Soccer Ball Sizes Explained: What Size Ball Is Best For Each Age Group?
Choosing the right size soccer ball for your child or your team is incredibly important. Choose a soccer ball size that’s too big and heavy and kids may struggle to kick the ball, and they could even injure themselves! So, what size soccer ball is best for each age group? Below, we’ll show you soccer ball sizes by age group and how to choose the right size soccer ball for your child/team.
How Many Soccer Ball Sizes Are There?
Technically there are five soccer ball sizes, although only four soccer ball sizes are typically used. This is because size 2 soccer balls are so close in size to size 1 soccer balls that they are rarely used. The five soccer ball sizes are appropriately called size 1, size 2, size 3, size 4, and size 5, with size 1 being the smallest and size 5 being the biggest.
Soccer Ball Size Details
Size 5 Ball
The size 5 soccer ball is the biggest of the five soccer ball sizes and is often referred to as a ‘full-size ball’. A size 5 soccer ball measures 27-28 inches (68-70cm) and weighs between 410 and 450 grams. Size 5 soccer balls are suitable for any player aged 12 and above and are used by adults and professional players.
Size 4 Ball
The size 4 soccer ball is the second largest of the five soccer ball sizes. A size 4 soccer ball measures 25-26 inches (63.5-66cm) and weighs between 350 and 390 grams. Size 4 soccer balls are typically used in youth soccer with players aged between 8 and 12 years old.
Size 3 Ball
A size 3 soccer ball measures 23-24 inches (58.5-61 cm) and weighs between 300 and 320 grams. Size 3 soccer balls are typically used in junior soccer with players aged between 5 and 8 years old.
Size 2 Ball
A size 2 soccer ball measures 20-22 inches (50-55cm) and weighs between 250 and 280 grams. Size 2 soccer balls are suitable for kids aged 3-5, however, size 2 soccer balls are not used much due to the fact that they are very close in size to the size 1 and size 3 balls.
Size 1 Ball
A size 1 soccer ball measures 18-20 inches (46-51cm) and weighs between 195 and 205 grams. Size 1 soccer balls are the smallest of the five soccer ball sizes and are used by kids aged 3 and under and by players of all ages for skill practice.
Best Soccer Ball Size By Age Group
If you’re a soccer coach, then you are going to want to know the best soccer ball size for your team. And if you’re a parent, you probably want to know what ball size is best for your child. Here is a useful chart that shows the best soccer ball size per age group. Not sure which age group your players/child is in? Check out our guide to soccer age groups.
| Age Group | Soccer Ball | Size |
|---|---|---|
| U3 and under | Size 1 | 18-20 inches |
| U3-U5 | Size 2 | 20-22 inches |
| U5-U8 | Size 3 | 23-24 inches |
| U8-U12 | Size 4 | 25-26 inches |
| U12+ | Size 5 | 27-28 inches |
Wrapping Up
Selecting the right soccer ball size for a player’s age is important for players’ safety and for ensuring players get the most from their soccer training sessions. So I hope you found this guide to soccer ball sizes helpful. Before you go, be sure to check out our other guides on Soccer FAQ to learn more about the greatest game on earth.