Best Kids Soccer Ball

What is the best kids soccer ball out there? I get this question several times every year from parents who are wondering which soccer ball will help their player the most. What if we told you that the best kids soccer ball is …… the one that the young player likes the most.. to an extent unless they are over 13 years old.

Depending on the age of your child, the kid’s soccer ball size, performance, color, condition, and/or cost won’t matter much at all. Let’s say that from toddler to about 12 or 13 years old, the best kids’ soccer ball to purchase will have very little to no impact on your child’s soccer player development. Let me explain.

As young kids develop into soccer players, they need something that resembles a ball so that they can begin to manipulate it with their feet. They don’t need a high-cost soccer ball with the best performance because they won’t be playing in the Premier League anytime soon.

What the young soccer player needs is a simple soccer ball that is small enough for the kids to control. Some players will even use a tennis ball like a soccer ball because they are improving their development. The focus is on the development of techniques, this is why the kid’s soccer ball performance doesn’t matter much or at all at this young age.

Some players around the world grow up playing with different balls. Some players are so poor that they make their own ball out of rags. Some kids use a soccer ball with a hyde cover because of the terrain where they train and play. Check out this ball that is used in the desert areas of Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. This kids soccer ball is constructed with a patented Mikasa Hyde cover and nylon wound that helps performance on the hard surface of Arizona and Northern Mexico where grass grows very little.

The best kid’s soccer ball is the one that the young soccer player loves. Once the player falls in love with the ball, he/she will begin to play more often. That’s how the kids will improve their game, by playing more often. So, this should be a relief to any parent, don’t spend too much time wondering if your kids have the best soccer ball. Instead, help your kids identify a ball that they love and will play with. That ball will be the best soccer ball for your kid. The cost, performance, bounce, color, or look should only be used for older players.

Once the young soccer player has developed, can control the soccer ball, and knows how to shoot and pass, then you can focus on the performance of the kid’s soccer ball. This is when the cost and size will start to matter. By age 13 the kids will need a size 5 soccer ball, inflated correctly with the correct PSI, and with a true bounce. This will allow the kids to practice soccer-specific specialty kicks, dribbles, shots, passes, and even headers.

The 13-year-old will begin playing with a size 5 soccer ball for the rest of their life. They should start getting used to playing with a good soccer ball. At this point, the best soccer ball will depend on the level of play your son or daughter wants to or aspire to play at. If your young soccer player plays at a high level, an investment in a premium soccer ball is a good idea, however not necessary.

Keep in mind however that most of the high-level soccer leagues will also be playing with very good high-level soccer balls which will have a true bounce, correctly inflated, and designed for high performance.

So what exactly does a “premium soccer ball” do and what should you look for when purchasing a premium soccer ball?

Franklin Sports Soccer Balls – Size 3, Size 4, Size 5 Traditional Soccer Balls

Get started with backyard games using the Franklin Sports Soccer Balls – Traditional Soccer Balls! This ball is designed with a high-gloss PVC cover that offers shock absorption and abrasion resistance to help it maintain its shape. In addition, the inner bladder guarantees top-notch air retention.

The ball has a soft cover with foam cushioning, providing a gentle, reactive feel that reduces the sting of ferocious headers. In addition, the all-weather PVC covering of the ball ensures that it is water-resistant, which guarantees that the game need not be interrupted even by the harshest weather conditions.

The official sizes of this ball are sizes three, four, and five, with accurate stitching and true sizing to ensure that the ball may be used at varying experience levels for skill building and training.

It is also durable as it is made from superior quality air retention bladders that guarantee your ball will not be affected by any deflation or leaks. Additionally, it comes ready for play with its fully pumped shipping. Therefore, you can start playing as soon as you receive it.

PP PICADOR Kids Soccer Ball

Do away with electronic gifts and present your kids with a lovely cartoon soccer ball instead like this PP Picador Kids Soccer Ball Cute Cartoon Toddler Ball. It is an excellent alternative to conventional gifts for kids and will encourage them to go play outdoors. Additionally, it is an ideal means of shedding off all your kid’s excess energy. Your children will feel great and it will distract them from using electronics.

If you wish to have more time with your kids, this soccer ball is among the best tools to do so. It lets you bond with your kids and encourages awareness in soccer and sports in general. What’s more, the Picador soccer ball is amazing for both boys and girls.

Its aesthetic and brightly-colored animal design enhances your kids’ interest in sports at a tender age. You also are spared from mediocre materials with this soccer ball for kids; it is made from long-lasting TPU and designed to withstand abrasion for a longer lifespan. Additionally, the premium materials are completely toxin-free. What’s more, the rubber is 100% eco-friendly.

The dimensions of this soccer ball are 5.5 – 6.0 inches in diameter for size 1. The interior rubber bladder ensures unrivaled air retention to maintain the soccer ball’s shape and ensures extended inflation duration. In addition, its machine-stitched design and interior nylon facilitate long-lasting performance and optimum durability.

Hedstrom Paw Patrol Jr. Soccer Ball, 7 Inch

Thanks to the lightweight and soft feel of the Hedstrom Paw Patrol Jr. Soccer Ball, your kids can now train their fundamental soccer moves to assist in strengthening their confidence.

It is sufficiently soft to be played indoors, though still durable enough for playing outdoors. This 7-inch soccer ball makes it easy for your kids to throw and kick.

It features colorful and fun graphics that children will appreciate, including some of their favorite characters. Unfortunately, it ships deflated. However, you can easily inflate it yourself using a hand pump.

You have the option of either throwing, kicking, or dribbling this Paw Patrol Jr. Soccer ball, and your family will certainly have fun for hours on end. However, the most interesting aspect of this ball is that it features some adored Paw Patrol characters.

Adidas Starlancer V Club Soccer Ball

Derive inspiration from your favorite soccer star with the Adidas Starlancer V Club Soccer Ball. This ball is perfect for casual football games or training. It has a machine-stitched TPU exterior for enhanced durability. In addition, the interior butyl bladder of the ball offers improved air retention to get you to and from practice faster without having to pump it.

Thanks to its colorful graphics, it is easy to track the ball mid-air or on your deck. So, sharpen your footballing skills and aim for the stars as you train using the Adidas Starlancer V Club Soccer Ball.

This specific soccer ball has the conventional pentagon-panel structure with alternating hexagons, allowing you to start understanding foot placement on the soccer ball. Its cover features contemporary graphics to make playing with the ball more attractive and engaging. The shape of the ball is well-maintained during play and practice, allowing beginners to kick off their development process.

American Challenge Brasilia Soccer Ball

The American Challenge Brasilia Soccer Ball is machine-stitched, which is a surprise, provided its affordability and availability in every size between 1 and 5.

You can pick from an array of five colors, including yellow, which is suitable for night playing. The red variety can serve you perfectly over winter, as the color has been used since long ago on snow-covered football fields.

The exterior covering is rather soft, though not sufficiently soft for penalty kick practice without cleats on. Primarily due to this reason, the balls seem to be most ideal for beach soccer matches, though they are not employed in such play.

The American Challenge Brasilia Soccer Ball can retain its shape and air for up to four weeks (these approximations are made with significant playtime in mind). In addition, the wide collection of colors for different seasons and day times, together with the varying sizes, make it convenient for all age groups. The ball is thus desirable and versatile.

The Soccer Ball Cover

The Polyurethane soccer ball cover:

A synthetic material called Polyurethane (PU) is used to cover the bladder of a soccer ball. Adidas did away with the leather back in 1994. I remember playing with those balls, they hurt when you go up for a header. There is good news though, since the soccer ball cover was changed to PU, the performance of the ball improved. It’s mostly due to water absorption of the soccer ball cover, there is less. Plus the ball is bouncier and you can kick it longer without braking your ankle. Anyway, look for a PU Soccer ball cover when purchasing a kids soccer ball.

PVC or Plastic soccer ball cover:

These are mostly for younger kids soccer balls, but be careful. As stated earlier, if your soccer player is under 12, this probably won’t matter much, but no premium soccer ball will be made of PVC or Plastic. These are typically less expensive soccer balls so you should be able to tell the difference. Read more on the Size 3 Soccer Match ball for kids article.

Soccer Ball Bladder

The premium soccer ball will hopefully have a latex bladder. This is the standard for a quality soccer ball. The latex ball bladder helps the ball feel softer and it keeps its shape better. A premium soccer ball with a latex bladder feels like magic on your feet. Gives the kids soccer ball a true bounce, soft touch, and you feel like you can kick the soccer ball a mile!

The Butyl bladder in a soccer ball does almost the opposite. The Butyl bladder makes the ball feel harder and heavier. So why would anyone manufacture this ball…? Well because it is less expensive and retains the air a little longer. These balls are still great for training if you can’t afford a higher-priced soccer ball. But if you are looking for a premium soccer ball, look for the latex soccer ball bladder.

Soccer Ball Manufacturers

The soccer ball manufacturer of your kid’s soccer ball probably won’t matter much since most of the big soccer ball companies do a great job. There are three giants in sports equipment and specifically kids soccer balls, Nike, Puma, and Adidas.

There are other strong players in the kid’s soccer ball industry like Mitre, Brine, Wilson, Mikasa, Under Armour, and Select. Nike and Adidas own the majority of the market. Brine and Wilson have a strong presence in High School Soccer. While Mitre is making a comeback recently with great quality soccer balls and futsal balls. Under Armour is fairly new, but also has a pretty strong presence and probably growing in the kid’s soccer ball market.

At this point, you will find very high premium match balls with Select, Brine, Wilson, Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Voit is the current official soccer ball manufacturer of the Liga MX in Mexico. They are also making a small comeback.

What does “FIFA Approved” really mean?

FIFA Approved and FIFA Inspected are both good things to look for in a kid’s premium soccer ball. FIFA has these two standards which basically test that they put the balls through to inspect their quality.

The 6 step test to receive FIFA INSPECTED LOGO:

1. Circumference – must be consistent
2. Roundness – must get a true bounce
3. Rebound – must bounce consistently.
4. Weight – should fit into specified weight category depending on size
5. Water absorption – this test turns and squeezes the ball in a tank of water 250 times. Absorbed water cannot add 15% to the initial weight of the ball.
6. Loss of pressure – must retain pressure for a 72-hour period.
7. The 7th test or step for a FIFA Aproved ball is a Shape and Size retention test. The FIFA Approved ball must also pass the 6 tests mentioned above, but at a higher more stringent level of course. The FIFA approved soccer ball must retain the shape and size for a longer period.

Conclusion:

To ensure you are buying a premium soccer ball, make sure you find the FIFA Approved logo or statement on the soccer ball. This will ensure that you are purchasing a true premium soccer ball.

To buy the best soccer ball for your kids, go to Amazon.com and use the keywords mentioned above. If you want a premium soccer ball, you will find it here (I did the work for you just click on the links). But remember that it’s not necessary to buy a premium match soccer ball for a young child.

If you want a soccer ball for kids under 12, your best option is probably to head out to your local supermarket or at Amazon and just buy a regular soccer ball. You can use the keywords we use above to look for the best one that will fit your needs depending on the soccer ball size and quality you are looking for.