In Rio de Janeiro, a presentation of a new soccer ball was held, intended for the 2014 World Cup, matches of which will be held in Brazil from June 12 to July 13 next year. The ball, developed by adidas, is called Brazuca. This Brazilian word has a dual meaning: it is used both to identify Brazilian-born people living abroad and as an expression of national pride. Inspired by the presentation of the Brazuki, we decided to remember all the official balls of the World Championships.
Uruguay, 1930 Tiento, T-Model
In the final of the first ever FIFA World Cup in Uruguay, due to disagreements between the teams participating in the match, the organizers had to allow them to use two different balls in the game. In the first half, the teams played with a ball called "Tiento", provided by the Argentine side. By the end of the first half, the Argentine team and their team were leading 2:1. However, after the break the situation changed dramatically. The Uruguayans introduced their ball (“T-Model”) into the game, which was larger and heavier, and achieved a strong-willed victory with a score of 4:2.
Italy, 1934 Federale 102
The official ball of the 1934 World Cup in Italy, called "Federale 102", was made by a Roman company called ECAS ("Ente Centrale Approvvigionamenti Sportivi"). ECAS, one of the many fascist organizations of the time, was a subordinate company of the championship organizing committee. In addition to the Federale, two other balls were used in the competition. At the beginning of the 20th century, most footballs were produced by Great Britain, which exported them to other countries where the sport was gaining popularity. Advertising campaign, dedicated to the new ball, convinced Italian athletes to use national equipment instead of imported ones. The Federale was made up of 13 polygons that were tightly sewn together by hand. Majority classic models The ball consisted of 12 parts, like those used at the previous world championship. An innovative feature of this ball was the presence of a separate panel with cotton lacing, which replaced the leather one. The previous version of lacing caused a lot of inconvenience for football players and often caused injuries - which is why in many old photographs football players can be seen wearing protective headgear or headbands.
France, 1938 Allen
The practice of producing official balls by the country hosting the World Cup was continued by France in 1938. The French company Allen produced a ball of the same name for the national Cup and international competitions in the 1920s. The same model was used at the World Championships. Before the start of each match, the company placed a branded ball in the center of the field for photographs. This was one of the first examples of equipment advertising in the history of sports. However, the branded balls themselves were not subsequently used in the game. The Allen itself was similar in design to the Federale 102, but the edges of the ball panels were rounded and the design of the projectile looked different. The lacing was also located on a separate panel and was white, but in the game, of course, it instantly turned brown. The ball was handmade and inflated to perfection. If the production technique was not followed, the projectile was deformed, which affected the flight path of the ball.
Brazil, 1950. Duplo T
The new World Cup ball in Brazil was radically different from its predecessors in that the lacing disappeared from the leather surface forever. Now the balls could be inflated using a pump and a needle through an almost invisible valve. The inflation procedure also took much less time than before. The Argentine company Tossolini – Valbonesi-Polo & Cia patented such balls back in the 1930s, and the balls were initially used in the Argentine championship. But in 1950, the balls finally had their time, and the official projectile was called the “Duplo T Superball.” Like its predecessors, the ball was made of leather, made by hand and consisted of 12 panels, but they themselves were more curved. At the Brazilian World Cup, FIFA for the first time allowed the company logo and text to be printed on the ball - as an exception. At the next four championships such freedom was not allowed.
Switzerland, 1954 Swiss World Champion
Since 1954, FIFA began to officially regulate the size, weight and diameter of balls. The orange Swiss World Champion ball, made by Basel-based Kost Sport, was the first ball to feature 18 panels. Balls with the name and logos printed on them were used during training, and in matches, football players played with similar balls without branding.
Sweden, 1958 Top Star
The official ball of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden was chosen blindly among 102 applicants by FIFA representatives, which included Soviet football player Valentin Granatkin. The Top Star ball, manufactured by the Swedish company Sydsvenska Läder-och Remfabriken, consisted of 24 panels and was presented in three colors– brown, orange and white, without branding. Each of the national teams that took part in the World Championship received 30 balls at their disposal.
Chile, 1962 Crack Top Star
Not everyone liked the “Crack” ball from the Chilean manufacturer Señor Custodio Zamora. The 18-panel orange shell did not make much of an impression on opening match referee Ken Aston, and the referee sent the organizers to fetch the European ball, which arrived at the second half. Different balls were used in different World Cup matches in Chile because it was rumored that European teams did not trust local balls.
England. 1966 Challenge 4-star
The 25-panel Challenge 4-star ball from the British company Slesinger was produced for the 1966 World Cup in two versions - yellow and orange color. This manufacturer has since changed the direction of production and now specializes in the manufacture of equipment for cricket, tennis and hockey. The Slesinger balls were sewn by hand. This projectile, as before, was selected blindly by FIFA representatives at the FA headquarters in Soho. In official matches there was no branding on the balls.
Mexico, 1970 Telstar
For the first time at the World Cup they played with an adidas ball in 1970. It was made of leather and had the shape of a truncated icosahedron consisting of 12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons. The name of the Telstar ball was derived from the corresponding name of the American artificial satellite Earth, launched into orbit in 1962. In addition, the ball was nicknamed the Star of Television, as the design of the ball was well suited for black and white TV. The World Cup in Mexico was the first World Cup to have matches broadcast live on television. Only 20 Telstar balls were made available for the 1970 World Cup, but some 600,000 replicas were subsequently sold.
Commemorative photo. Legendary Brazilian footballer Pele beats Italian defender Tarcisio Burnjić in the World Cup final. That match took place on June 21, 1970 in Mexico City and ended in a victory for the Brazilians with a large score of 4:1.
Germany, 1974 Telstar Durlast
At the 1974 World Championships in Germany, the Telstar Durlast ball was used. The material and manufacturing technique were identical to those used to create the Telstar - 1970.
Commemorative photo. Dutchman Johan Cruyff beat Argentine goalkeeper Daniel Carnevali before hitting the opponent's goal. The quarter-final match between the Netherlands and Argentina, held on June 26, 1974 in Gelsenkirchen. That meeting ended in a victory for the Dutch with a score of 4:0, and Cruyff managed to score a double.
Argentina, 1978 Tango
For the 1978 World Cup, the Tango ball was created, which, as conceived by the authors, should reflect elegance, dynamism and passion. The design used 20 triads, creating the optical impression of 12 identical circles. One of the advantages of Tango compared to other balls was considered to be improved weather resistance.
Commemorative photo. Argentinean Mario Kempes, who has just hit the opponent's goal, and his compatriot Daniel Bertoni rejoice amid the disappointed Dutch defenders. The decisive match of the World Cup Argentina - the Netherlands, held on June 25 in Buenos Aires. The Argentine players won with a score of 3:1. The main time of the match ended in a draw - 1:1. In extra time, in the 105th minute, Kempes put the Argentina team ahead by scoring a double (episode in the photo). 10 minutes after this, Bertoni will set the final score of the match.
Spain, 1982 Tango España
Tango España for the 1982 World Cup in Spain was the first ball made from a mixture of genuine leather and synthetic materials. The ball had a special polyurethane coating as a water-repellent element.
Commemorative photo. Brazilian midfielder Zico and Italian defender Claudio Gentile during the match Italy - Brazil. The game took place on July 5 in Barcelona and ended with a victory for the Italians with a score of 3:2.
Mexico, 1986 Azteca
Azteca is the first ball made entirely of synthetic material. The triads used in the ball's design were depicted like Aztec frescoes.
Commemorative photo. The famous “Hand of God” performed by Diego Maradona in the quarter-final match between Argentina and England. The game took place on June 22 in Mexico City and ended with the victory of the Argentine football players with a score of 2:1. Maradona scored the double.
Italy, 1990 Etrusco
The name and design of the ball were invented in honor of the history of ancient Italy and visual arts Etruscans. Three Etruscan lion heads adorned each of the 20 triads used in the ball's design. Compared to its predecessors, the Etrusco had improved qualities of waterproofness, abrasion resistance and rebound.
Commemorative photo. English midfielder Paul Gascoigne and Dutch midfielder Ruud Gullit fight for the ball in the England - Netherlands match. The game took place on June 16 in Cagliari and ended in a goalless draw.
USA, 1994 Questra
The name of the Questra ball comes from an ancient word meaning the quest of the stars. for the stars). The goal of the authors was to create a lighter and more responsive ball, which they succeeded in full. The triads used in the Questra design reflect the outlines of stars. The ball was developed in France and underwent rigorous testing in both Europe and the USA before its first official use.
Commemorative photo. Russian national team striker Oleg Salenko scores his fifth goal in the match against Cameroon. The game took place on June 28 and ended in victory for the Russians with a crushing score of 6:1.
France, 1998 Tricolore
Tricolore became the first colored ball at the world championships. When creating the ball, syntactic foam was used, which is also responsible for the equal distribution of energy upon impact. For the first time since 1970, a World Cup ball was not made in Europe: the Tricolore was created in Morocco.
Commemorative photo. French national team midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Brazil national team defender Roberto Carlos in the decisive match of the World Cup. The Brazil-France game took place on July 12 and ended with the victory of the French players with a score of 3:0, while Zidane scored a double.
Japan and South Korea, 2002 Fevernova
The Fevernova ball was the result of three years of work on improving the previous Tricolore ball in research center in the south of Germany. The new design is inspired by Asian culture and is unlike its predecessors, which were pioneered by Tango in 1978. More than 2,500 Fevernova balls were provided for World Cup matches, and approximately six million replicas were subsequently sold worldwide.
Commemorative photo. Brazilian striker Ronaldo beats Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, opening the scoring in the match. Final Brazil - Germany in Yokohama, which ended with the victory of the Brazilians with a score of 2:0
Germany, 2006 +Teamgeist
With the name +Teamgeist, the creators of the ball wanted to remind that one of the most important components of success at the World Cup is team spirit. Translated from German, the word team means “team”, and geist means “spirit”. The ball is made from 14 external structural panels, resulting in a 60% reduction in joints. This initiative aims to improve shot accuracy and ball control. The design has undergone significant changes compared to its predecessor. As for the plus sign before the name of the ball, this was done due to the fact that the regular expression teamgeist itself could not be used as a trademark.
Commemorative photo. French midfielder Zinedine Zidane fights for the ball with Italian national team players - defender Marco Materazzi and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. The final match between Italy and France, held in Berlin and ending with the victory of the Italian players on penalties.
South Africa, 2010 Jabulani
In the Zulu language the word Jabulani means "to celebrate". The ball is made in the South African style. Jabulani consists of eight external structural panels, connected together using heat bonding technology, which increases the accuracy of shots. The design of the 11th model of the ball created by adidas for the World Championships used 11 different colors. These colors represent the 11 players of each team, the 11 official languages South Africa and 11 South African tribes.
Commemorative photo. A scandalous episode in the 1/8 finals match between Germany and England, which ended with the victory of the German players with a score of 4:1. The ball, after being kicked by English midfielder Frank Lampard, crossed the goal line defended by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but the referees did not notice this, and the goal was not counted.
Brazil, 2014 Brazuca
In the summer of 2014, football players will play at the World Cup in Brazil using Brazuca balls. The design of the new ball was kept secret for a long time, but during an open vote in which more than a million Brazilians took part, its name was determined. 77.8% of survey participants voted for the Brazuca option. For the first time in history, the name of the ball for the World Cup was chosen by the fans. The design of the ball was described by adidas as revolutionary and with six panels. Brazuca is decorated with ribbons in three colors, symbolizing the so-called wish bracelets worn in Brazil. According to legend, you need to wrap the bracelet around your wrist and tie three knots, making a wish for each of them. When the bracelet breaks and falls off the hand, it is believed that the wishes made should begin to come true.
Images of balls were found on the walls of Egyptian tombs, and during excavations of the burials of the pharaohs, they themselves were found, sewn from strips of leather or tree bark, and sometimes made of sandstone. Egyptian team games with these objects were dedicated to the gods, each team represented the interests of a group of celestials, and the ball was driven into the goal with curved sticks.
And in Ancient China they played ball, for example, by kicking it. The game eventually became a favorite popular pastime, and in the 2nd century BC. became part of the obligatory program for the solemn celebration of the emperor’s birthdays. At the same time, instead of stuffing leather balls with bird feathers and animal hair, they learned to fill them with air, rules were developed, and gates began to be installed on the playing field. The winners were honored with flowers, awarded with valuable gifts, and the losers were beaten with bamboo sticks.
In ancient Japan, they also couldn’t do without a ball. At the imperial court, team games were held to score a ball into a goal in a certain time (measured by an hourglass); while throwing it, it was not supposed to touch the ground.
Ancient ball games were not just games; they were often associated with religious rituals.
In Egyptian "football" each of the two teams played on the side of their gods. And victories were won not for the sake of their own glory, but in the name of the gods. Their ball was made of wood, and they drove it into the goal with curved sticks. There were also balls made of leather and tree bark in Egypt. And the ball made of fragile sandstone could only be thrown carefully to each other - it could break if it hit the ground.
The Romans filled leather balls with fig seeds. They also had glass balls for single games.
Among the North American Indians, the ball was not a toy, but a sacred object representing the Sun, Moon and Earth.
Among the Eskimos, playing ball was also a ritual event that took place during a festival marking the victory over a malevolent mythical creature named Sedna.
The ancient Greeks also came up with several ball games. Thus, Spartan warriors were fond of “episkyros” - a competition in throwing a leather ball filled with rags, horsehair, feathers, sand, and then inflated with air, with their feet and hands. The curious Romans did not fail to borrow this from their neighbors, among other things. For example, we started a game called “harpastum”.
This is how Pollux describes it: “The players are divided into two teams. The ball is placed on a line in the center of the court. At both ends of the court, behind the backs of the players, each of whom stands in his assigned place, another line is drawn. You are supposed to bring the ball behind these lines, and to accomplish this feat handily, only pushing aside the players of the opposing team.” This game was an important part of the military training program; the ball was initially filled with hay, straw and even fig grains, and then with air.
The warlike legionnaires, along with “fire and sword,” brought their ball sports to other nations and spread them among them. The British, for example, being seduced by them, not only borrowed “harpastum”, but also mastered it so that in 217 AD. won the match against the Romans!
They also came up with their own way of making balls: they tied round vegetables with horse (girl) hair, then adapted to making them from animal bladders. If only that were enough! Otherwise, they used the severed heads of the enemy or servants (they say, however, that they were not the first to think of this, but the ancient Chinese).
IN different countries Various materials were used to make balls: balls were sewn from animal skins, woven from reeds, twisted from rags, and carved from wood. A rubber ball “jumped” to Europe from Central America. Local Indians made it from resin, which was extracted from cuts in the bark of trees and called “cauchu” (from the words “kaa” - tree and “o-chu” - “cry”). We know this resin under the name “rubber”. The rubber ball caught the eye of the traveler Christopher Columbus. The famous navigator was surprised to see that a large and heavy ball jumped so high when it hit the ground. Columbus's sailors brought the ball to Spain, and the elastic bun quickly rolled out throughout the civilized world.
By the way, the game of American Indians with a rubber ball was actually a ritual act. And far from harmless. The game ended with a sacrifice, and the captain of the losing team was sacrificed.
Before today in some countries, along with modern rubber, leather, and inflatable balls, balls made “according to an old recipe” have been preserved. In Japan, for example, there is a favorite toy - a small colorful temari ball. Children play with them with the onset of spring, welcoming the first sunny days - a memory of the fact that the ball was once a symbol of the sun. The temari ball is carved from wood and woven with multi-colored silk threads that form beautiful patterns.
In Russia the balls were different. In excavations near Novgorod, balls of different sizes made of leather were found. Children played with them in the 13th century. Peasant children of the last century played with light balls made of birch bark or heavy balls tightly rolled from rags. Even information about one of the games has been preserved: they put it in a row chicken eggs and knocked them out with the ball. In the Khotkovo nunnery near Moscow, balls were sewn from soft pillows, and pebbles wrapped in birch bark were placed inside - the result was both a ball and a rattle. By the way, the origin of the word “ball” is associated with the words “soft, pulp, crumb.” That is, the ball is a soft ball. Back in the middle of the 20th century, Pskov girls had a favorite ditty:
I'll let the ball go along the path,
Letting the ball roll...
Among the popular games was, for example, Shalyga. In it, players tried to kick a leather ball stuffed with feathers into the enemy’s “city.” N.G. Pomyalovsky in “Essays on the Bursa” describes a similar game - kila:
“On the left side of the courtyard, about eighty people are playing kila - a leather ball stuffed with hair the size of a human head. Two parties met wall to wall: one of the participants drove the pick, slowly moving it with his feet, which was the height of art in the game, because a strong blow could send the ball in the opposite direction, into the enemy’s camp, where they would take possession of it. It was forbidden to hit from the toe - in this case it was possible to strike the enemy’s leg. It was forbidden to hit from the back, that is, by running into the enemy’s camp and, waiting for the ball to pass to his side, to drive it to the city - the designated line. Those who violated the rules of the game had their necks washed..."
Fans of ball games suffered from the authorities. Penance for her was provided for by church decrees; Archpriest Avvakum called for the players to be burned at the stake; in the decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1648) it was said about them:
“...and according to our decree, those people were ordered to be punished: and you would order them to be beaten with batogs, and those people would not give up on such outrages, but would take out such ungodly games and suddenly in a row, and you would order those disobedient people to be beaten with batogs; and those people who do not give up on this, but show up in such guilt for the third and fourth time, and those, according to our decree, were ordered to be exiled to Ukrainian cities.”
Modern balls vary in size and purpose. Different balls are used to play volleyball, basketball, football, tennis, water polo, rugby and other games. Each of them has its own story.
The name of the basketball game comes from English words"basket" - "basket" and "ball" - "ball". This game was invented by a sports instructor at one of the American universities, D. Naismith, in 1891. On his instructions, a large fruit basket was nailed under the ceiling of the gym and a ball was thrown into it. When the players got tired of climbing for the ball every time, it occurred to someone to simply knock out the bottom of the basket. At first, basketball players used leather balls, and then switched to rubber ones.
Water polo players are known to play in water, so they greased the leather ball to keep it from swelling. But in the end they decided to also play with rubber balls.
But football players have given up rubber balls because they are slippery and it is difficult to kick such a ball. In football, in general, everything is thoroughly thought out, right down to the size and weight of the ball. It should be no heavier than 543 and no lighter than 396 grams, and its circumference should be no more than 71 and no less than 68 centimeters.
The badminton ball was generally made from an apple. Yes, they took a hard, unripe apple, stuck goose feathers into it and threw it to each other with homemade rackets. It was in Japan, from there the game came to India, and from India it was brought to Europe by an English duke, whose castle was located not far from the city of Badminton. That's what the game was called. And by that time, of course, the apple had been replaced with a cork ball.
Different materials were used for the balls. But the shape was always the same - round. With only one exception. The rugby ball is oval shaped (like a melon). But not because the game requires it. It just happened that way.
In the English town of Rugby they loved to play ball. But the rag ball was very fragile. Then the livestock offal trader William Gilbert took and skinned... a pig's bladder. The ball turned out to be light and durable. This was in the nineteenth century, but rugby balls are still traditionally made in oblong shapes.
History states that football, or something similar, has been known to mankind since the 3rd century BC. Even then, our ancestors loved to kick the ball, perhaps they called it differently. And the first information about people playing with a ball came from ancient China. The first balls were leather bags filled with feathers or wool. They tried to push him into a wall made of bamboo poles 10 m high.
The ancient Romans had to play with the so-called game “Harpastum”. Their ball was small, but quite heavy because it was filled with sand. The Mexican Aztecs had their own popular game, in which a stone wrapped in rubberized material served as a ball. Imagine what it was like for the players to hit such a projectile... But the ancient Vikings did not stand on ceremony with the choice of flying and bouncing objects - the heads of defeated enemies were used for this.
Later it was discovered that the pork bladder has an excellent rebound. This discovery quickly spread among batting enthusiasts. Although it is still unknown how such bubbles were inflated, it is believed that a primitive pump was used for this purpose.
The Middle Ages especially distinguished themselves in inventiveness. For the ball, they used any material that was comfortable to kick. But leather containers for wine were especially often used.
Each ball game was cruel and even aggressive in nature, so the game almost always ended with the ball breaking. To prevent this from interfering with the continuation of the game, a leather shell was invented for the ball. The main goal of the game at that time was to prevent the ball from falling to the ground; it had to be kept in the air for as long as possible.
Those who are interested in the history of football may be lucky enough to see the oldest ball on earth today. He is 450 years old, and was found in 1999 in Scotland at Stirling Castle. This is exactly what a ball made from a pork bladder in a leather shell looked like. These first balls were of different sizes and mostly even different shapes, which depended on the shape of the bubble. The asymmetrical nature of the balls made the game unpredictable, as it was difficult to predict which direction the ball would take.
The production of rubber balls began in 1855, after Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber and coated the bladder with it in 1836.
Richard Lyndon became famous for creating the first rubber bladder for a ball. It was almost impossible to fill this chamber with air, so he attached a kind of valve to it, through which air was pumped. It was this invention of Lyndon that was awarded a medal at the London exhibition. Since then, mass production of round balls began.
The first companies to mass produce balls were Miter and Thomlinson's of Glasgow. They made balls for the English Football League, formed in 1888.
Companies made balls from the highest quality skins, which were taken from the rumps of cow carcasses, and the skin from the shoulder blade, which was considered not as high quality, was used to make balls of lower quality.
In 1872, the official size and weight of the ball was established - according to the rules, the ball must be round shape with a volume of 27-28 inches (68.6 cm-71.7 cm), weight - 368-425 g. Already in 1937, the weight of the ball was increased to 410-450 g.
To this day, the weight of the ball remains stable, but the materials used for manufacturing have often changed over time.
20th century, famous a huge amount scientific discoveries, contributed to a significant improvement in the quality of soccer balls. Most importantly, there was a change in the chamber, which could now withstand strong pressure. The outer shell of the ball was made of tanned leather and consisted of 18 sections (count them - six groups of three stripes). To connect the sections together, the outer shell was turned inside out and stitched with five-layer hemp rope. At first the chamber was designed in such a way that it could not hold air for a long time, so quite often the ball had to be pumped up even during the game.
These balls perfectly withstood strong kicks, but it was dangerous to hit them with their heads, since the seams were heavy, and the material, especially during wet weather, easily absorbed moisture, which made it very heavy.
The further evolution of the ball occurred during the Second World War. A thick material gasket was added between the tube and the tire. This improvement helped the ball retain its shape better. Synthetic and non-porous materials began to be used for water absorption. And also new type valve made it possible to forget about the inconvenient laced hole in the ball.
But the quality of the leather for the ball was still not strong enough. There have been cases when the ball burst during a football match. This happened, for example, in the FA Cup final in 1946 and 1947: a ball that burst had to be replaced during the match.
For a very long time, leather balls dominated football fields, and only in the 80s did synthetics completely replace leather.
Messi with the ball
Today we are all familiar with the modern design of the Buckminster ball: it consists of 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons, butted together to give the ball a perfect round shape.
Perhaps each of us had a ball in childhood. Small or big – it doesn’t matter. But he was. Round, constantly rolling. It was pleasant to hold him in your hands, and how quickly he galloped along the path! But a long time ago, a child would not have been allowed to touch it, because the ball has been considered a sacred thing since ancient times.
Football shells in ancient times
Our ancestors loved to play with various spherical objects for fun. It is known, for example, that South American Indians used a light elastic sphere as a sports equipment.
During the Tsing and Han dynasties (255 BC-220 AD), the Chinese played the game "Tsu Chu", in which animal balls were driven into a net stretched between two poles. They say that some ancient Egyptian rituals are similar to football. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had a game, the essence of which boiled down to kicking a ball and carrying a leather sphere.
Legends say that an entire village could lead one shell-skull into the square of a neighboring village. In turn, the opposing side tried to bring game element to the enemy square.
The oldest soccer ball
This ball is usually kept in the Stirling Smith Museum in Scotland
Tachtli players photographed in 1529
By the artist Christophor Weiditz, traveling with Cortes. This is how the artist himself described this game: “The Indians have a game of playing a ball inflated with air. They hit it with the back of their body without lifting their hands from the ground. The Indians wear leather gloves, and the part of the body with which they hit the ball is protected by leather bandages.” Source
And in Harrow they played with a not very round ball!
Marble relief (5th century BC) from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
The most ancient balls came to us from Egypt (2000 BC). They were made from wood, leather and even papyrus
Photo materials from Ura-inform.com, Angel Fire.com.
Nineteenth century balls
The first rubber soccer ball.
In 1836, Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber. Before this, balls were very dependent on the size and shape of the pig's bladders. Due to the instability of animal tissue, it was very difficult to predict the behavior of the projectile during impact. It wasn't until the twentieth century that most balls were made using rubber.
In 1855, the same Goodyear designed the first rubber soccer ball. It is still kept in the National Football Hall of Fame, which is located in Oneonta (New York, USA).
In 1862, inventor Laindon developed one of the first inflatable rubber bladders. He knew very well the disadvantages of balls made from pig bladders. His goal was to create an inflatable rubber bladder that would not explode with every touch of the foot. Rubber chambers provided the balls with shape and density. Laindon even claimed to have invented rugby, but did not patent the idea in time. In those days, a round ball was preferred for playing with the feet, while an oval ball was easier to handle with the hands.
Match Ball used in the 1893 FA Cup Final
Match Ball used in the FA Cup Final of 1893
Synthetic soccer balls
A fully synthetic ball was not produced until the early 60s. But it was only in the late 80s that synthetics completely replaced leather coverings. Conservatives and skeptics argued that leather balls provide flight control and more swipe.
The synthetic coating of today's balls completely copies the structure of the leather cell. Synthetics also have advantages - strength and low water absorption.
Early balls were laced.
Later game projectiles were made from synthetic patches bonded together. The design of the new ball was based on the Buckminster Ball, better known as the Buckyball. American architect Richard Buckminster never thought about football. He was just trying to come up with new ways to construct buildings using a minimum of materials. And the result was an ingenious structure that every fan knows today.
The shape of the Buckminster ball is a series of hexagons and pentagons that fit together to give the ball a rounded shape. The modern ball consists of 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. Together they form a sphere close to perfection. Black pentagons helped players more sensitively feel any deviations in the flight of the ball.
The first "official" ball in football was the Adidas Telstar at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Now a new unique soccer ball is developed for every major competition.
"Telstar" Durlast - Germany 1974;
"Tango Riverplate" - Argentina 1978;
"Tango Espana" - Spain 1982;
"Azteca" - Mexico 1986;
"Etrvsco" - Italy 1990;
"Questra" - USA 1994;
"Tricolore" - France 1998;
Telstar: Mexico-1970
The Telstar leather ball was hand-sewn from 32 elements - 12 pentagonal and 20 hexagonal panels - and became the roundest ball of its time. Its design will forever go down in football history. A white ball decorated with black pentagons - Telstar (Star of Television) is much more visible on a black and white screen. This ball became the prototype for subsequent generations.
Telstar/Chile: Germany-1974
Tango: Argentina-1978
Tango Espana: Spain 1982
Azteca: Mexico-1986
Etrusco Unico: Italy-1990
Questra: USA-1994
Tricolore: France-1998
Fevernova: Korea and Japan-2002
"+Teamgeist" - Germany 2006
This is how soccer balls are made
Today, many companies have released new high-tech materials and designs for balls. Development is moving towards creating an ideal projectile, with an ideal trajectory, accuracy and flight speed, with ideally low water absorption, with ideal energy distribution, with ideal safety. But the creators, in pursuit of leadership, should not forget about FIFA standards.
Football shells in ancient times Our ancestors loved to play with various spherical objects for fun. The most ancient balls came to us from Egypt (2000 BC). They were made from wood, leather and even papyrus
It is known, for example, that South American Indians used light 
elastic sphere as a sports equipment. Tachtli players, depicted in 1529 by the artist Christophor Weiditz, traveling with Cortes. This is how the artist himself described this game: “The Indians have a game of playing with an inflated ball. They hit it with the back of their body, without lifting their hands from the ground. The Indians wear leather gloves, and the part of the body with which they hit the ball is protected leather bandages."
According to historical references and legends, early balls were created from human heads wrapped in animal skin or the bladders of pigs and cows.
During the Tsing and Han dynasties (255 BC-220 AD), the Chinese played the game "Tsu Chu", in which animal balls were driven into a net stretched between two poles. They say that some ancient Egyptian rituals are similar to football. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had a game, the essence of which boiled down to kicking a ball and carrying a leather sphere.
Legends say that an entire village could lead one shell-skull into the square of a neighboring village. In turn, the opposing side tried to bring the game element to the opponent’s area. 
According to medieval tradition, people took pig bladders and tried to inflate them to the size required for the game. With the help of their legs and arms they tried to keep the ball in the air.
Over time, the bubbles began to be covered with leather to give them the correct shape and for durability.
A ball made about 450 years ago. It is believed that in the 16th century the soccer ball belonged to the Scottish Queen Mary. The chamber of the ancient ball is made from a pig's bladder. On top it is covered with stitched pieces of thick, possibly deerskin. This ball is kept in the Stirling Smith Museum in Scotland.
Nineteenth century balls
In 1836, Charles Goodyear patented vulcanized rubber.
Before this, balls were very dependent on the size and shape of the pig's bladders. Due to the instability of animal tissue, it was very difficult to predict the behavior of the projectile during impact. It wasn't until the twentieth century that most balls were made using rubber. In 1855, the same Goodyear designed the first rubber soccer ball. It is still kept in the National Football Hall of Fame, which is located in Oneonta (New York, USA).
In 1862, inventor Laindon developed one of the first inflatable rubber bladders. He knew very well the disadvantages of balls made from pig bladders. His goal was to create an inflatable rubber bladder that would not explode with every touch of the foot. Rubber chambers provided the balls with shape and density. Laindon even claimed to have invented rugby, but did not patent the idea in time. In those days, a round ball was preferred for playing with the feet, while an oval ball was easier to handle with the hands.
In 1863, the newly formed English Football Association met to develop and generalize the rules of a new game - football. At the first meeting, no one proposed standards for soccer balls.
But in 1872, an agreement was reached that the ball for playing football “should be spherical with a circumference of 27-28 inches” (68.6-71.1 cm). This standard has not changed for over a hundred years and remains in today's FIFA rules. In the Football Encyclopedia ( English edition 1956) states the following: “According to the rules of football, the ball must be spherical with an outer covering of leather or other approved materials. The circumference shall not be less than 27 inches nor exceed 28 inches, and the weight of the ball at the start of play shall not be less than 14 ounces or more than 16 ounces.”
Balls of the twentieth century...
History of leatherIn 1900, even stronger rubber bladders were created. They could withstand a lot of pressure. All professional balls by that time were created on the basis of rubber tubes. They were covered with rough brown and later white skin. Most leather spheres were covered with eighteen sections (six groups, three stripes) and resembled modern laced volleyballs. The uninflated chamber was inserted into a previously prepared incision. A hole was left for subsequent inflation of the ball using a special tube. After that we had to lace up the cover.
These balls held kicks well, but had a number of disadvantages - the labor-intensive stitching process and the water-absorbing properties of the leather. When it rained, the leather swelled and the ball became very heavy and dangerous. There were other problems - it was impossible to make universal leather of animal origin. During just one competition, the quality of the balls could deteriorate greatly, and the quality of the game itself would drop.
The soccer ball may even have played a role in the events of the first World Cup in 1930. Argentina and Uruguay could not agree on what brand of ball they would play with. The teams came out of the situation in an original way. The Argentine ball was used in the first half of the match, and the Uruguayan ball in the second. In the first half, Argentina (with their own ball) led 2-1. However, Uruguay managed to create a miracle in the second half, beating their opponents with a score of 4-2. Perhaps their home ball helped them become winners of the World Championship!
After World War II, a gasket was introduced between the camera and the outer covering. The sphere has become more durable, and the shape of the structure has become more correct. But the skin still often tore due to the poor quality of the leather coverings.
In 1951, the plain white ball was replaced by a projectile with wide colored stripes. They helped spectators more confidently navigate events on the field and follow the ball. By the way, white coating was used unofficially already in 1892. The first orange balls also appeared in the 50s. They were created to help viewers see the sphere during heavy snowfall.
A fully synthetic ball was not produced until the early 60s. But it was only in the late 80s that synthetics completely replaced leather coverings. Conservatives and skeptics argued that leather balls provided flight control and a stronger hit. The synthetic coating of today's balls completely copies the structure of the leather cell. Synthetics also have advantages - strength and low water absorption.
White and black ball
Early balls had laces. Later game projectiles were made from patches stitched together. The design of the new ball was based on the Buckminster Ball, better known as the Buckyball. American architect Richard Buckminster never thought about football. He was just trying to come up with new ways to construct buildings using a minimum of materials. And the result was an ingenious structure that every fan knows today. 32 pieces: 12 of them are black pentagons, 20 are white hexagons. The design of these 32 polygons is called a truncated icosahedron, only the ball has a more spherical shape due to the air pressure pumped inside. The first such ball was produced in Denmark in 1950 by the company Select and became widespread in Europe. It began to be used worldwide after the 1970 World Cup, at which there were such balls produced by Adidas.
Official championship balls
The Adidas "Telstar" ball became the first "official" World Cup ball in 1970 in Mexico. Now a new unique soccer ball is developed for every major competition.
"Telstar" Mexico-1970; 
The Telstar leather ball was hand-sewn from 32 elements - 12 pentagonal and 20 hexagonal panels - and became the roundest ball of its time. Its design will forever go down in football history. A white ball decorated with black pentagons - Telstar (Star of Television) is much more visible on a black and white screen. This ball became the prototype for subsequent generations.
"Telstar" Durlast - Germany 1974; 
In the World Cup in Germany in 1974, two balls “participated”. This was already the second appearance for the Telstar ball, only the logo was now not gold, but black. adidas also introduced a white version of the ball - the adidas Chile - in honor of the all-white 1962 Cup ball in Chile. They differed from the 1970 Telstar only in design; the materials and technologies remained the same.
"Tango Riverplate" - Argentina 1978; 
In 1978, the adidas Tango was introduced to the world, a model that later became a “design classic.” Although the ball was made from the same 32 panels, the pattern of 20 identical triads created the appearance of 12 circles encircling the ball. The design of the official balls of the next five FIFA Championships was based on this idea. Tango was also more weather resistant.
"Tango Espana" - Spain 1982; 
In 1982, the design of the 1978 Tango changed little. But the technological changes in Tango Espana were more significant. The ball was still made of leather, but the seams were taped and made waterproof. This significantly increased wear resistance and reduced water absorption by the ball, therefore minimizing weight gain in wet weather.
"Azteca" - Mexico 1986;
This is the first official FIFA championship ball made from synthetic materials. As a result, its service life has increased significantly, and the degree of water absorption has decreased. The Azteca had excellent performance on hard surfaces, in high altitude conditions and in wet conditions, which was a significant improvement. The triads surrounding this ball were decorated with Aztec ornaments.
"Etrvsco" - Italy 1990; 
Only synthetic materials were used to create the adidas Etrusco Unico. The Etrusco Unico was the first ball to have an inner layer made of polyurethane foam, making the ball more lively, faster and completely waterproof. The name and design capture the influence ancient history Italy and the cultural heritage of the Etruscans. Three Etruscan lion heads adorn each of the 20 triads.
"Questra" - USA 1994; 
The official ball of the 1994 championship is the embodiment of high technology. The use of an internal energy-returning layer of polyurethane foam allowed the ball to become softer (that is, more manageable) and much faster. Inspired by space technology and the American Quest for the Stars, hence the name, Questra has set new standards.
"Tricolore" - France 1998;
The first multi-color official championship ball. The French flag and the tail of the rooster, a traditional symbol of France and the French Football Federation, are reflected in the name and design. The adidas Tricolore used a layer of synthetic foam with a regular matrix of durable micro-cells filled with gas. This structure ensured durability and good tactile contact with the ball.
"Fevernova" - Japan and Korea 2002
This is the first official ball to feature a different design from the traditional 1978 Tango ball. The pattern and color scheme of Fevernova are inspired by the culture of the countries Far East. A special layer of synthetic foam improved the ball's performance, and a three-layer woven frame ensured greater hitting accuracy and predictable flight path.
"Teamgeist" - Germany 2006 
For the first time in 36 years, Adidas has moved away from the classic 32-panel design. In 2006, Adidas proposed a fundamentally new ball, +Teamgeist, made up of “propellers” and “turbines.” Heat bonded frame and panels provide water resistance and a smoother surface for improved impact performance. The drawing is made in black and white – the traditional colors of the German team, with a gold edging – the symbol of the World Cup, and covered with a transparent protective layer. 
In 2008, Adidas released a new ball, the "Europass", which differs from the "+Teamgeist" in having a gooseneck covering.
Today, many companies have released new high-tech materials and designs for balls. Development is moving towards creating an ideal projectile, with an ideal trajectory, accuracy and flight speed, with ideally low water absorption, with ideal energy distribution, with ideal safety. But the creators, in pursuit of leadership, should not forget about FIFA standards. 
The new Adidas Roteiro balls are created using the most modern technologies and materials. The ball was specially created for the 2004 European Championship in Portugal. From modern Portuguese the name “Roteiro” is translated as “guide, route”. The ball caused a lot of controversy between players and goalkeepers, between supporters of football development and conservatives. Indeed, the ball is ideal for field players - light and comfortable. But for goalkeepers it became a real nightmare due to the unpredictability of the flight path.
Production of soccer balls
Mass production of soccer balls began thanks to orders from the English Football League (founded in 1888). Miter and Thomlinson's of Glasgow were the first companies to manufacture balls at that time. These firms convinced customers that the main competitive advantage of their product was that the shape of their balls was unchanged. The quality and strength of the leather and seams were their main trump card. The best grades of leather were taken from the rump of a cow carcass and used to produce the highest quality ball models. While the less durable leather of the blade was used to produce cheaper balls.80% of the balls are produced in Pakistan and 75% of them (60% of the world's total production) in the city of Sialkot. Previously, child labor was often used in production, but after Euro 2004, publications appeared in the press about this and they took over the plant international organizations for the protection of children, in particular UNICEF. For the World Cup in Germany, the balls were produced in Thailand. For the first time since 1970, Adidas produced balls outside of the Sialkot plant. Balls for Euro 2008 were already produced in China.
How the Europass ball was made
And here is how the Europass ball is made, which was used at Euro 2008. It is produced in China at the Adidas plant.
Turbine ball detail.
And this is another part - the “propeller”.
A frame with a latex chamber not yet inserted inside.
Ready-made frames with cameras inside.
Impregnation of the frame with latex.
The frames are sent to drying, where the latex is vulcanized.
Applying glue to parts.
Actually, pasting the frame (thermal bonding) and forming the ball.
Almost finished ball.
One of the most important parameters is the mass of the ball. According to FIFA requirements, it should be from 420 to 445 g. Adidas developers, in their own words, prefer to make balls with a mass closer to the upper limit (the heavier the ball, the more accurate it is).
Ball circumference test (measured along several perimeters). The measurement principle is very simple - a flexible steel tape covers the ball, its length is measured (automatically). Measurements are made several times, between them the ball is turned at a certain angle.
And this machine is very familiar to all motorists who have at least once seen a balancing machine in a tire shop. This device checks the ball's balance. If its weight distribution is uneven, the impact trajectory will be difficult to predict. But it is impossible to completely balance the ball - it is not absolutely symmetrical. For example, there is a nipple. To reduce the imbalance, an additional seam in the form of a spiral is made on the diametrically opposite side of the frame - the mass of this seam balances the mass of the valve.
Balancing
This setup measures the diameter of the ball in several positions, after which from this data it can be concluded how close the ball is in shape to a perfect sphere.
And finally, one of the most interesting tests is the robot leg. The boot, attached to her “foot,” is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 150 km/h. The ball upon impact travels 1.6 times faster than the speed of the boot, so the maximum speed of the ball is approximately 240 km/h. The real ceiling of strikes of professional football players is about 100 km/h (the ball, respectively, is 160 km/h). In this setup, adidas engineers demonstrate how different the behavior of the new Europass ball, equipped with PSC texture, is from the previous official +Teamgeist ball, which had a smooth surface. While the balls are dry, both of them, when hit obliquely, hit the “nine” (upper corner of the goal). But as soon as you spray the “smooth” ball (and the boot) with water from a spray bottle, the ball goes past the goal. And the textured ball again confidently hits the top nine. By the way, you can also test boots at the same stand.
Of course, these are not all the tests that the ball is subjected to. Balls are tested for abrasion resistance. Several balls are placed inside a drum, the inner surface of which is covered with sandpaper, pour in several liters of water, turn it on and turn it for a certain time (several hours). Then they take it out and see how well the surface, design, etc. have been preserved. This simulates even more severe abrasion conditions than in a real match. The ball is tested for its ability to absorb water in wet weather. It is placed in a special trough, where a little water is poured, after which a special installation turns and “presses” the ball 300 times (see our video blog). The ball is then weighed. The difference in mass between a “dry” and “wet” ball, according to FIFA standards, should not exceed 10%. “But because adidas uses heat-sealing rather than seams, the ball is virtually airtight,” says Tim Lucas, “so the Europass rate is usually less than 1-2%.” There are also tests for rebound (the ball is thrown from a two-meter height and the height of the rebound is measured, and, interestingly, using an acoustic sensor - that is, they actually measure the time between the ball jumps, and then recalculate it into the height of the rebound), pressure loss and to maintain shape after 3,500 hits against a wall at a speed of 50 km/h (this test, of course, is automated - a special mechanical “gun” shoots the ball against the wall for about 4 hours). Undoubtedly, a modern ball is a rather complex and technically advanced product of high sports technology.
Quality and parameters of a soccer ball
