How to Fix a Punctured Football

Footballs can be repaired easily.

American football as we know it was regulated and codified by Ivy League schools: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Rutgers and Princeton. The game is a 19th century variant of both rugby and soccer. Footballs are made of leather, high-quality rubber or plastic materials, or a combination of the materials. You can fix a punctured football in a few simple steps, and have the ball back in play in a matter of minutes. Keep a football repair kit with you at all times, to ensure your game never needs to called due to a punctured football.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket of water
• Football repair kit (syringe, ball sealant)
• Football pump

Instructions

1. Immerse your football in a bucket of water and turn it slowly. Look for the place where a steady stream of small air bubbles is emerging from your ball. This is where the football is punctured.

2. Fill your repair syringe with ball sealant. Insert the tip of the syringe into the ball valve. Depress the syringe, emptying its contents into the ball.

3. Insert your football pump tip into the ball valve. Pump a few times to replace any lost air in the ball. Pound the ball vigorously against a grassy patch of ground. Focus your pounding specifically on the area where your ball has been punctured.

4. Continue with your game, as the ball is repaired and ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your football periodically for leaks and punctures, even if the ball is not deflating rapidly, to keep your sports equipment in optimal condition.

• Do not toss a football on asphalt or concrete, as contact with these surfaces will cause increased wear and tear on balls that are intended for use on grass or synthetic grass.

References

• History of Football: The Early Years
• Team Sport 90: Correct Football Care