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Everything you need to know about portable pop-up soccer goals and AFL/Rugby targets. No heavy lifting necessary when using pop up goals! Easily transported, the Pop-Up Goal is easy to take to any location and be ready playing soccer or practicing your rugby/AFL skills in seconds. Easy to transport, quick to be put up, and possibly the most fun you can have with a goal. Key article points: The different sports and styles of pop-up goals. The best things about pop-up goals How do I fold a pop-up goal? It’s pretty easy once you learn. The benefits of pop-up goals Available in a range of style for different sports, the pop-up goal is a great way to get playing quickly and is available for soccer, rugby and AFL. The soccer is usually most popular item, as it is the perfect sports accessory when going to the beach or park. Whereas the Rugby Passing Target and AFL Handball Target are usually best for training and backyards. But don’t let that stop you and your friends getting them down to the park for some fun. How to fold a portable pop-up goal is easy! Learn here. Pop-up goals only have one challenge, and that is the first time you have to fold it up. It looks hard, but it really isn’t that hard. There is a technique to getting it right, but once you figure it out, it is very simple and quick. The key is to do it right and not try to force it to fold. How much does a Pop-Up Goal or Target Cost? The cost of the goal is usually not expensive, which makes it a great bang-for-buck proposition when looking for a recreational or backyard soccer goal. And once you have finished with them, they take up very little space. Because of this, we consider them one of the best goals for backyards, parks and beaches. The best thing about pop-up goals is turning your training session into a game. Each goal has a target which turns them into a game to challenge yourself or friends. A good example is the Premier Target Soccer Goal which has one side a normal open goal, and when flipped, a target to aim at. This adds a lot of value to an already fun goal. What makes them a Pop-Up Goal? The pop-up portable goal is made using a sprung metal frame inside a nylon material which can be folded down into a circle. When opened is pops up and then Velcro is used to supports and hold it in place. They also come in a range of shapes and styles for different sports. Any good pop-up goal should come with pegs and carry bag. This makes them super handy when at the beach or park. Recommended Pop-up Goals and AFL & Rugby Targets: SUMMIT Premier 2-in-1 pop-up soccer goal with target AFL Handball Target NRL Passing Target

Choosing the right soccer goal is essential for safe, reliable training and match play. Explore portable goal options, recommended sizes and key features for clubs, schools and junior players.

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?

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

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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.

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

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

What goal is the best? What goal is right for me? Whether you are a professional football club or recreational player, a portable goal is a must when training or playing.

Soccer balls most commonly have 32 panels, made up of both hexagons and pentagons The modern soccer ball (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 be achieved (for better or worse). Balls with larger panels (eg 12 panel) have less seams and feel softer on the foot or head. This is most likely down to where the panels join (seam). These join points are usually harder due to stitching or the bonding process. These are pressure points and have stitching, glues or both pulling on the material. This will make the edges thinner and feel a little compressed. Bonded balls tend to be a lot better than stitched balls as they are not held together with stitches. Less or more seams/ridges will change the way the air flow goes around the ball. Without wind tunnel or computer modelling, we can’t say specifically what is going to happen but there will be direct changes to flight and feel. In most cases, the affect is more down to the player’s style or preference. There are players that like traditional style football, while others like the larger paneling. We know that different players like different balls, here at SUMMIT we try to design a variety of characteristics into the range. Why are some soccer balls smooth, textured and embossed? In the mid 2000’s soccer balls started to see a range of textures/graining added to the surface of the material. Before this, the materials used were predominantly smooth. The main surface differences were the glossiness of the material, from high gloss to matte. Today there is an ever-growing range of textures, feels, glossiness, and embossing’s (embossing is the deeper style of ridge/bump/pressing into the surface of the material. The following explains the differences and terms for each. Super Gloss Dimple Grain Diamond Grain Embossed Details How do different textures change the ball? Textured/Graining Is a light surface imprint in the material of the ball. When manufacturing the PU, TPU, PVC, the material is rolled over a drum that gives the texture. Although there is essentially no difference to material, the texture does change the characteristics of the ball in a couple of ways. FIRSTLY: It should give a little more grip off the boot for controlling spin and direction. It should also allow keepers to get a better glove on the ball. SECONDLY: It gives the outer a softer feel to the touch. This might come from micro-flexing on the creases of the pattern, but has yet to be tested to get a definitive answer. LASTLY: Lastly, it will have an affect on flight. This last reason is dependent on how the ball is moving through the air and the speed, which is reliant on the quality of the player. In theory, one compliments the other – the good player will be able to use the grip, flight and spin to their advantage. Embossing Embossing is a deeper style of imprint into the surface of the material. Although this can be done by pressing shape onto the un-sewn panel, it is usually done with added heat. A metal casting with a heating element will have the shape that is to be embossed added. This presses down onto the material sheet and creates the embossing. This is a good way to add some design and feel to a ball, and mainly seen on larger panel balls. There are a few advantages of adding embossing to a ball design. FIRSTLY: Large indents will affect the way the air moves over the ball. Depending on the shape, this could give lift or curve to its flight. SECONDLY: Secondly, it could add some strength to the panel. Like corrugations in engineered materials (metal, plastics etc.), waves/indents can allow flex or strength in a system. Smooth/Glossy and Matte Smooth, glossy and matte surfaces are also available, and I would usually say this is personal preference. There are some differences with how the ball feels, and in some cases, how it collects moisture/dirt. This is only very minimal, but a super smooth or glossy ball should slide over surfaces a little quicker. They can also have a harder initial touch, but this feeling can be a false impression. A good glossy ball should have a soft foam backing and can actually feel very positive in play. Our current Mero (super gloss outer and deep foam lining), is a good example of this - initial touch to the finger-tip has a tight feel, but on the foot or head it is soft and pliable.