When I first took the lead on PE in school, I was so naive when it came to sports equipment. Who knew there were so many variations in everything? Footballs are a good example of this. They come in so many different sizes, materials and construction so it can be quite overwhelming when picking the right one. After all, a ball is not just a ball.

This article will simplify the process and help you find the right footballs for you and your children.

What size do I need?

First things first, you have to get the right ball for the people using them. The FA have clear guidelines on this as the size of the ball has a big impact on children’s ability to develop the technical aspects of their game. A smaller ball at an earlier age helps with this but when the children get older the ball size should increase with them, although practicing with a smaller ball can aid the development of close control.

  • 0-3 – Size 1 or Mini footballs
  • 3- 6  – Size 2 or Midi footballs

The FA recommends the following ball sizes according to the various age groups:

  • 6 – 9 – Size 3 balls
  • 9 – 14 – Size 4 balls
  • 14 and older  – Size 5 balls

What material do I need?

The next thing to consider is what the footballs should be made of. This very much depends on what you are going to be using it for and where.

We have a wide range of footballs and football accessories to make your decision easier. Visit our football products pages to see which balls would be perfect for your school: www.consortiumeducation.com/education/sports-and-games/football/

Visit our Sports Hub to see what else we can offer:
www.consortiumeducation.com/sportshub