The round shape of the soccer ball lends itself to many types of motion. The soccer ball can roll across the ground, soar through the air and slide across the ground without rotation. The shape of the ball and its rolling ability influence the movements of the ball on the field due to many laws of physics.
While Americans may call the sport "soccer," the rest of the world calls it “football” -- and Paul Shields is a Scotland-born footballer who played the sport professionally from 1998 to 2007. As a player i...
A pitch soccer ball is a specific type of soccer ball marketed by Nike and referred to specifically as the T90 pitch. Unlike a traditional white soccer ball, the pitch soccer ball comes in colors ranging from red to blue. The e...
Each of the different types of soccer appear in different versions of the sport. All soccer balls will be hardest when they are over inflated, and over inflation should be carefully avoided because it can cause injury. A soccer...
Poor technique when headbutting the ball can lead to serious injury. To headbutt, or "head," a ball correctly, you must perfect your posture and your angle of attack. You also must conquer any fears you have about hea...
Given the delicacy of the human brain, a question arises of whether the technique of heading is actually safe for players. Dozens of sports scientists, pediatricians and neurologists have grappled with the question of the possi...
A soccer ball bounces so many times during a game that the characteristics of its bounce can have a huge effect on the game and its outcome. Since a ball's bounce is directly related to its air pressure, and since temperature a...
Soccer players who can use their head to direct the ball accurately and consistently are valuable to their team because it gives them a degree of explosiveness and versatility. Goals can be very hard to come by in a soccer matc...
The weight, size and amount of air pressure in a ball affect how it moves through the air. As these qualities tend to be strictly regulated by soccer leagues, however, any change in how far a ball can fly likely arises from its...
Also described as receiving, trapping refers to what you do with a pass in soccer to control the ball. The trap is unique to soccer, with nothing quite like it in baseball, basketball, American football or hockey. Knowing the k...
Remember that physicality does not include intimidation and that physicality should not be a substitute for skill, intelligence and athleticism, advises Sam Snow, director of coaching education for US Youth Soccer.
At other times, even in competitive soccer, the ball comes straight toward your torso and into your cradling arms for an easy save. You often will have to judge the trajectories of much more troublesome shots. Concentration and...
Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos might not be NASA scientists but they implicitly understand how to curve a soccer ball. It’s the best way to get the ball past defenders standing in the way of the goal ...
When watching a soccer match, you might notice that the goalkeeper can pick up the ball and throw it or drop kick it during the play. To do so, however, the goalkeeper must have both feet within the 18-yard box called the goal ...
Goals are hard to come by and players who can convert when they see the opportunity become a precious commodity at all levels of the game. Even defenders need to be part of shooting practice, because you never know when they mi...
Keeping your head up is one of the core tenets of dribbling in soccer, along with keeping the ball moving and near your feet. Dribbling a soccer ball is "a case of continually looking up and down," says Wes Harvey, former men's...
According to Law 9 of FIFA's "Laws of the Game" rulebook, a ball is considered in play as long as it has not crossed the touch line or goal line. If the ball hits the goalpost and does not cross either line, it is considered a ...
Getting good lift on your soccer kicks can help you send the ball downfield if you are a goalkeeper, like Hope Solo of the U.S. Women's National Team. It's also useful if you play in the back line and need to the clear the ball...
Placement of a soccer ball is critical, but a faster shot will also reduce the time a goalie has to react. However, putting all your strength into a kick also makes it more difficult to control your mechanics, and even small ch...
It is a low-price ball, intended for recreational play or training sessions. The Glider models are standard size, which is designated as a 5. Size 5 is intended for players 12 years old and up. Adidas also makes high end soccer...
To score a goal in soccer, or even kick the ball well, you must combine many variables, from your body position and wind resistance to opponent strength and air temperature. Air temperature will change the distance you can kick...
A Glider is an adidas model soccer ball designed for practice or to kick around the backyard. The Glider model actually is a "regular" soccer ball, as opposed to high-end soccer balls intended for serious competitive ...
The ability to kick a soccer ball a precise distance is an important strength in a game. At times, you need to kick the ball a short distance to pass it up the field. Other times, you need to kick the ball half the length of th...
This process takes years of hard work and practice, and combines elements of power, finesse and deception. A strong mental game combined with premier physical training will allow you to make the one-on-one moves necessary to pu...
Ball handling is the most important soccer skill. Shooting, passing and heading the ball are all useful, but without effective ball handling skills, players can't get themselves into position to perform these moves. For example...
The stepover is a simple and effective skill in soccer, known in much of the world as football. The key to a successful stepover is being able to execute the move quickly after faking a shot or pass. It tends to be more effecti...
Just like a knuckle ball in baseball, a knuckle for a soccer ball -- perfected by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo -- creates a ball that moves erratically, making it tough for a goalkeeper to track and catch. The knuckled...
The long pass in soccer creates offensive excitement in the game, much like the bomb in football or the outlet pass in basketball. If you are presented with a moving ball and you have a bit of breathing space to pick a target, ...
Soccer is a tough sport on the knees. It requires you to run, kick, stop and start in all directions, including sideways. If your knee hurts when side kicking the soccer ball, you may have a condition that ranges from an overus...
Shooting a soccer ball is an effective illustration of the laws of physics. A simple example is kicking the ball lightly. You don’t transfer much energy, so the ball doesn’t travel far. Changing the point of contact...
One of the most challenging tricks you can attempt in soccer is the flip throw-in. A regular throw-in entails throwing the ball with both hands from over your head onto the field. A flip throw-in, as the name implies, involves ...
A good touch is the difference between average, everyday soccer and a more beautiful, artistic and complete level of play. When you develop a good touch, the ball no longer clangs off your foot randomly, away from you and into ...
While passing creates opportunities to beat the defense and score, dribbling is the cornerstone of soccer. "Dribbling is the singular feature that identifies a mature, experienced player," notes soccer coach and author Jim Lenn...
The tricks you learn in soccer can be used on the soccer pitch, during a practice with your team or at home in your yard, and are not necessarily used in a game. You can develop the confidence to perform more advanced tricks an...
Shooting a soccer ball is essentially no different than passing it. You need to aim the ball between the goalposts and under the crossbar, and to a spot where the goalkeeper cannot snag it. If you think of the shot as more like...
Watching skilled soccer players run fast with the ball makes it look easy, but it is a skill that takes a long time to master. Known as dribbling, running with the ball is an essential skill to maintain ball control, get past d...
If you can master passing the ball in a moving triangle, you've cracked the code for one of the most important tactics in soccer. A triumphant team such as Barcelona builds its excellence in Spanish and European competitions on...
By learning to curve a soccer ball in a controlled manner, you can greatly increase your shooting potency and range of passing. The physics of drag and lift allow you to swerve the ball from side to side and even vertically, gi...
If a soccer ball is flat because it has been sitting unused and has lost pressure, reinflation is the answer. Pump the ball by hand or with an electric pump until it feels firm when pressed hard between the heels of both palms....
Soccer by nature is a low-scoring sport involving lengthy battles for the ball and field position. Those low scores make defenders very important to the success of a soccer team. Playing defense is not the most glamorous job an...
The standard ball sizes intended for youth soccer players are 3, 4 and 5. Using the proper size allows children to develop their skills with soccer balls of the correct proportion. If necessary, ask the staff of your child's so...
Soccer players must learn several fundamentals of the world's game, including how to shoot and how to pass. By learning how to settle a soccer ball, you can change the tempo of any game or practice and either slow it down or sp...
If you want to get really comfortable with a soccer ball, you could take a page from Brazilian children. Boys and girls in this soccer mecca who aspire to be future "futebol" stars even sleep with the ball. If you draw the line...
In soccer, the way the ball bounces has a significant effect on your playing style. Balls that are too bouncy or too flat are difficult to play with. For this reason, most leagues require referees to check the game ball to ensu...
The type of surface on which you play affects the way a soccer ball behaves and your playing style. On hard surfaces, the ball will bounce high, and you will be less likely to slip. On soft surfaces, the ball will not bounce as...
The golden rule for improvement in any sport is "practice, practice, practice," and soccer is no exception. Ball control is one of the essentials of good dribbling, and practicing with a smaller ball may help you to improve yo...
The game of soccer is governed primarily by rules from the Federacion Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA. One of those areas governed by FIFA is the quality of the ball used in competition. Air pressure of the socc...
Soccer balls have come a long way since the days of inflated pig's bladders covered in leather patches. The pigs bladders were eventually replaced with vulcanized rubber, but the same clunky leather patches remained. It wasn't ...
And it's a necessity at a high-stakes professional game, where a gifted athlete such as Brazilian star Marta needs to work with a ball that will bounce correctly in response to an artful touch of the foot. Air pressure is one o...
The team captain, who only rarely scores in international competition, gave the ball a wallop. The ball flew flat like an arrow to the goal for what many called the most impressive goal of the World Cup -- one that illustrated ...
The propulsion of a soccer ball depends on factors such as the point of contact and the ball's air pressure. Effective soccer players use a variety of techniques to send the ball where it needs to go, so experiment with hitting...
The Laws of the Game, supervised by FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, specify what to do if they do in fact get hit. Not all referees manage to follow these rules in the heat of the moment.
The steps to bending a shot are easily explained, but in action, they require a precise touch of the ball, combined with an acute feel for velocity as it relates to the power of the kick. This requires athletes to practice for ...
Learningto juke in soccer will allow you to maneuver past both defensive and offensive players, giving you a chance to place the ball where it needs to go. Juking the defensive line can leave the keeper wide open and tripping u...
A speeding soccer ball will curve if the resistance, or drag, it encounters as it moves through the air affects one side differently than the other. Soccer players exploit this effect by kicking the ball in ways that cause it t...
The players on each team compete to drive the ball across the goal line, without touching the ball with their hands and arms. Soccer players develop the skill and precision over time. Using different size balls is a key factor ...
Soccer players rely on consistent equipment and conditions in order to perform at their best. Because the soccer ball is the main piece of equipment in the game, there are several strict regulations and requirements regarding i...
Bending the ball is no easy feat. Many novice players find the task of curving a soccer ball in flight impossible. But despite the challenge, a skilled kicker can create a curving motion on a kicked ball, effectively bending th...
Having a confident and commanding goalkeeper can bring uniformity and self-assurance to the back four, defenders, and the rest of the team. A goalkeeper, although he doesn't score goals, can still win the game for their team wi...
In soccer, the ball is out of bounds when it completely crosses the border of the field of play. All that matters is the position of the ball, not the location of anybody playing the ball. Once the ball goes out of bounds, a ga...
Even amateur adult players can boom a soccer ball 50 yards or more down the field, from the goal area past the halfway line, and professional goalkeepers such as Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar can make the ball sail thre...
Most young soccer players enjoy practicing with a ball at their feet so, as a coach, you will likely have better results when kids are moving and touching the ball rather than standing around. If you can incorporate skill deve...
In soccer, the block tackle is a common method of taking the ball away from an offensive player. Other options, such as the sliding tackle, are harder to execute and may lead to a foul. But the block tackle allows you to presen...
In the U.K., a football is a regulation, pig-bladder rugby ball. And in Europe it is a FIFA-approved football sphere called a soccer ball in the U.S. Professional footballs come in many approved regulation sizes and shapes.
In the days before referees, soccer was a brutal game that was forbidden by kings and looked down on by others in society. As the game evolved, referees brought order to the sport by enforcing the rules. Referees are important ...
The hip is made up of stable ball-and-socket joints in which your thigh bones encounter your pelvis bones. Although it is stable, significant physical force, such as a high-impact collision, can lead to hip pain and injury. Bec...
Soccer balls have come a long way since the days of inflated pigs bladders wrapped in leather. Balls were originally sewn up with laces and were much heavier than balls of today. Charles Goodyear paved the way for the modern fo...
Since its modern-day inception, basketball has captured the attention of enthusiasts worldwide. It is played everywhere from Beijing to the plains in Africa and embraces those from all walks of life --- from the streets in Broo...
Soccer fans rise to their feet and cheer the loudest when the ball flies into the goal. A soccer team's ability to move the ball down the field is usually what makes this exhilarating moment possible. If you are a youth soccer ...
Soccer is much more than just a bunch of players running around and kicking a ball up and down a field. Many other elements are at play during the course of a game. Players must be skilled at controlling the ball with their fee...
The aim of football is to score more goals than the opposition. Typically the pros that play up front, as strikers, earn the most money and the greatest adulation because they win games by staying composed and scoring. Anticipa...
During the course of a typical game, players must run from one end of the field to the other, so endurance is also a key element of a good player. Whether you plan to play with a team or want to work out by yourself, exercising...
Nike soccer balls, which come in nearly four dozen models, range in price as of January 2011 from $10 for a basic practice ball to the high-end, hand-stitched Total90 at $150. The history of Nike soccer balls, made along with s...
In 1997, Brazilian midfielder Roberto Carlos carefully placed a soccer ball on the field for a free kick against France. He took a 5-yard running start, planted his right foot beside the ball and swung back his left. His follow...
The pass would seem to be a simple enough facet of soccer: Just kick the ball so that it gets to a teammate, rather than dribbling the ball to advance it. Within that basic act, though, coaches see subtle nuances that can impro...
More people are involved with soccer, as players or spectators, than any other sport, according to Sports Pundit. However, to ensure a fair match, soccer balls must conform to certain standards.
Basic kicking skills with a soccer ball range from ground kicks to developing your push pass. All of the basic kicking skills can be learned and improved upon by performing kicking drills that specifically pertain to each skill...
Although football is revered internationally as the No. 1 sport, the modern soccer game, along with its rules and regulations, originated in England, according to the Federation Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA.
The history of Scottish football goes back to the Middle Ages, although the actual beginnings of the game are lost in prehistory. Historian and diplomat J.J. Jusserand theorized that football came to Britain from France after t...
You might catch a flash of freestyling if you check video of a player such as Portugal international player Cristiano Ronaldo, who's been seen in warm-ups catching the ball on his neck and resting it there in what is called a "...
Each ball is constructed out of several layers, which include an outer cover, panels, inner-lining and bladder. The most expensive balls are made of synthetic materials that provide superior feel and softness. In addition to th...
Nike features 36 different soccer balls, as of 2010. Certain balls are categorized by collections, athletes and teams. The team ball series carries the insignia of select high-profile club teams, such as Manchester United, Bar...
Soccer goalies often face a daunting task. To do their job well, they have to be almost perfect at keeping the ball out of the back of the net. Soccer is a low-scoring game, with 1-0 and 2-1 scores common. Goalies need dependab...
You may find yourself wanting to learn to play soccer to share quality time with a significant other or your children, or you've decided to add the beautiful game to the team sports you enjoy. Or perhaps you look at soccer as a...
The ability to kick a ball in such a way that it curves is one of the most prized skills in soccer. The sight of that black and white ball arcing toward a goal net puts the beautiful in the beautiful game. International soccer ...
Catching a soccer ball on your neck is called a "stall," which simply refers to balancing the ball in place for an extended length of time. You can also perform foot stalls and knee stalls, usually as part of freestyle soccer t...
"I can't emphasize enough how important it is for serious players to start young," American soccer great Mia Hamm wrote in her biography, "Go for the Goal." By age 12, you'll want to have dribbling and other basic skills master...
Juggling a soccer ball is a great way to practice your soccer skills when you are by yourself, but it can take a long time to master this talent. Practicing your juggling skills helps to improve your touch on the ball and contr...
Ball control is not something that comes easy to many soccer players, as it takes years of experience to be fully comfortable with the ball at your feet. An impressive, albeit impractical, way to practice ball control is to bal...
Nothing will help your child’s soccer skills more than practicing with her own ball in the correct size and getting used to how the ball bounces around her foot, notes Deborah Crisfield in “The Everything Kids' Socc...
Brazilian soccer players are renowned for their excellent foot skills and ball control. Technical ability in possession is a strong point of the Brazilian game, and is accredited to the fact that children throughout Brazil play...
Curving a soccer ball is one of the essentials needed to become a productive soccer player. Curving a soccer ball can make a difficult shot nearly impossible for a goaltender to stop, can put a pass outside of a defender's reac...
Youth soccer players should practice soccer ball trapping regularly. Soccer ball trapping is the foundation of a player's ability in possession. A player who can settle a ball and pass or dribble will be very effective. Players...
Soccer requires speed, agility, strength, stamina and, most of all, ball-handling skills. A player's ball-handling ability can improve every time the player touches a soccer ball with purpose. It can be practiced alone or wit...
Using a soccer ball of the wrong size can hinder the game and have a negative impact on players' performance. In youth soccer in the United States, a regulation size 5 soccer ball is used for players aged over 12. A regulati...
Juggling a soccer ball is a good way for soccer players to develop technique and a feel for the ball. Soccer juggling can be a difficult skill, especially for young players. Beginners need patience and persistence. Consistent...
Punting is a technique used by the goalkeeper in soccer. If the offense tries to score and the keeper stops the ball, he can punt the ball to get it as far away from the goal as possible. A good punt is a way to prevent the off...
Charging is a broad term used to describe running onto an opponent or the ball in soccer. Depending on the situation, it can be a perfectly legal play or a foul that warrants a yellow card for the first offense, and a red card...
Settling the ball, also called trapping, is arguably the most important skill a soccer player can have. It's important to maintain control of the ball as you're receiving a pass or bringing the ball down from the air or you'll...
There are many different variations on the turn in soccer, but all try to accomplish the same thing. You use the turn in soccer to change the direction of the soccer ball to throw off the momentum of the defender. What varies ...
When slide tackling during a soccer game, your goal is to get the ball, not your opponent. If you have contact with your opponent before touching the ball, the referee will call a foul, likely a yellow or red card. When you're...
To move the ball around the field, you should pass it using the inside of your foot. For the most power and control, try to make contact with the ball right below your ankle's bony protrusion. Also, hit the ball directly at its...
A common misconception in passing the soccer ball is that a soft pass is better than a more forceful pass. This is just not true. First, a soft pass takes too long to get the target, which makes it harder to complete. Second, ...
In order to score in soccer, the ball often needs to be played into the 18-yard box. Occasionally, players can score from outside the 18-yard box, but those opportunities are rare and shouldn't be relied on. An effective scori...
Effectively trapping the ball is arguably the most important skill a soccer player can have. The term "trapping" refers to the first contact a player makes with the ball in an effort to control it. It's common to hear shouts ...
There have been concerns that heading the ball in soccer can lead to head injuries. This is not true, according to a Duke University Medical Center study that tracked soccer players in Atlantic Coast Conference college soccer ...
