Soccer Ball Laws   

For FIFA Futsal Ball Laws, click here

For NFHS Ball Rules, click here

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Laws of the Game

Law 2 - The Ball

Qualities and Measurements

The ball is:

• spherical
• Made of leather or other suitable material
• Of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cm (27 ins)
• not more than 450 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 410 g (14 oz) at the start of the match
• of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1100 g/cm 2 ) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in to 15.6 lbs/sq in)

Replacement of a Defective Ball

If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match:

• the match is stopped
• the match is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the place where the first ball became defective
• If the ball bursts or becomes defective whilst not in play at a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in the match is restarted accordingly

The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee.

Decision 1

In competition matches, only footballs which meet the minimum technical requirements stipulated in Law 2 are permitted for use.

In FIFA competition matches, and in competition matches organized under the auspices of the confederations, acceptance of a football for use is conditional upon the football bearing one of the following three designations:

• The official "FIFA APPROVED" logo, 
• Or the official "FIFA INSPECTED" logo, 
• Or the reference "INTERNATIONAL MATCH-BALL STANDARD"

Such a designation on a football indicates that it has been tested officially and found to be in compliance with specific technical requirements, different for each category and additional to the minimum specifications stipulated in Law 2. The list of the additional requirements specific to each of the respective categories must be approved by the International F.A. Board. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the approval of FIFA. National association competitions may require the use of balls bearing any one of these three designations.

In all other matches the ball used must satisfy the requirements of Law 2.

Decision 2

In FIFA competition matches and in competition matches organized under the auspices of the confederations and national associations, no kind of commercial advertising on the ball is permitted, except for the emblem of the competition, the competition organizer and the authorized trademark of the manufacturer. The competition regulations may restrict the size and number of such markings.

For additional information on Football or Soccer Ball Approvals, click here.

FIFA has the following Futsal International competition ball requirements:

The ball is: 

• Spherical 
• Made of leather or other suitable material
• Of a circumference of not less than 62 cm and not more than 64 cm 
• Not less than 400 grams nor more than 440 grams in weight at the start of the match 
• Of a pressure equal to 0.4-0.6 atmosphere (400-600g/cm²) at sea level

©2002 FIFA

For the latest laws and additional information on FIFA, you can visit their web site by clicking here.

NFHS , National Federation of State High School Associations Ball Rules

The ball is:

• spherical
• Made of leather or other suitable material that is weather resistant
• Of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cm (27 ins)
• not more than 453 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 396 g (14 oz) at the start of the match
• The ball shall be inflated to manufacturer's recommended pressure

For latest laws and additional information on NFHS, you can visit their web site by clicking here.

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