Properly Inflate your Soccer Ball

It is a sad moment when the referee arrives at a game only to find that the coach has allowed the teams' soccer balls to half-deflate since week 1.  Players are kicking with full power, but the ball just does not respond like it does when it has proper pressure.

Fortunately, referees are carrying pumps as part of their standard equipment, and the tools, skills, and good sense to keep a soccer ball lively and tight are all not hard to come by.

Anyone who owns a soccer ball can keep it responsive to every touch.  The video below along with some information in this article, illustrates how to properly inflate your soccer ball.  Players, coaches, referees, and parents can serve the game with a quick thought to the ball before it gets sent out.

Two Ball Pumps and Air Gauge

 Ways of telling if a soccer ball has enough air pressure...

Bounce test--watch for lively bounce, listen for a solid bounce sound

Squeeze test--Grip the ball between both hands and put pressure on a spot with both thumbs

Kick Test--Juggle the ball to test for feel and sound

Gauge--Use air Gauge to gauge the air pressure

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Soccer Ball Repair

Who hasn't popped a soccer ball?  When I was growing up, there was a tree with thorns in my front yard, and I lost about a ball every few months.  Today I pack bags of balls into the back of my van to head to the field, and ocassionally one is sticking out--POP! goes the ball.

To repair a ball that leaks, use contact cement.

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Read about How to Care for your Soccer Shoes Here:

http://howtosoccerblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/clean-oil-and-store-soccer-boots.html

   

Read About Soccer Player Nutrition Here:

http://howtosoccerblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/nutrition-proper-for-athletes.html