The key element for one of the most popular sports in the world, soccer balls come in different designs, sizes and weights. The diversity also extends to the materials soccer balls are made of and the features of the final product. Consider the following technical details that few people know about the structure of the soccer balls.
The surface of soccer balls consists of several coverings that are not made of natural leather as it seems at first sight but rather from synthetic materials that keep the balls lightweight even when it’s damp outside. Synthetic leather is the most commonly used, being made of poly vinyl chloride or PVC and polyurethane. Even the types of artificial leather remain a mystery to most soccer fans, because these patterns too, come in great number of varieties.
Depending on the design of the soccer balls, the various segments of the exterior cover, also known as the panels, present specific features. A soccer ball can be made of 16, 26 or 32 panels, with the latest being the official variant for most leagues and championships. Yet, the others are encountered with some leagues in Scotland and England. After being sewn together and inflated, the panels create the nearly perfect sphere that we call soccer ball.
A special material called the lining is used between the internal bladder that holds the air and the outer covering. Laminated cotton or polyester are normally used for the intermediary layer, and they play an important part in the bouncing and strength features of the ball. For professional soccer balls, up to four or five linings are used, while promotional items and practice balls contain fewer such structures.
Differences of material do exist in the structure of the bladders as well. Soccer balls can be manufactured either from latex or butyl. While the surface tension brought by latex or natural rubber is unparalleled, the tiny pores allow deflation over a certain period of time.
In order to keep the ball practical, you’ll have to re-inflate it at least once a week. Butyl soccer balls present no air retention problem, but require valves to keep the air inside.
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