Outdoor balls
Outdoor balls from Derbystar are suitable for use on grass and artificial turf.
Size and weight of an outdoor ball
When buying a football, pay close attention to the size and weight of the ball! Especially for young players, it can put a real strain on their muscles and joints if they play with a ball that's too heavy! Outdoor and street footballs are generally size 5, the weight of the ball ranges from 290 grams for the youngest players under 8 years old up to a maximum of 450 grams for seniors. The weight breakdown of the balls is as follows:
Seniors - 450 grams; Youth 15-18 years - 370-450 grams; Youth 10-15 years - 320-370 grams; Youth up to 10 years - 290 grams (ball size 4).
Material of an outdoor ball
The outer layer of a football is mostly made from PVC or polyurethane. All match balls are made from polyurethane, which is a wear resistant and durable material. A polyurethane ball also stays playable in different weather conditions. PVC balls wear out faster and play worse in cold and rain, so it's recommended to store these balls indoors once the temperature drops! Outdoor balls have a strong bounce, which makes the game faster and more unpredictable.
Outdoor balls with a quality mark
Some balls have an official quality mark, which you can see from the stamp on the ball. The balls can carry one of the following quality marks:
FIFA Quality PRO, FIFA Quality, International Match Standard (IMS)
These quality marks are a good measure of the ball's quality level, showing that the ball is of top quality. Before a ball receives such a quality mark, it's tested on things like weight, circumference, water absorption and shape change at different temperatures.