FOOTBALL AND GOAL SIZING VARIATION
... the right size of football and goals make a difference ...
As football sports science has improved so has our understanding of player physical development as they grow. Previously it was thought that only a single - adult - ball size was required, however medical and physiotherapy analysis has shown that there is a need for varying the size of the football during a player's development from junior to teenager to adult. Today we have an assortment of football types and sizes to choose from.
Size 1 (Mini)
Players of all Ages
Great for kicking around and practicing core football skills
Size 3
Ages 7 and Under
Smaller size and lighter weight make it ideal for little players
Size 4
Ages 8 - 11
Medium ball has same qualities as a full size ball with less weight
Size 5
Ages 12 and Over
Official size for older teens and adult footballs all over the world
Futsal
Players of all ages
Slightly smaller with low bounce for small sided indoor games.
The gerenal rule of thumb is the smaller the stature of the player the smaller the ball should be that they are normally practicing with. Using larger balls for smaller players consistently over long periods could lead to injuries as joung legs are not strong enough to deal with larger, heavier balls. The difference between most size 3 and 4 balls in terms of weight isn't going to make a huge difference in younger years, however, it is high recommended that players under 9 do not use size 5 balls regularly as their ability to control the ball and understand how to move the ball will alter radically - smaller players will not be able to move larger balls as the would correct size balls and so the player's ability to develop 'first touch' coordination will be impacted. Smaller size 1 balls are often useful to all players to develop ball control and agility.
Just as there are variations and recommendations for football sizes, there are associated options for goal sizes too. Assuming that the size of the playing area is not a limiting factor, i.e. your garden or field is big enough to accomodate them, it is recommended that players practice with the right size of goals for their age and size. The combination of the right sized footballs with the right size of goals will help the player develop the correct sense of perspective for their training - specifically ball control and ball movement towards goal and shooting / scoring will develop better.
Having goals which are too small or too large will make their practicing harder or easier - i.e. shooting a small foorball into a larger goal may look good, but over time the repetitive muscle memory which is essential to becoming skilled with moving the ball around will not be accurate. This is why the club has a range of different sized goals for the different year groups to use and why we train using the appropriate size of goals for each age group of players. In many countries - i.e. some of the better ones in terms of football - the amound of time spent on pure foot skill and ball skills is higher as it is crucial for players to develop the basic knowledge before moving on to more advanced activiies.
The goal sizing chart below provides a guide for how each size of goal should be applied.
