Things to Consider when shopping for the best indoor soccer balls
Indoor soccer is a very popular sport in the United States. Especially in northern states where the snow and cold don’t allow many kids to play outdoor soccer during the winter months.
There are several different forms of indoor soccer that allow soccer players in the cold-weather states to continue practicing and playing their favorite sport.
There is 6 v 6 or walled soccer. This indoor soccer game is played on a turf field with walls. There are no out-of-bounds marks unless the ball hits the ceiling. This sport can sometimes become dangerous as the walls can become weapons and kids or adults get crushed between players and the walls. However, the walls also provide a tool that allows the game to be played without stopping for a kick-in or throw-in. With the walls, there is nonstop action for 25 minutes each half.
Other forms of indoor soccer are also played on larger fields, such as 7 v 7 soccer games, 9 v 9 short-sided soccer games, and sometimes even full-sized 11 v 11 soccer fields indoors. These large indoor soccer arenas also play on artificial turf. The games are played just like a regular outdoor game, but indoors. Oh and sometimes the ball might hit the ceiling… it’s happened to us a few times.
But because the air weather and field are a little different from the outside elements, the ball may also be a little different. To learn more about indoor soccer balls, here are some valuable factors to consider when buying the perfect indoor ball. This will help you confirm that you get to buy the one that you really want.
Quality:
The quality of a product matters a ton! The quality of the ball tells you everything you need to know regarding the indoor soccer ball. Someone once said, “One cannot play ball, without a ball”. We all love a product that demonstrates extremely unique quality as compared to those that are low or inferior quality-wise. Top-quality products are those that we tend to think about as well worth the purchase because the quality can sometimes determine how long the product can last.
Durability:
You should think about the sturdiness of the fabric used to stitch the ball and additionally the kind of bladder that it uses. Whether or not the ball is hand sewed or machine sewed determines its durability on the standard of the ball. A hand sewed indoor soccer ball will generally have a stronger hold and durability.
Covering:
Indoor soccer balls of top quality mostly use synthetic leather, made of artificial animal skin, which gives the ball a soft and smooth touch. This allows the ball to feel good at the foot while other balls manufactured from polyurethane cover will have a “sticky” sort of feel.
However, indoor football balls or soccer balls that are made of a synthetic leather cover are frequently recommended due to their lightness and softness.
Stitching:
Some indoor soccer balls are hand sewed and many of them are machine-sewed as mentioned above. Before you get the best one you must inspect the indoor soccer product whether it’s been sewed by hand or by a machine. Those that are stitched through a machine will not last longer than those that are stitched by hands.
The reason for this is that the hand stitching allows the stitches to get deeper, while the machine allows for cheaper and quicker stitching, they do not go as deep into the soccer ball panels.
Bladder:
Different types of indoor balls consist of two different kinds of bladders as well. There are latex bladders and bladders made of butyl rubber. You must opt for the best one because of the bladder is possible. The bladder is very important as it carries and holds the air. You want a good ball bladder that does not deflate or lose air quickly. The bladder should offer a good, bouncy, and more responsive bounce while playing on and off the field.
Here is the trick, latex bladders have a better feel and are used for premium indoor soccer balls, while the butyl rubber bladder is better at holding the air. So if you want a great indoor football, choose a latex bladder, but pleased understand that you may have to pump it up more often.
Size and the Circumference:
Size 5 is the standard and official size of an indoor soccer ball and the circumference of the indoor soccer ball is 27 to 28 inches (69 to 71 cm), just like regular footballs. Do not confuse the indoor soccer ball with a futsal ball.
Although most of the regular indoor soccer balls are manufactured to be less bouncy, they are not futsal balls. You can’t get smaller sizes of indoor soccer balls, like a 4 or 3 because there are no “official” games for indoor youth soccer. Therefore the youth players just play regular outdoor balls.
Comparison Chart
Franklin Sports Futsal Ball – Low Bounce Futsal and Indoor Soccer Training Ball – Heavy Indoor + Outdoor Futsal Ball – Junior Size – Size 3
Mikasa SX50 Indoor Soccer Ball
If you prefer playing soccer and practicing your skills inside, then there’s no better ball for the job than this one from Mikasa, which features a fantastic, high-visibility design that helps you improve your foot-eye coordination. It is highly affordable, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
Mikasa’s SX50 indoor soccer ball is hand-stitched for the best possible performance and durability, so you’ll never have to worry about it becoming damaged or falling apart at the seams. It is covered in felt to make it gentler on your indoor walls.
We’re a big fan of the color of this ball – the bright yellow hue makes it highly visible in all conditions. We should mention that this ball does ship deflated, so you’re going to have to inflate it yourself once it arrives. That’s not a significant issue, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.
Main Features
- Hand-stitched
- Felt-covered
- Size
- Ships deflated
- High-visibility design and color
Spectrum Indoor Soccer Ball
Spectrum is one of the best manufacturers of indoor soccer balls in the world and their flagship soccer ball is a testament to this. This ball is highly affordable and comes in a high-visibility yellow hue that allows you to practice your coordination in all conditions.
The cover is made from a soft felt that is gentle on your indoor walls, ensuring that you never damage both your walls and the ball itself, no matter how hard you kick and drive the ball. It features a long-lasting butyl bladder on its interior that helps it maintain its shape and inflation level – say goodbye to constant reinflations.
The great thing about this Spectrum indoor soccer ball is that it is highly durable, so you can kick it as hard as you want without worrying about damaging it.
- High-visibility yellow
- Long-lasting butyl bladder
- Affordable
- Soft felt exterior
- Durable
Franklin Sports Futsal Ball
Franklin is a titan in the sports industry, producing some of the best sports equipment on the market. Their sports futsal ball is no exception and offers many useful features that make your indoor soccer practice sessions as enjoyable and effective as possible.
The ball is made using a soft, abrasion-resistant cover that offers excellent touch and feel. The colorful and dynamic graphics make this ball easy to see on all surfaces, no matter where you play with it. The wound and stuffed low-bounce bladder ensures that the ball is always low to the ground.
The great thing about this Franklin soccer ball is that you can order it in two bundles – the first is just the ball itself, which comes inflated, or you can order a whopping six deflated balls and receive an included pump.
Main Features
- Complete control
- High visibility
- Low bounce
- Suitable for indoors & outdoors
- Stylish design
Senda Rio Training Futsal Ball
The Senda Rio premium training ball is a low-bounce ball that is made with a strong cover that is designed for extended play on wooden floors and hard courts. It features a special foam backing that offers a softer touch, making the ball a little gentler on your feet during play.
Senda’s ball features a reinforced bladder that is made using synthetic materials and rubber for better air retention, decreased ambient air loss, and a reduced need for inflations. You won’t have to worry about reinflating this ball every few weeks.
The pre-stretched threads, along with superior materials, create seams that are stronger and more uniform and perform much better compared to other indoor soccer balls. We also really like the design of this soccer ball – incorporating all of the colors associated with Rio.
Main Features
- Low bounce
- Reinforced bladder
- Machine-stitching
- Stylish design
- Reduce ambient air loss
Rawxy Soccer Ball
Take your standard soccer ball training to the next level with the very best in the industry. The Rawxy junior soccer ball features a reinforced butyl rubber bladder that provides excellent air retention while also helping the ball maintain its shape for months and months.
This ball is made from high-quality, durable PU full-grain leather to avoid water absorption and excess weight. It also has a non-peeling outer skin that is designed to resist abrasion and slipping so that you can have total control over the Rawxy ball while also not having to worry about it becoming damaged over time.
Overall, this is one of the best indoor soccer balls on the market, thanks to its TPE foam in the second layer, which offers an excellent balance of bounce and contact quality.
Main Features
- Industry-standard
- Unique design
- Durable construction
- Safe materials
- High air retention
Conclusion:
So you want to buy an indoor soccer ball that can be used on a regular basis for practice indoors, but would stay solid and well-constructed after a rough and tough game with your buddies? Do you want the ball to stay the way it was before you purchased it? Do you want to avoid pumping it up every time before being used?
Then you want to go with a strong indoor ball with a good cover and depending on your needs, either butyl or latex bladder. Above are a few that would be great additions to your soccer ball collection.
Hope this indoor ball shopping guide can assist you to shop for the foremost appropriate one at intervals your budget.