For family games football can be played any time. While a grassy field is preferred, family football is played on almost any surface, provided it’s reasonably level. Most times a rubber football is used but composites and leather balls are popular too. But during play, little thought is given to how footballs are made. So, to improve basic football knowledge, this article examines the football manufacturing process.
Footballs have one of three exterior covers – leather, composite or rubber. A leather football is required in professional and collegiate play. But in recreational games footballs with exteriors of rubber or composite are more common.
This article describes leather ball manufacture. But all footballs are made in much the same way. Four panels or pieces of leather or rubber are required for each football. In the less expensive rubber balls these panels are made in one piece. All coverings must be quality inspected for proper weight and blemish clarity. The coverings are usually stamped with a pebble-grain texture to improve a player’s grip of the ball.
Two panels are perforated along their adjoining edges so they can be laced together. One of these panels gets an additional perforation and reinforcement to hold the inflation valve. All four panels are attached to an interior lining and then stitched together in an “inside-out” pattern. However, the panel with the lacing holes is not stitched together. The ball is then turned right side out by pushing the panels through the lacing hole.
Next, a rubber or polyurethane lining called a “bladder” is inserted through the same lacing hole. Then, leather or polyvinyl chloride laces are inserted through the perforations to provide a solid grip for holding, passing or hiking the football. In a final action the football is inflated to a pressure of 12.5 to 13.5 PSI and check weighed at 14 to 15 ounces. It is now ready for play.
Having family football fun does not require knowing how footballs are made. But, as in all sports, the more that’s known about the basics of the game, like football manufacture, the better it’s played. Family football is no exception.
