A soccer ball is used to play various games which fall under the broad category of soccer, also known as football. The shape of the ball differs slightly from one game to another. For example, a spherical ball is used in soccer and Gaelic football. An oval shaped ball with rounded ends is used in rugby and also in the Australian versions of soccer. An oval shaped ball with more pointed ends is used in Canadian and US football.
The shape, dimensions, sizes and weights of all versions of the ball are typically specified by rules and regulations. The standard spherical soccer ball is filled with air at a pressure of between 8 to 12 psi (pounds per square inch) and is no heavier than 450 grams. It has a circumference of around 27 or 28 inches (68 to 70 cm) and is known as a Size 5.
The ball is usually covered with waterproof leather, plastic or a similar material and has 12 pentagon and 20 hexagon panels stitched together. Previous versions of the soccer ball had only 18 panels which were oblong in shape and looked a bit like a volleyball. These older versions had internal air bladders that were filled with air. They resembled Gaelic footballs and are still used in some parts of the world. The newer 32-panel design was first used in Denmark in the 1950s. This design became popular in the 1960s throughout Continental Europe and in 1970 was adopted as the official soccer ball of the football World Cup.
In the United States and Canada, pig hide was often used to cover the soccer ball, leading to the ball often being referred to as “pigskin” when it is used to play American football. In indoor football, plastic balls are often used.
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