# The Ball · Football Level 1: Beginner

Football · Level 1: Beginner · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-1/the-ball/)

The Ball in Football (Level 1: Beginner) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: definitions; numbers and specifications; and more.

Official ball specifications: size 5 for adults, circumference 68–70cm, pressure 0.6–1.1 bar. History of the ball from leather to modern synthetic panels.

## Test 1: Definitions

- 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.

## Test 2: Numbers and specifications

- 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.

## Test 3: Who decides about the ball

- 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.

## Test 4: Allowed and forbidden

- 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.

## Test 5: Consequences and ball problems

- 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.

## Test 6: Historical facts about the football

- 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.

## Test 7: Exceptions and edge cases

- 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.

## Test 8: Comparisons

- 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.

## Test 9: Mini scenarios

- 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.

## Test 10: Mixed review

- 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.

Sources: 

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