What are the soccer ball quality classifications?

There are three official markings awarded to soccer balls that manage to pass the rigorous testing criteria that FIFA devised for quality evaluation.

You have the following accreditations:

• FIFA Quality Approved;
• FIFA Quality Inspected; and
• International Match Standard

Manufacturers are required to submit a total of 7 soccer balls if they are applying to receive “FIFA Inspected” status, whilst they would need to submit 10 samples if they wanted the much more coveted “FIFA Approved” logo printed on their soccer balls.

On the other hand, the “International Match Standard” qualification is less demanding than the former two.

Once a soccer ball completes FIFA’s testing procedures and passes the checks successfully, it is awarded a mark of quality based on how well it performed within the period of testing.

For example, a soccer ball that has a “FIFA Approved” badge on it would have had to experience a loss in air pressure of up to 20% during the testing process, whereas the acceptable pressure loss for a “FIFA Inspected” is as much as 25%.

Here’s a video which clears up the whole topic of FIFA’s Quality Programme:

Now that you’re aware of the targets that each soccer ball needs to obtain, let’s look at exactly which areas of performance they’re examined on.

What elements of the soccer ball are tested?

1. Circumference

In the preliminary test, the first three soccer balls will be conditioned for a 24-hour time period, after which they will be inflated to a specific pressure level.

At that point, the inspector will take measurements of the diameter for each ball at 10 defined points and see whether the figures line up with officially accepted standards.

For the “FIFA Approved” benchmark, this should be between 68.5 centimetres and 69.5 centimetres, whilst “FIFA Inspected” only calls for a circumference of between 68 and 70 centimetres for a size 5 soccer ball.

Why this measurement is important is because of the fact that a soccer ball with a consistent circumference allows players to achieve optimal control  when taking touches and performing actions like dribbling.

2. Sphericity

Next up we have sphericity.

In simpler terms, what we’re looking at here is the permanent roundness of the soccer ball.

Time and time again I’ve talked about the importance of soccer balls being round in shape, but it doesn’t hurt to mention the benefits once again.

A soccer ball that is perfectly round gives a player the best platform to perform to their talent ceiling.

Because soccer is a form of entertainment, FIFA will want spectators to delight and marvel at the beauty of the sport.

That can only happen if soccer balls exhibit a balanced and predictable flight pattern when in the air.

It wouldn’t be a pretty sight to see a player attempt to curve a soccer ball, only for it to move a few inches because of having a poorly rounded figure!

So, at this stage the diameter of the soccer ball is measured after it has been inflated to a pressure level of 1 bar.

The quantification of diameter then takes place at the middle of 16 panels, and subsequent to that an average is calculated.

Here, the difference between the lowest and highest diameter figures must not exceed 1.5% for the “FIFA Approved” label, although a greater leeway of 2% is given for the “FIFA Inspected” standard.

3. Rebound ability

Thirdly, we have the examination which covers a soccer ball’s rebound capability.

Players have to be able to anticipate the direction of a ball, especially when it bounces off of a grass or synthetic turf surface.

It would be detrimental to the game if soccer balls bounced in an unpredictable manner, as participants will end up confused and start second-guessing their own movements on the pitch.

So, with this test, a soccer ball is dropped 10 times from a height of 2 metres onto a steel plate.

Using a video camera, the distance covered when the ball rebounds off of the surface can be recorded using the rebound height of the underside (lower side) of the ball as the reference point.

For quality standards, the different between the highest and lowest bounce should be more than 10 centimeters apart.

More so, the height of all bounces must settle between 120 and 165 centimetres for a “FIFA Approved” standard, or between 115 and 165 centimetres for a “FIFA Inspected” quality award.

4. Water absorption

A soccer ball that is wet exhibits pretty different behaviour from one that has been kept in a dry state.

If you’ve played soccer in the rain before, you may have noted that wet soccer balls tend to:

• move through the air a lot more slowly;
• have a lower rebound height when bouncing off of the ground
• be more difficult to curve and hit with power

This is where the water absorption test comes in, as it ensures that soccer balls don’t get too heavy when they take up moisture.

Now, this test is actually a pretty straightforward one.

Here, one is submerged in a vessel as it is pressed and rotated around numerous times.

Once that task has been completed, the ball is then removed from the water before being wiped down and re-weighed.

The weight increase is expressed – in percentage terms – by comparison to the original weight of the ball before it was drowned in, because this is how the testers arrive at how much water was absorbed.

In order to meet the “FIFA Approved” standard, an increase in weight of no more than 10% is required, whilst the threshold for “FIFA Inspected” sits at a 15% weight increase.

5. Weight

The heaviness or lightness of a soccer ball becomes important when the aspect of consistent playing response comes to the fore.

If it is either too light or too heavy, then you can expect it to move with less predictability, especially whilst it’s in flight.

So, as part of the testing process here, the sample balls are inflated and weighted in standard atmosphere using a wind protected electronic balance, that helps prevent any inaccuracies from affecting the results of the data being collected.

“FIFA Approved” weights rest between 420 and 445 grams, whilst figures need to be between 410 and 450 grams for the “FIFA Inspected” mark.

6. Loss of pressure

The sixth test is all about soccer balls losing air.

A playing experience can be negatively affected if a soccer ball loses air pressure relatively quickly, with elements of the game becoming unpredictable and inconsistent as a result of this.

For instance, it would be much more difficult for participants to make long passes and deep crosses with a soccer ball that lacks sufficient air quantity.

The ball is likely to fail at reaching its intended target, partly because it just won’t travel through the air fast enough or high enough.

As part of this test, a soccer ball is inflated to a defined pressure level and left to rest for 3 days.

After that period has elapsed, an inspector will take its air pressure measurement to calculate the percentage of air lost throughout that time.

For a “FIFA Approved” standard, a maximum of 20% loss in pressure is allowed, whereas the “FIFA Inspected” level allows for a maximum of 25%.

7. Shape and size retention

The final test is only carried out on “FIFA Approved” soccer balls.

The premise behind this one is that a soccer ball should be in the same performance state at the end of the game as it was in at the beginning.

As the average match involves approximately 2000 kicks of a soccer ball, a test is made to simulate such an environment to find out whether the ball in question can hold up to the rigours of a competitive match.

Once the soccer balls are inflated to a specified pressure level, they are accelerated by two rotating cylinders which spin the balls at a certain velocity.

During this process, the soccer balls hit a steel frame continuously at speed and angles that are consistent.

After 2000 “hits” the cylinders are stopped from spinning the balls and then any increases in circumference or differences in overall sphericity are measured.

To pass this test, soccer balls must also come out unscathed with valve openings that don’t show any signs of damage and stitching that is still intact.

Additionally, here are the precise metric qualifiers:

• Increase in circumference – maximum of 1.5 centimetres allowed
• Roundness deviation – maximum of 1.5% allowed
• Change of pressure – maximum decrease of 0.1 bar allowed