The Ball

IFAB Law 2 — 'The Ball' — defines all official requirements for the match ball: shape, material, size, weight, and pressure.

A football must be spherical (C). Oval balls belong to rugby and American football.

Adult football (and most youth football aged 13+) uses a Size 5 ball. Smaller sizes (4 and 3) are used for younger age groups.

Circumference is the distance around the ball — measured around its widest point. Law 2 specifies it must be between 68 and 70 cm for a Size 5.

The pressure refers to the internal air pressure inside the ball, measured in atmospheres or bars. Law 2 sets it at 0.6–1.1 atmospheres at sea level.

The bladder is the inner air-tight chamber that gives the ball its shape. It is enclosed inside the outer panels of the ball.

The classic football is made from 32 panels (12 pentagons and 20 hexagons), though modern designs use fewer panels with new shapes.

Match balls are supplied before the game and approved before kick-off; the approved spares wait round the pitch to speed up restarts.

Air goes in through the valve with a needle pump; the pressure is then checked so it sits inside the legal range before the needle comes out.

An inflated ball has been pumped to the correct internal pressure (0.6–1.1 atmospheres). A deflated ball cannot be used in a match.

The circumference is measured round the widest part of the ball; for a Size 5 ball it must be at least 68 cm.

Law 2 sets the maximum circumference at 70 cm. The full range is therefore 68–70 cm.

A tennis ball weighs under 60 g, a football under half a kilogram and a basketball more than that.

Law 2 sets the maximum weight at 450 g at kick-off. The full range is 410–450 g.

Law 2 sets the minimum pressure at 0.6 atm — below which the ball is too soft for proper play.

Law 2 sets the maximum pressure at 1.1 atm — above which the ball becomes too hard and unsafe.

The bigger the number, the bigger the ball: Size 3 is for the youngest players, Size 4 for older children and Size 5 for teenagers and adults.

Only one ball is in play at any time. Spare balls placed around the pitch are used only to speed up restarts.

0.6–1.1 atm is the legal range under Law 2. This corresponds to roughly 8.5–15.6 psi (or 600–1,100 g/cm²) at sea level.

With a circumference of 68–70 cm, the diameter is about 21.6–22.3 cm (≈22 cm). Diameter is calculated as circumference ÷ π.

Under Law 5, the referee inspects and approves the match ball before kick-off. The referee may also change the ball during the match if needed.

In most competitions the home club or the organiser supplies the balls, which must be approved before they are used.

The referee is the sole authority for replacing the ball during the match. They will use one of the spare balls already approved before kick-off.

Captains may raise concerns about the ball, but ultimately the referee decides. The referee may also inspect the ball without being asked.

Multi-ball systems with ball boys/girls and spare balls placed around the pitch are managed by match organisers. The referee approves all match balls used.

An adult match needs a spherical Size 5 ball (C). B is a smaller youth ball, and A and D are not spherical.

The official tournament ball is selected by the organising body (e.g., FIFA for the World Cup). adidas has supplied the official World Cup ball since 1970.

By tradition a player who scores a hat-trick takes the match ball home after the game.

FIFA worked with adidas to introduce the Telstar — the famous 32-panel black-and-white ball — at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, designed for better TV visibility.

Major competitions have sponsorship deals (FIFA with adidas, UEFA with Molten/adidas, etc.). The organiser supplies the official balls to all matches.

The ball must meet Law 2 pressure specifications. A flat or under-inflated ball must be replaced.

Oval balls are used in rugby and American football. Association football requires a spherical ball under Law 2.

While the iconic ball is black-and-white, Law 2 does not restrict colour. Yellow or orange balls are common in snowy conditions for visibility.

Players legally use their hands to set up restarts (throw-ins, free kicks, corners, goal kicks). 'Handling' as an offence applies only to deliberate handling during play.

Only the referee-approved ball is allowed in the match. Substitution of the ball without the referee's permission is not allowed.

A defective ball cannot score: play is stopped, the ball is replaced and play restarts with a dropped ball.

The ball may be changed at any stoppage, including after a goal, so the kick-off can be taken with a different approved ball.

The ball must conform to Law 2 specifications throughout the match. Any modification voids its eligibility.

Since 2025 a goalkeeper who holds the ball for more than eight seconds concedes a corner kick. The referee shows the last five seconds with a raised hand.

Adult competitions require a Size 5 ball. Size 4 is used in youth football (typically ages 8–12), Size 3 for very young players.

Under Law 2, if the ball becomes defective during play, the referee stops play. After replacing the ball, play restarts with a dropped ball at the spot.

If the ball bursts before it crosses the line, no goal is awarded. The referee stops play and restarts with a dropped ball after replacing the ball.

The penalty has not been taken yet, so the ball is simply replaced and the kick is taken with the new ball.

An over-inflated ball is unsafe and outside Law 2 limits. The referee will replace it with a legal ball before play continues.

A match cannot go on without a legal ball. That is why competitions keep several approved balls ready.

Deliberately damaging the ball is unsporting behaviour. The referee will replace the ball, award a free kick (or penalty) and may caution the player.

Outside interference (such as an extra ball or object on the pitch) causes the referee to stop play. The match restarts with a dropped ball at the spot of the original ball.

Since 2019, if the ball touches a match official and the other team gains possession, play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball.

If a defect is discovered after a goal but it was sound at the moment of the goal, the goal stands. The referee uses judgement based on evidence.

Only the referee-approved match ball is permitted. An unauthorised ball is removed and the team or official may be sanctioned for unsporting behaviour.

The first balls used an animal bladder inside a leather case, rubber bladders followed in the 19th century, and synthetic panels came last.

The FA established the first ball size and weight standard in 1872, just nine years after the Laws of the Game were first written.

The Telstar, used at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, had 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons so it would show up on black-and-white television.

adidas has supplied the official match ball for every FIFA World Cup since 1970. Notable examples: Telstar (1970), Tango (1978), Jabulani (2010), Al Rihla (2022).

Leather absorbed water; on wet days the ball could double in weight, leading to many headed-ball injuries documented decades later.

Synthetic materials (polyurethane and PVC composites) replaced leather at the top level in the 1980s. Modern balls are virtually waterproof.

The Jabulani used at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was widely criticised for unpredictable trajectories. adidas later modified the panel design for subsequent balls.

The Al Rihla, used at Qatar 2022, contained a 500 Hz IMU motion sensor — used to assist VAR with offside calls and handball detection.

The first World Cup was held in 1930, FIFA's quality testing of balls began in 1996 and VAR was first used at a World Cup in 2018.

Ball specifications have been part of the Laws since 1872, with refinements over time. Today's exact ranges (68–70 cm, 410–450 g, 0.6–1.1 atm) emerged through the 20th century.

Size 4 (circumference 63.5–66 cm) is the standard ball for ages 8–12. Older youths and adults use Size 5.

Size 3 is the smallest standard ball, used for the youngest players (typically under 8). It is lighter and easier to handle.

Law 2 specifies pressure at sea level. At high altitude (e.g., La Paz, Bolivia), the ball may behave differently due to atmospheric conditions, but the same legal range applies.

Futsal uses a Size 4 ball with restricted bounce, designed for hard court surfaces. It does not meet Law 2 specifications for football.

The Laws do not fix the colour of the ball, and bright balls are often used on snow.

Smart balls (like the adidas Al Rihla used at the 2022 World Cup) are legal as long as they meet all Law 2 specifications and FIFA approval.

Cold air contracts, so a ball loses pressure outside in freezing weather and may need to be topped up.

Replica balls are visually similar but use cheaper materials and lower-quality construction. Only properly tested and certified match balls are permitted in official games.

Manufacturer markings (adidas, Nike, etc.) are standard on official balls. Other commercial markings are typically restricted by competition rules.

An extra object that interferes with play is not a match ball: the referee stops play, has it removed and restarts with a dropped ball.

A football is Size 5 (68–70 cm circumference). A futsal ball is Size 4 (62–64 cm) and has a heavier, low-bounce design for hard courts.

Association football requires a spherical ball. American football uses an oval prolate spheroid, designed to be thrown and caught.

Size 5 weighs 410–450 g; Size 4 typically weighs 350–390 g. Smaller balls are also lighter — appropriate for younger players.

A historic problem with leather balls was their water absorption — they could nearly double in weight in heavy rain. Modern synthetic balls are virtually waterproof.

The Telstar (1970) was a 32-panel leather/synthetic ball with no electronics. The Al Rihla (2022) had a 500 Hz motion sensor inside to support VAR decisions.

Both sports use balls with relatively low internal pressure compared to (e.g.) a tennis ball. Exact specifications differ slightly per sport.

A tennis ball is under 7 cm across; an adult handball is about 58-60 cm round, a football 68-70 cm and a basketball about 75 cm.

A rugby ball is oval (D).

Early balls were not standardised; the FA fixed a size and weight in 1872, and FIFA began its quality testing in 1996.

Smaller, lighter balls help children develop technique. Size 3 is suitable for very young players, with a circumference of about 58–61 cm.

If the ball becomes defective during play, the referee stops play immediately and restarts with a dropped ball at the spot where the ball became defective.

The referee inspects the ball and decides. If pressure is below 0.6 atm, the ball is replaced from the prepared spares.

An extra ball that interferes with play means the referee stops play, has it removed and restarts with a dropped ball.

Since 2025 a goalkeeper may hold the ball for up to eight seconds; the referee counts down the last five, and holding on longer gives the opponents a corner.

Since 2019, if the ball deflects off a match official and goes directly into a goal, the goal does not stand. Play restarts with a dropped ball.

Youth competitions specify ball sizes by age. Most national federations use Size 4 for U-10 (and U-12), reserving Size 5 for U-13+ and adults.

Spare approved balls are kept round the pitch, so a lost ball is simply replaced and play restarts as normal.

Before play resumes, the ball must meet Law 2. The referee will replace it before the corner is taken.

By long-standing tradition, the player who scores three goals in a single match keeps the match ball as a souvenir, often signed by teammates.

The referee may re-inflate the ball to bring it within the legal pressure range, or replace it with a spare if needed.

Law 2 — 'The Ball' — sets the requirements for the football used in matches.

Adult football and most teen football (U-13+) uses a Size 5 ball — the standard for the senior game.

Law 2 requires a circumference between 68 cm and 70 cm — measured around the widest point of the ball.

Law 2 requires the ball to weigh between 410 g and 450 g at the start of the match.

The pressure must sit inside the legal range, so a ball that reads too high or too low is adjusted and checked again.

A football must be spherical (B).

The referee inspects and approves the ball. They may also change the ball during the match if it becomes defective.

If the ball becomes defective, the referee stops play immediately. After replacing the ball, play restarts with a dropped ball at the spot where it became defective.

adidas has supplied the official ball for every FIFA World Cup since 1970 — starting with the iconic Telstar.

The Telstar was used in 1970, the Tango in 1978, the Jabulani in 2010 and the Al Rihla in 2022.