How much psi does a basketball need

How Much Air Pressure Should a Basketball Have to Bounce Properly?

Are you a regular basketball player that’s puzzled about why some basketballs bounce better than some others? Yeah right! So, you’re quick to conclude that the bouncing ability of the ball depends on the brand that produces it.

Thus, you think a Spalding is better than a Nike, Franklin, Champion Sports, MacGregor or Fanmats? And some other basketball players think otherwise—choosing the brand they love above others.

It’s typical for you to be biased and support your favorite brand as the best basketball manufacturer in the market. On that note, it will interest you to know that the brand has nothing to do with the bouncing deficiency of your basketball.

But here’s what we found out.

The amount of air pressure in your basketball contributes majorly to the bounce rate of your basketball.

We‘ll be talking extensively, in this article, about how much air pressure your basketball should have—for it to bounce correctly. Also, we would discuss other vital factors that contribute to the air pressure and bounce rate of a basketball.

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What Happens When a Basketball Isn’t Bouncing Properly?

The obvious answer, right? If your basketball isn’t bouncing correctly, the first issue it creates is to hinder your game performance. But, beyond that, we need to go deep into the foundation of this problem and find out why your basketball isn’t bouncing correctly.

If you’re like us that recently found out that the amount of air pressure in a basketball determines its bounce level, then, we’re on the same page. But, if you haven’t, it is not too late to join the bandwagon.

Dealing with Air Pressure

The force that pushes air against every solid surface it comes in contact with is the air pressure. In simpler terms, the more air in an enclosed area, the higher the air pressure. If this theory is correct, that means you need an optimum amount of air in your basketball to get the best bouncing result on the court.

Before we move on:

Did you know that air is mattered? You heard, right! The air we breathe? Of course! But, you’re surprised because you have always thought that matter in quote had to be solid. At least, that’s what your science teacher taught you in mid-school—she told you, “Matter is anything that has got mass and occupies space.”

But here’s the cracker.

Air has weight, mass, and volume (You can ask your science teacher). What that means is air takes up space. So, you can see it fits into the definition. We know, it sounds weird to think of air as matter, when you can’t touch or run into it.

Think of it this way. Your basketball, bike tire, bouncing castle or air mattress get their mass and form because of the air and air pressure in them. In this case, it’s the air pressure in your basketball that gives your ball the round shape and bouncy feel.

Recommended Air Pressure Required for a Basketball to Bounce Optimally

The typical basketball requires at least a reading of 8 lbs(pounds by square inch) to get appropriately inflated. If you’re lucky enough, you can buy a basketball that has the inflation instructions printed by the manufacturer to help you get the default air pressure of the ball.

If your ball is not far from you now, you can quickly go check it out and come back to the article. For instance, you may see something like “Inflate 7 to 9 psi.” You saw that, right? Don’t bother if you didn’t see it on your ball—not every manufacturer prints it on their basketballs.

NBA recommends that the air pressure in a basketball must be between 7.5 and 8.5psi. You can use this standard measurement as a guide to get the required air pressure for your basketball.

A quick way to check if your ball has the proper air pressure is by taking this simple test. Drop your basketball from the height of your shoulder and leave it to bounce. If it bounces up back to the height of your hips, then your ball probably has the appropriate air pressure required to deliver on the court.

Three Factors That Can Affect the Internal Air Pressure of a Basketball

Here are three primary factors that affect the bounce level of your ball.

1. Ball Pressure

When you properly inflate your basketball, you enhance its elastic bladder—making it capable of rebounding when it hits a hard surface like the rim. In essence, the higher the air pressure in your basketball, the higher its bounce and otherwise. But, you have to be wary not to over-inflate your basketball to avoid the bladder breaking, which will negatively impact the consistency of the ball’s bounce or even cause leakage.

2. Environmental Pressure

Most times, the surrounding air pressure around a basketball is equally constant, but you should always consider environmental air pressure as it always comes in play—affecting the bounce level of the basketball.

The air is usually less dense or thinner at higher altitudes. And when the air is less dense, objects aren’t still affected as much by the air resistance going against them—whether they fly or bounce through the air.

What this means is that air pressure from the surroundings will hardly affect your basketball enough to mar your game outdoors. However, it contributes significantly to the height of your ball’s bounce. That takes us to the next factor.

3. Temperature

A decrease in temperature will result in a decline in air pressure inside your basketball. Plus, the bounce level of a basketball primarily depends on the air pressure inside a basketball—as we discussed earlier.

Thus, when a basketball hits and bounces on the floor of a gym with average room temperature, the force of the bounce impact pushes the bottom surface of the ball while compressing the gas inside it.

But here’s a kicker.

According to Boyle’s law, the pressure of the gas inside the basketball increases, when a ball bounces on a hard surface, especially when you’re playing at the park during summer.

But, it’s a different ball game in winter. The internal air pressure of a basketball decreases when it bounces on a hard surface.

Since the internal air pressure of the basketball decreases at a lower temperature, the impact of the ball with the ground will also have less effect when it hits the ground. By that, the basketball does not bounce high enough as it does at a higher temperature.

In Closing

It’s wise to use a small pump and pressure gauge when inflating your basketball. A report showed that you need about 12 strokes to get something close to the perfect air pressure, which is around 7.5 – 8.5psi.

Thus, you should avoid using high-pressure pumps designed for cars and bike tires. They can easily over-inflate and destroy your basketball.

Of the three factors mentioned earlier in this article, which one struck you as the most important? Has that factor affected your game before? Have you damaged your ball previously because of over-inflation? Tell us your story; we’re eager to see your comments, suggestions, and feedback.

How Much Air Pressure Should a Basketball Have?

If you have played or watched basketball long enough, does it occur to you how much air pressure should a basketball have? Honestly, if you have not played basketball, you would think that it doesn’t even matter. But if you have played the sport, you would know that some balls bounce a lot better than others. Is it because of the brand? It could be a factor, but perhaps the most crucial element is air pressure.

We hate to answer with a little sarcasm, but aren’t we also concerned about how much air is in the balloons at some kids’ party? Or about how much air should be in our car tires? The answer is, of course, a resounding, yes! It would only be natural to prefer one basketball brand over another, but the main factor contributing to how good (or bad) your ball bounces is the air pressure.

What, then, is air pressure? It is the force or push of the air against anything that it comes in contact with. In this case, it is the leather or the rubber in a basketball. The more air there is inside, then the air pressure increases.

Needless to say, a basketball player should be worried if the ball is not bouncing correctly. It does slow your performance down, whether we are talking about shooting, dribbling, or the accuracy of passes. A basketball player that feels uncomfortable with how the ball bounces quickly becomes distracted and may even lose confidence throughout the game.

You can measure air pressure in a basketball by using an air pump with a built-in pressure gauge. The recommended air pressure for a basketball is 7.5 to 8.5 psi (pounds per square inch). That is also the NBA basketball air pressure recommendation. As you can see, there isn’t a fixed air pressure endorsement by the NBA, but you can use this recommendation as a guide to getting the right air pressure.

As previously noted, the NBA basketball air pressure instruction is between 7.5 to 8.5 pounds per square inch. Some balls have air pressure recommendations printed in them, and it may state “up to nine pounds,” but obviously, the NBA prefers it to be just a little lower than the maximum allowable air pressure in a ball.

In the case of FIBA, the international governing body for basketball did not specify a pressure range. Instead, it indicates that the ball should bounce between 1,200 to 1,400 mm (47.2 to 55 inches) when dropped at the height of 1,800 mm (or approximately 70 inches). In addition to the “ball bounce” test, FIBA rules also mandate that the balls be subjected to fatigue strength, valve leak, practice, and heat storage tests.

Ironically, even with NBA basketball air pressure recommendations, the balls are rarely measured during games. That is because most pumps that are used do not have gauges, and even if they do, it does not accurately indicate air pressure. From that standpoint, FIBA’s “ball bounce” instructions appear to be a sound and practical procedure in determining the right basketball air pressure.

Yes, more air in a basketball makes the ball bounce higher. Why? Because as you inflate the ball, the more compressed the air becomes so it can fit inside.  

Now, as it becomes more compressed, the air presses the inside of the ball with more force. If you are dribbling the ball, it produces a pushing action even more inside the basketball. The air pushes back, so to speak, with force equal to the amount of air pressure in the air. (This is known as the Third Law of Motion that briefly states: “In every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.”) That force is what thrusts the ball back up. If there is more air inside the basketball, it pushes harder back up when the basketball is bounced.

Again, the short answer would be, yes, it makes the ball bounce higher. But then again, it doesn’t hurt knowing the science behind it.

Yes, the temperature can affect the way a basketball bounces. Since we have already talked a little about science, then perhaps, we should continue on with it. It involves what is called the Ideal Gas Law, a combination of natural laws discovered by Boyle, Charles, Avogadro, and Gay-Lussac.

It states that there is a specific relationship between volume, pressure, and temperature in a confined system. To cut the geeky story short, it means that when a basketball is subjected to increased temperatures, the volume of the air pressure inside increases. The opposite is also true: If exposed to colder temperatures, a basketball’s air pressure decreases.

Understanding the concept of the Ideal Gas Law will make you aware of the playability of the ball. From that Law, we can assess that a temperature change of plus-10 degrees Fahrenheit can increase the pressure by a pound per square inch. Conversely, if you played in an environment that is 10 degrees colder, the basketball’s air pressure drops a pound per square inch. In the latter conditions, say, a ball has been inflated to 8 psi. It follows, then, that playing in such circumstances will drop the ball’s air pressure to 7 psi, a tad below the minimum recommended NBA basketball air pressure of 7.5 psi.

It is pretty easy if you have an air pump with a gauge, but the thing is, gauges are also inaccurate to a certain degree. That is probably why the NBA gave a recommendation range of 7.5 to 8.5 psi to provide a room for error. All that being said, we think FIBA’s ball-bouncing recommendation should tell you if a basketball is pumped enough if you can’t find a gauge.

This is a tricky question, and while we are inclined to say yes, air pressure does affect your shot, it might not be accurate in all cases. Air pressure may affect the result of the shot, but it should not affect your mechanics as long as it’s not too soft or squishy to the touch. It should not change the trajectory of the ball, either.

Now, how can air pressure affect the outcome of your shot? It’s because basketballs with higher air pressure often bounce farther off the rim while the ball with a lower air pressure has a higher chance to ricochet in or bounce near the basket. So, air pressure may affect how a ball bounces off the rim rather than affecting the shooting mechanics or the ball’s trajectory.

A basketball should have the right air pressure for the players to feel comfortable handling it. Many will write off the importance of putting the correct air pressure on a basketball, but in reality, it is an essential part of the game. If the players are not comfortable with how the ball bounces during a live dribble, it can negatively influence his overall game.

There are really no rules on how much air pressure is needed in a basketball. If you’re just playing pickup or recreationally, it may all boil down to the preferences of the players. However, in the NBA, the recommended air pressure is between 7.5 to 8.5 pounds per square inch (psi).

In FIBA, they use a somewhat instinctive rule that a ball should not bounce higher than 70 inches and no lower than 47 inches. In our opinion, FIBA’s rule is a lot simpler and maybe even more accurate since air pressure gauges are not usually around. If there are gauges lying around, they may also not give the precise air pressure reading.

What many did not know, though, is that temperature can affect the air pressure in the ball. How so? Because of the Ideal Gas Law, it is found that a difference of 10 degrees Fahrenheit can approximately increase or decrease the air pressure by 1 psi. Knowledge of this natural law is essential, especially in the NBA. That’s because playing in certain temperatures can reduce the air pressure of the ball below the league’s recommended range. 

Now, if you’re wondering whether the ball’s air pressure can affect your shot, the short answer is no. It should not affect your mechanics as well as the trajectory of the ball. The issue lies in what happens after the shot. Simple physics suggests that a ball with too much air pressure bounces farther from the rim while the ball with the lower air pressure will likely bounce near the basket. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when we’re talking about how much air pressure should a basketball have.

Because you read this post, you might find our reviews on the best basketball pumps helpful.

We also answer other frequently answered questions on basketball here.

> What Size is an NBA Basketball?

> How to Clean a Basketball: The Ultimate Guide

> How to Inflate a Basketball Without a Needle or Pump?

Influence of air pressure on ball bounce height

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Chernyshev G.S. 1

1GBOU School 2120

Vagidova Z.R. 1

1GBOU School 2120

The author of the work was awarded a diploma of the winner of the III degree

Diploma of a student Certificate of the head

The text of the work is placed without images and formulas.
The full version of the work is available in the "Files of the work" tab in PDF format

Introduction

The ball is one of the most favorite toys for boys of all ages. There are many ball games such as football, volleyball, basketball, golf. Each game has its own ball. We know that there is air inside any ball. Therefore, the question arises: why don't all balls bounce?

Relevance: the ball is one of the most important attributes of games. Knowing the properties and types of balls helps in choosing them. Each person should have an idea about the physical phenomena and laws that he directly encounters in everyday life from childhood.

The purpose of is to study the effect of ball pressure on the height of the jump on the height of the first bounce.

Item is a basketball.

Item - air pressure in the ball.

To achieve this goal, it was necessary to solve a number of tasks:

1. Collect literature on the topic;

2. select research methods;

3. study the history of the origin of the ball, its varieties;
4. find out what sports games are played with the ball;
5. conduct an experiment explaining why the ball jumps to different heights after the amount of air in it changes;

6. draw conclusions.

Thanks to the following methods , a study was performed:

- work with Internet sources;

- work with literature;

- analysis;

- comparison.

Starting the study, we put forward the following assumption : if you release air from the ball, it will bounce lower.

Problem question of our study is: How does the amount of air in a basketball affect how high it bounces? How do basketball players determine how much air a basketball needs to have in order to play?

The novelty and practical significance of our study as a whole lies in the choice of the ball as the object of study.

1. Theoretical part.

1.1. Communication with history and science

In the encyclopedia "I know the world" it is said that the ball is one of the most ancient and favorite toys of all countries and peoples. In ancient Greece, it was considered the most perfect object, since it had the shape of the sun, which means (as the Greeks thought) it had its magical power. They sewed balls from leather and stuffed them with some elastic material, for example, moss or bird feathers. And later they guessed to inflate the leather ball with air. Such a ball was called "follis". Small follices were used for hand games, and large balls were used for games like football. Images of balls were found on the walls of Egyptian tombs, and during excavations of the burial places of the pharaohs, balls themselves were found, sewn from strips of leather or tree bark, and sometimes made of sandstone. The team games of the Egyptians with these items were dedicated to the gods, each team represented the interests of a group of celestials, the ball was driven into the gate with curved sticks. [1
And in ancient China they played ball, for example, by kicking it with their foot. The game eventually became a favorite folk entertainment, and in the 2nd century BC. included in the obligatory program of the solemn celebration of the birthdays of the emperor. At the same time, instead of stuffing with bird feathers and animal hair, they learned to fill leather balls with air, developed rules, and began to install gates on the playing field. The winners were honored with flowers, awarded with valuable gifts, and the losers were beaten with bamboo sticks.
In ancient Japan, too, they could not do without a ball. At the imperial court, team games were held to drive the ball into the goal for a certain time (measured by the hourglass), during the throw it should not touch the ground.
In Russia, the balls were different. In excavations near Novgorod, balls of various sizes were found, sewn from leather. They were played by children in the 13th century. Peasant children played with light balls made of birch bark or heavy balls tightly rolled from rags. Even information about one of the games has been preserved: they put chicken eggs in a row and knocked them out with a ball. In the Khotkovsky nunnery near Moscow, balls were sewn from soft pillows, and pebbles wrapped in birch bark were put inside - a ball and a rattle were obtained at the same time. By the way, the origin of the word "ball" is associated with the words "soft, pulp, crumb." That is, the ball is a soft ball.

Modern balls vary in size and purpose. Different balls are used for playing volleyball, basketball, football, tennis, water polo, rugby and other games.

Each of them has its own story. The name of the game of basketball came from the English words "basket" - "basket" and "ball" - "ball". This game was invented by D. Naismith, a sports instructor from one of the American universities, in 1891. At his direction, a large fruit basket was nailed under the ceiling of the sports hall and a ball was thrown into it. When the players got tired of climbing for the ball every time, it occurred to someone to just knock the bottom of the basket out. At first, basketball players used leather balls, and then switched to rubber ones.

The basketball must be spherical and must be the specified shade of orange with the traditional pattern of eight inlays and black stitching. The mass of the ball (officially accepted size 7) is 567-650 g, the circumference is 750-780 mm. Smaller balls are also used: in men's team games, "size 7" balls are used, in women's team games - "size 6", in mini-basketball matches - "size 5".

1.2. Definition of concepts

Working with the dictionary of S.I. Ozhegov, we learned that a ball is an object for playing a solid or full ball made of an elastic material inside, which bounces off a hard surface upon impact. [2]

Pressure is a physical quantity equal to the ratio of the force acting perpendicular to the surface to the area of ​​this surface.

Unit of pressure - Pascal (Pa). Using also other pressure units: hectopascal (hPa) and kilopascal (kPa) 1 kPa = 1000 Pa 1 Pa = 0.001 kPa 1 hPa = Pa 1 Pa = 0.01 hPa

The force arising in the body as a result of its compression and stretching (deformation) tending to return the body to its original position is called the elastic force.

According to the free encyclopedia "Wikipedia" elasticity is the property of solid materials to return to their original shape during elastic deformation. Solid objects will deform after a force is applied to them. [3]

Basketball size

First of all, when choosing a ball, you should pay attention to the size of the basketball. Size 7 means you are holding a ball that is suitable for men. Its weight can range from 567 to 650 grams. Size 6 is primarily used in the games of teenagers under 16 and adult women's teams. In addition to the circumference, its weight has also been reduced - from 510 to 567 grams. Size 5 is officially suitable for training and games of junior teams, with a weight of 470-500 grams. Of course, in your training you can use the size of the ball that you have at hand. By learning to handle a size 7, you are more likely to master a size 6 with ease. Unfortunately, the inverse doesn't always work.

2. Practical

In the practical part, we had to solve the following tasks:

- determine how the height to which the basketball bounces changes when the air pressure changes in it;

- build a graph based on the received data;

- draw conclusions based on the data obtained.

Different manufacturers measure pressure in different units, psi (pounds per square inch), bar (pressure unit approximately equal to one atmosphere), kgf/cm² (one kilogram of force per square centimeter), kPa (kilopascal). In the United States of America, the pressure inside the ball is usually measured in pounds per square inch (lb/dm ² ).

We experimented with the amount of air in a basketball, but for measurement, we used units that are accepted in our country, namely kilopascals (kPa).

We measured the amount of air in a basketball and then used a distance sensor to measure how high the ball bounced.

Materials and equipment:

- Computer with the Logger Lite program installed on it;

-Go!Link adapter;

- Gas pressure sensor;

- distance sensor;

- Basketball;

- Stopper with needle, stem and tube;

-Measuring ruler.

Our experiment was carried out according to the following algorithm:

To configure the sensors for data collection, you need:

Check distance sensor connection to computer.

Set the distance sensor switch to position Normal .

Make sure the pressure sensor is connected to the adapter and the adapter is connected to the computer.

Start the Logger Lite program.

Open file for this experiment Air Ball (Air ball) .

Then did the following:

They took a basketball.

Reset the pressure sensor by pressing the Reset button on the toolbar. Next, the sensor measured the pressure in the same way as the measuring device on a bicycle pump.

Moistened the needle attached to the pressure transducer and inserted it into the ball.

Recorded data in the first line of the column "Actual pressure" of the data table.

Attached the distance sensor at a height of 2.3 m.

To collect data, did the following:

Hold the ball directly under the sensor so that the space between the ball and the sensor is about 15 cm.

Button pressed Data acquisition . Hearing the click of the sensor, they released the ball from their hands so that it hit the floor and bounced. No need to throw the ball with force!

Next, press the button View, to determine the position of the floor relative to the sensor and the distance to the ball at the top of the rebound ball #1. We recorded the obtained data in a table.

Next, we gradually reduced the pressure in the ball:

Moistened the needle attached to the pressure transducer and inserted it into the ball.

Watched the pressure reading on the screen.

Released some air.

Watch the pressure reading on the screen until it drops by 20 kPa (for the first time, the pressure will drop from 124.88 kPa to 105.79 kPa).

When the pressure dropped by 20 kPa, twist the connection tip so that no more air escapes.

Recorded the value in the second line of the "Actual pressure" column of the data table.

Repeat steps 3-7 for 80 kPa, 60 kPa, etc. until you reach a test where the pressure was 5 kPa.

Data table (graphs are in the appendix):

Drop height 2.321 - ball distance 0.214 m = 2.107

Pins:

There is a pattern of change in the height of the rebounds with a decrease in pressure in the ball - the height of the rebounds decreases. The lowest air pressure in the ball allowed for playing basketball: 80 kPa.

Conclusion

What is basketball training without the main attribute of the game - a basketball? It is the basketball that gives us the opportunity to enjoy the gameplay in all its diversity.

Often when inflating a basketball, the question arises whether to inflate it more or less. We have to resort to the help of the Internet in search of information regarding this issue. We decided to answer the question, what is the optimal pressure should be in a basketball, since with the wrong level of pressure, the wear resistance of the chamber increases, which may simply not withstand and burst; there is a risk of injury; unpredictable flight path. The lowest air pressure in the ball allowed for playing basketball: 80 kPa.

Our study was carried out using Logger Lite software, Go!Link adapter, gas pressure sensor, distance sensor.

To achieve the goal, tasks were set that were successfully solved. To begin with, the literature on this topic was collected. Its analysis is presented in the theoretical part.

Getting to the practical part, we have identified research methods. Thanks to them, our study "The effect of air pressure on the height of the ball rebound" was carried out.

The hypothesis that we put forward at the beginning of the work was confirmed.

Having completed this study, we have developed a memo for fans of the game of basketball ( Appendix 2 ).

References:

I know the world. Sports: children. encyclopedia. - M.: AST: Astrel: Transitbook, 2006 - 382.

Ozhegov S.I. Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language, M .: LLC "A TEMP", 2008. p. 810

[Electronic resource] Access mode: Wikipedia - Head. from screen

[Electronic resource] Access mode: https://sportyfi.ru/basketbol/myach/kak-nakachat/ Head. from screen

Appendix 1

Experiment 1

Height

Pressure

Experiment 2

Height

Pressure

Experiment 3

Height

Pressure

Experiment 4

Height

Pressure

Experiment 5

Height

Pressure

Experiment 6

Height

Pressure

Experiment 7

Height

Pressure

Experiment 8

Height

Pressure

Annex 2

Instruction for inflating a basketball

Note:

The pressure in the ball is quite strongly influenced by the ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.

It is better to inflate the ball directly where games or training are planned.

The ball must be inflated correctly! Before pumping, you need to shake the ball so that the chamber is in a vertical position, below the valve opening. Then pump it up.

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FIFA QUALITY, PRO, BASIC certified soccer balls

FIFA soccer ball certificates:

Below is our translation of soccer ball test descriptions on the official FIFA website January 1, 2016. The IMS mark has been replaced by FIFA Basic without changing the ball certification requirements.

Our translation in the table of test names, as well as further translation of the text from the federation website with slight abbreviations:

FIFA, in order to ensure optimal conditions for competition at every level of the game, has expanded its football quality program with the introduction of new quality labels. All new FIFA officially certified soccer balls can carry one of the three new FIFA Quality Seals:

FIFA Quality PRO
FIFA Quality
FIFA Basic (instead of IMS)

New FIFA Quality Seals for Professional Footballs the standard recommended for all top-level matches.

A soccer ball must successfully pass seven tests in order to earn the FIFA Quality Seal. Tests check:
1) circumference
2) sphericity
3) rebound height
4) weight
5) pressure loss
6) stability during the test (retention of shape, size, pressure, strength).
7) water absorption
8) balance (for futsal balls).

To receive the prestigious FIFA Quality Seal, soccer balls must be qualified to the latest quality standards according to the FIFA Football Quality Assurance Program Testing Guidelines and tested for even greater stiffness than before, including reduced water absorption for all quality levels. , as well as a test for keeping the shape and size of the ball.

In accordance with the new quality program, FIFA has certified over 1,000 soccer, futsal and beach balls and over 60 brands at the time of this publication (including such popular brands as Adidas and Select - our note). Balls with new quality marks have been used in competitions under the auspices of FIFA since January 1, 2016.

FIFA QUALITY PRO and FIFA QUALITY ball certification is carried out by only one FIFA certified laboratory, which is located in Switzerland, according to the IMS - International Match Standard: in three laboratories located in Germany, Italy and Scotland.

FIFA posted comments on soccer ball tests on the website. Below on this page you will find a translation of articles from the FIFA website (with slight abbreviations) dedicated to the certification of footballs and futsal balls. Pictures used from the FIFA website. The explanatory text is translated in the semantic style of the original. We do not want to be holier than the Pope and have set out everything as it is written in the relevant sections.

On our own behalf, we would like to add that the informal approach of FIFA at the time of the change in the system for assessing the quality of balls and explaining why certain parameters of the ball are controlled from the position of a football game, allow us to understand a lot about FIFA's attitude to football. Currently, only official materials and ball testing instructions are published on the federation's website.

For testing FIFA QUALITY PRO and FIFA QUALITY 10 balls are selected, for IMS - 7 balls. The balls are inflated to a certain pressure.

- Outdoor balls 0.8 bar ± 0.01
- Futsal 0.6 bar ± 0.01
- Beach soccer* 0.6 bar ± 0.01
* average of the indicated 0.375 – 0.8 bar.

Pressure gauge accuracy 0.01 bar. The needle is lubricated with glycerin.

Football and futsal (mini soccer) ball dimensions

The size of a soccer ball must meet certain standards. This is very important for players to make accurate passes and go for exciting dribbling. Could you imagine everyone playing with different sized balls?

For measurement, the balls are inflated to a certain pressure, and then the radius of the ball is measured at 45,000 points. The circles are calculated arithmetically (according to the results of the measurement - LS) and must be in accordance and within the norm at each point. From ourselves, we note that the diameter of a soccer ball is not measured, but only the circumference.

FIFA test criteria - sizes

The sphericity of soccer and futsal (mini soccer) balls

Playing with a perfectly round ball is very important. If the ball is not perfectly round, it will not roll properly, making dribbling very difficult. Also, it won't fly in the air as expected and despite the fact that you hit the goal accurately, it can easily miss the goal or miss your target.

The radius of the ball is measured in 45,000 points. The differences between each dot are calculated mathematically on the FIFA quality mark, which makes it almost impossible to attribute a player's error to the ball. More details in the table below.

Test Criteria - Sphericity

Soccer and futsal (mini soccer) bounce

The rebound test tests the ball's elasticity. An even bounce is critical for players, especially when it comes to stopping the ball after a long pass, from the chest, legs or head. If the ball doesn't bounce properly, how can a player control it or improve their game?
Predictable bounce is important. In the laboratory, balls are dropped onto a steel plate from a height of two meters ten times. At the same temperature, the balls should bounce uniformly. Please refer to the table below for more information.

Test Criteria - Rebound Height

Soccer Ball Water Absorption

Something as simple as water can affect a soccer ball in such a way that it loses most of the properties that make it fun to play. It is very important that the ball does not absorb water like a sponge. A ball that absorbs too much water will not be able to roll far, if at all, and players will probably notice the difference when they head the ball. The ball should stay afloat for as long as possible and not sink like a stone. In extreme conditions where it has rained for hours and the ground is wet, any ball will absorb water. It is very important how much water it absorbs.

Test: A ball is rotated and compressed 250 times in a tank full of water. The ball must not absorb too much water. Please refer to the table below for more information on how much water the balls can absorb for each certification level.

Test criteria - water absorption

Football and futsal ball weight

The weight of the ball is important because if it is too heavy, the player needs more strength to hit or throw the ball. Being overweight also increases the risk of injury, but on the other hand, if the soccer ball is too light, it can be difficult to control.

In the laboratory, the balls are weighed three times in an isolated room to ensure that measurements are independent of external factors. The weight of the ball must be within strict limits, in accordance with the regulations.

Test criteria - weight

Soccer ball pressure drop

The soccer ball pressure must remain constant throughout the match. If this is not the case, the ball must be inflated as soon as possible. It might be fun, but it will definitely break the flow of the game.
In the laboratory, the ball is inflated to standard pressure. After 72 hours, he must not lose more than a certain percentage of his air, as long as it meets the definitions of FIFA Pro Quality or the FIFA Quality Mark.

Test Criteria - Pressure Loss

Preservation of sphericity, dimensions and pressure of a soccer ball

This test verifies that the shape, pressure and volume of the ball will remain unchanged. A ball is fired at a steel plate at a speed of 50 km per hour 2000 times! Seams and air valves must remain intact and undamaged. Only minimal pressure losses and minimal changes in sphericity and (standard) dimensions are allowed.

Test Criteria

Futsal ball balance

Balance is a test for futsal balls only. Why? Because if the ball is unevenly balanced, it will be more difficult to control the ball, especially in futsal where the surface of the court is smooth. Under these conditions, great control can only be achieved with a perfectly balanced quality ball. If the ball is not in balance, then it becomes impossible to direct the ball along a given trajectory. The test itself involves three successive descents of the ball down the ramp in 24 different positions to measure the angle of deflection. This ensures that the certified balls will be controllable in every situation.

The ball is rolled down an inclined plane towards the table, the specified direction of rolling and the angle of deviation from the direction of rolling are measured.

Test criteria: balance

Further translation of the article posted later in this section testing futsal balls

What is so special about futsal?

Futebol de salao – or futsal for short – is the small, younger brother of football. In South America, where this version of the game has its roots, futsal was part of growing up for stars like Pelé, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, who all started their careers in futsal. FIFA recognized the potential of this pace of play and from 1989 years have organized world championships in futsal.

Field

Futsal is one of the most popular indoor sports, but not only indoors. In Brazil, futsal fills all outdoor stadiums, while in Japan people play on the roofs of high-rise buildings. The dimensions of the field are always the same, however, between 38 and 42 meters long and 18 to 25 meters wide. The gate is 3 by 2 meters.

Rules

Two teams of five players (including the goalkeeper) play each other for two halves of twenty minutes each. Up to seven substitutions can be used at any time and without restrictions. Fouls are charged on the entire team. Starting from the sixth foul, each foul is punished with a free kick. A serious foul is punished with two penalty minutes.

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