Learning How Soccer Balls Are Made

Soccer, or football, is one of the most popular sports in the world today. While it may not catch rabid attention here in America, almost anywhere else in the world it is by far the most popular game.

You probably have seen this as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa just barely finished. In places such as Europe and Latin America, millions were glued to their TV sets to see their national teams battle it out in order to declare a champion of the globe.

Soccer is not just popular in a professional sense, though. Millions of children and adults throughout the worlds join youth or adult leagues so that they can play their favorite sport. It can be a great pastime for any person looking to get out into the fresh air and have some fun.

This article is here to tell you how the infamous soccer ball is made. Think of it; have you ever wondered exactly how these balls are made, and what they are made out of?

Despite what you might think, the process by which they are made can sometimes be quite complex. It takes time and effort to make a good soccer ball.

So what exactly are the steps that need to be taken to make this product for all to kick? Let’s take a look at the fascinating process that many soccer companies throughout the world use:

First, the outer cover is made. These can be made from many different types of materials, but there is one certain material that is used for professional-grade.

Professionals use ones that are made out of synthetic leather. They do not use natural leather, because this type of leather soaks up water faster, which can make the ball heavier and tamper with the game.

Below the cover you have many different layers that make up the rest of the outer shell. Usually these layers will be made out of laminated cotton or polyester.

The nature and use of the ball will decide how many layers it needs. Professional ones have Viagra Professional four layers or more, while other types may have less.

Why would it matter how many layers there are? Because once again, it affects the nature of the material and how it plays in the game.

Specifically, it affects the bounce of the material. The thickness of the layers will determine how high or low it will bounce.

This might not matter for a group of kids playing in a city park, but for a professional soccer player, this could mean the difference between winning and losing a match!

Once you have the outer cover and layers put together, they are then cut into a various number of panels. This is when you get the infamous look of a soccer ball, which makes it look sort of like a honeycomb.

They can be divided up into 36 panels, but the 32-panel model is by far the most popular. You might have a normal looking set of panels, or graphics or pictures might be put over the panels.

The inside of the ball consists of what is called a bladder. Usually, these are made from either latex or a material called butyl.

These materials do the job of holding the air inside so that it can bounce for many times of use. Professional teams usually use butyl bladders, because they will hold air longer than latex models.

Once you have the outer layer and the bladder, it’s time to put all of it together and come out with the finished product! To put them together, a person must sew them together, usually by hand.

The outer leather cover will be turned inside out and sewn together. After that, the bladder will be sewn together.

The maker will turn the leather inside out again and insert the bladder. The product will then be stitched up in its final stages.

Once all the stitching is done, the product will be inflated. The maker will make sure that no air leaks out of the newly made product so that it can have a long life of playing.

Author Bio: Terry Daniels has been soccer coach for the last 36 years and written hundreds of articles about soccer all over the world especially in developing countries. He recommends buying a good street soccer ball.

Contact Info:
Terry Daniels
terrydaniels@gmail.com
http://store.callerepublic.com/CALLE_Street_Soccer_Balls_s/41.htm

Category: Recreation and Leisure/Sports/Soccer
Keywords: street soccer ball

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