How to Inflate a Soccer Ball
Whether you’re a professional soccer player or just someone like me who likes the game very much, learning how to inflate a soccer ball can surely make a huge difference in your game. As you may know, if the ball has too little air pressure, it will not fly straight or it will not fly as far. On the other hand, if the ball has too much air pressure, it will not feel as good to kick and there’s a possibility that the ball will eventually burst. So if you want your soccer ball to last longer, then you should learn the proper way to inflate it.
Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to inflate your soccer ball and I can assure you that the process is very easy! I’m also going to share some tips on how to maintain your ball so it will last longer. If you don’t own a soccer ball yet, I suggest you first check this URL: https://premiumballs.net/soccer/best/
Contents
Guide
Preparing to Inflate the Soccer Ball – Step 1,2,3
1. The first step is to prepare the air pump and the ball pump needle. If you don’t have one, then I suggest you buy one online or from your local sporting goods store. They should be easy to find and shouldn’t cost you a lot. I got mine a bit on the expensive side, but it did serve me well. In fact, I’ve had it for more than three years already and it has not given me any problems at all.
I highly suggest that you invest in a good quality pump and air gauge, and you should have a good supply of pump needles as well. I also love the fact that the pump I’ve bought has a built-in air gauge. Thus, I don’t need to purchase the gauge separately. Aside from the pump and the gauge, you will also need some glycerin oil for lubrication. If you don’t have glycerin oil, a good alternative is the silicone oil.
2. Next, you need to know the air pressure that’s ideal for your soccer ball. I would suggest that you refer to the manufacturer’s manual for this. That’s how I found out mine. If you don’t have the manual anymore, then you can go online to research or refer to the website of the manufacturer of your soccer ball. The air pressure is usually expressed in psi, lbs, bar, and it should normally be between 6 and 8 lbs.
If the recommended air pressure for your ball is expressed in a different unit than what’s on your gauge, then you need to do some conversion. For instance, when converting bar to psi, simply multiply it by 14.5037, or divide in the same amount in order to do a conversion the other way. When converting bar to lbs, simply multiply the amount by 10 or divide in the same amount in order to convert the other way.
3. After you’ve determined the ideal air pressure, the next step is to lubricate the needle as well as the valve. So grab your glycerin oil and pour a few drops at your soccer ball’s valve. Lubricating the valve is necessary so you can easily insert the needle.
Inflating – Step 4,5,6
4. Now it’s time to inflate the ball. Grab the needle and attach it to the pump. The needle should slide right towards the bottom of the pump. Secure the needle by using the pump’s locking mechanism. Place the tip of the needle at the ball’s valve.
5. Now grab the handle of the pump and begin pumping. When doing so, you’ll notice that the ball will begin to inflate. Do it slowly so you don’t end up over-inflating the ball and to avoid putting unnecessary pressure at the seams.
6. Refer to the gauge when pumping and if you’ve noticed that the proper air pressure level has already been achieved, then it’s time to stop. If you’ve got an air pump like mine that comes with a built-in gauge, then you need to stop pumping as soon as the gauge shows that you’ve reached the recommended air pressure.
However, if your pump doesn’t have a gauge in it, then you need to pull the needle out and regularly check the gauge once you’ve noticed that the ball is starting to feel firm. This may be a bit inconvenient, and that’s why I would highly suggest you buy an air pump that comes with a built-in gauge.
Maintaining
Aside from teaching you how to inflate a soccer ball, I would also like to share a few tips on how to properly maintain your ball. First of all, please avoid kicking the ball hard against walls. Moreover, avoid sitting or standing on your ball. Doing these will put too much pressure on the ball’s stitching, which can lead to warping and eventually bursting! I’ve seen this happen many times, so please, if you want your ball to last longer, please don’t put too much pressure on it. Next, I would recommend that you check the air pressure from time to time. You can use a gauge to check the pressure after every couple of days. The more you use the ball, the more you should check its pressure.
After your game, consider deflating your ball slightly. Although this may not be necessary, manufacturers strongly recommend that you let out a little air from the ball after your match. I’ve been doing this and it’s probably the reason why my soccer ball is still in very good condition despite the many years of use. By deflating the ball, you’re actually helping to reduce the stress level that the ball gets. Just make sure you inflate the ball again before you’re using it.
Also, you should play only on those fields with soft or smooth surfaces if possible. Although the ball is quite sturdy, it’s also vulnerable to abrasive surfaces and areas with sharp objects. Always choose to play on a smooth field, such as in a grass or turf. Avoid soccer fields made of asphalt or gravel as it could possibly damage the ball.
Conclusion
Here you have it. A guide on how to inflate a soccer ball. Hopefully, it will be now easier for you to inflate the ball. Now’s the time you inflate the ball following the steps in this article and then you’re ready to start playing soccer.