What Materials Are Used to Make a Soccer Ball?

You might assume all soccer balls are the same, but there are several types made of various materials. The Soccer Ball World website identifies professional match soccer balls, practice balls, indoor balls and futsal balls. Each is constructed differently.

  1. Professional Balls

    • Professional soccer balls must be approval by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). To earn approval, these balls must have four main parts: cover, lining, stitching and bladder. The cover of a professional ball usually has 32 panels and is made of synthetic leather. Full-grain leather was used in the past, but it absorbed water, making the ball too heavy. According to Soccer Ball World, the synthetic leather is made of polyurethane or some other high-grade synthetic material. High-quality balls are stitched, rather than glued or molded, and stitching is performed by hand. Several layers of polyester or cotton lining are placed between the cover and bladder. The bladder may be made from latex or butyl, and its function is to hold the air of the ball. The air valve is made of butyl or silicone, which retains air best and for the longest amount of time. This ball performs consistently on all natural and artificial surfaces and in all climates, according to Soccer Ball World.

    Practice Ball

    • Recreational balls are constructed in the same fashion as professional balls, but are made of cheaper materials. Synthetic leather that is durable but of lower quaility typically is used for the outer cover. The panels are glued, molded or machine-stitched, rather than hand-stitched. This outer cover and its construction are meant to withstand abrasive or uneven surfaces such as asphalt.

    Indoor Balls

    • The cover of an indoor soccer ball is made of felt or a similar material, rather than from synthetic leather. Soccer Ball World compares the feel of an indoor ball to that of a tennis ball. The texture is meant to make the flow of play on a gym floor consistent with that of outdoor balls on grass or articifical turf.

    Futsal Balls

    • Futsal soccer balls are used on hard surfaces. Unlike other balls, the bladder of a futsal ball is filled with foam. An indoor or outdoor ball may be uncontrollable on the hard, smooth surface on which futsal is played. By filling the bladder with foam, the ball is heavier and bounces less.