Question Number: 15578

Law 2 - The Ball 5/23/2007

RE: House/Select/Travel/Premier Under 19

Chris Reddy of Rochester, NY USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 13740

In reading your answer for the size and pressure of a soccer ball - .6 to 1.1 atmospheres, I was very surprised, because I have been inflating to around 8 PSI - doing the conversion, I see that would be the absolute minimum! What is recommended for normal play? Do you adjust the ball pressure before the game based on field conditions (harder for a soft field, softer for a dry, hard field)? Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Chris, why would you deliberately inflate the ball to 8,0 PSI when Law 2 specifically states the minimum pressure is 8,5 PSI?

The longer and wetter the grass the harder the ball. The harder and drier the softer. 0,75-0,80 bar seems a good start for amateur players and U-19's Some players like it a bit harder, too. As a coach I trained with the balls at 0,9 bar, offered the referee three balls set to 0,80 bar [had a gauge in hand should he wish to check]. This allowed my guys to have a "softer" ball on a match and their opponents to have a harder one! All perfectly legal, too.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Chris -

I also live in Rochester... I don't know why, but you don't seem to be the only one. I consistetly arrive at fields where the coaches have the ball pumped up between 6-8 PSI (I know this, becuase I check the pressure - every time!). That is far too low!

If left to me, I'll put the ball up to 12 PSI, 14 for professional games. If the teams want it softer then I'll go to 10, but really the ball should conform to law 2. The game will have worse flow with an improperly inflated ball.

I hope our city catches on one day... but I doubt it will, so rest assured I'll have my gauge and pump on hand at all times.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18069