls, standard rubber and butyl are 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 watch it curve to that side. Some bigger valves also make the panels push out and look bulbous, which will make the ball roll with a bounce. This is not ideal and should be avoided where possible. Our valves here are SUMMIT are the same across all balls. Each ball's valve panel contains all the relevant information including ball size, inflation pressure and endorsements. This is your go to if you need info about the specific model of ball you are using.   Can you fix or replace a leaking valve? Simple answer is it is possible, but quite difficult as it means a replacement of bladder. I have only seen it done on old leather or valuable balls with players signatures. The hardest thing is to find someone to do it. If we wanted a special ball fixed, we would send it overseas to have it pulled apart, internals replaced and then sent back. In most cases, we find that it is a small hole in the bladder and not a leaking valve – this happens when pushing a needle into the bladder too hard and pushing a hole into the rubber.

Soccer balls come in a variety of different qualities, configurations, size and bounce. All good soccer balls need to fit within the parameters set out by FIFA. Read more about Futsal (indoor), outdoor and synthetic turf soccer balls. 

The heart of the ball is the bladder. Easily overlooked when choosing the right ball, but an important part of how a ball performs. Read everything you need to know here.

What makes a soccer ball cheap or expensive? Soccer ball prices are determined by manufacturing, materials, labour & external factors such as transport and re-sellers. In this article, we explain the price of match soccer balls compared to training soccer balls & what you should look for in a good quality football