Match Soccer Balls
The official match soccer balls differ slightly from other types of balls, used for training or simple entertainment. Of course, everybody can buy the official match balls, but they tend to get a little expensive, because of the great investment in quality and details the companies made when creating them.
And nobody could blame them, because, since 1960, they managed to improve soccer balls so much, that they practically transformed the game. If in the beginning the balls were not waterproof and they almost “killed” the matches when it rained, nowadays the balls have no risk of getting heavier, because water doesn’t “creep” inside the rubber bladder area.
The first attempt to make a waterproof soccer ball was made in 1982, for the World Cup, which took place in Spain. The ball was named “Tango Espana”, and it had rubber inlaid over the seams to prevent water from seeping through. However, those rubber strips were not very resistant to shock, and the ball went “defective” after 45 minutes of play and needed to be changed.
But this problem was solved with the creation of the first polyurethane coated ball for the World Cup in Mexico, four years later. This was truly waterproof, so the players didn’t have any problem if it rained during the game, not anymore.
After solving the waterproofing issue, the big companies decided to focus on other aspects. That’s how the modern soccer balls are smoother, faster, providing better grip for the goalkeepers, and, with their new designs, they make it for players easier to determine the spin of the ball.
Match soccer balls have evolved from technique to pure art, and they are one of the many reasons why we love this sport.