Basic HTML Version
and
type
of balls
with the
introduction of
an international board.
Synthetic Soccer Balls
It was not until the 1960’s that the first
totally synthetic ball was produced. But it
was not until the late 1980’s that synthetic
leather totally replaced the leather ball. Up
until then, it was felt that leather soccer
balls provided more of a consistent flight
and bounce. Synthetics used in today’s
soccer balls emulate the cell structure and
quality of leather with less water absorp-
tion.
Early footballs were sewn up with lac-
es. These days, footballs are made from
synthetic leather patches sewn together
in a design based on the ‘Buckminster
Ball’ or known as the Buckyball. The
American architect Richard Buckminster
Fuller came up with the design when he
was trying to find a way for constructing
buildings using a minimum of materials.
The shape is a series of hexagons, pen-
tagons and triangles, which can be fitted
together to make a round surface. The
modern soccer ball is essentially a Buck-
minster Ball consisting of 20 hexagonal
and 12 pentago-
nal surfaces.
When
they
are
sewn
togeth-
er and
inflated they
make a near
perfect sphere. The
black spots on
the ball helped
players to perceive
any swerve on
the ball.
The
first 32-panel ball was marketed by Select
in the 1950s in Denmark. The first “of-
ficial” FIFA world cup soccer ball was the
Adidas Telstar used in the 1970 world cup
at Mexico. As shown above it was also the
first official World Cup Buckminster type
soccer ball. Click on the following for
more information on:
Developments in soccer ball design is
continuing. Many companies have recent-
ly come out with new high tech materials
and designs for soccer balls. The object
is to develop the optimum soccer ball
that is flight accurate, water proof, fast
in flight and transfers all of your kicking
force to the ball (does not absorb energy),
has soft feel, and is safe to head the ball.
Optimum soccer balls should also adhere
to ball specifications given by governing
bodies such as FIFA.
New balls such as Adidas’ Teamgeist,
Jabulani, Roteiro, Finale and Fevernova,
Nike’s Nike Seitiro Premier, Geo Merlin,
Puma’s Shudah, and Mitre’s ISO use the
latest design innovations and high tech
materials. For more information on the
latest innovations, check out Soccer Ball
World’s Soccer Ball
Developments
page.