How to Choose a Football

Don't just head out and buy a hard leather ball until you've thought about how you'll be using it - there are a lot of options out there.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Football Cleats
• Football Helmets
• Football Uniforms
• Footballs

1. Decide how much you're willing to spend, what types of games you'll be playing and who will be using the ball. An official leather NFL or collegiate ball could set you back $70; an official leather "Pee Wee" ball costs $40; a rubber ball for kids is around $15; a toy with fins could be $10 or less.
2. Think about what material you want your ball to be made of. The NFL and NCAA use leather balls, which are the most expensive. Balls made of synthetic leather or rubber are less expensive, while foam balls are the cheapest and ideal for touch football, other non-contact games, and for young kids.
3. Decide on a size for your ball. Official leagues (such as the NFL, NCAA and high school leagues) use balls that are 11 to 11.25 inches long, 28 to 28.5 inches around lengthwise, 21 to 21.25 inches around widthwise, and inflated to 12.5 to 13.5 pounds. Smaller balls are available for non-league and youth play.
4. Decide what features you want your ball to have. To avoid hand, nose, and finger injuries, select a ball with soft touch padding. Some balls have novelty features such as grooves for longer passes and built-in screaming whistles.
5. Decide what design you want for your ball. If you'll be playing at night, choose a colored ball or one with white stripes to increase visibility. Other available designs include emblems, signatures and team logos.

Tips & Warnings

• The official NFL game ball is a leather Wilson football with the dimensions given above, plus the NFL logo and commissioner's signature on the side.
• Leather balls are the most durable and are ideal for tackle football and other rough games.