Question Number: 35625

High School 7/22/2024

RE: HS High School

A.R. Scott of Mount Airy, North Crolina USA asks...

before the soccer match, the referee inflates the games balls to 11 psi per manufacture's recommendation of 10 to 12 psi. The visiting team's coach complains that the balls are to hard. what should the referee do

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi AR
Thanks for the question.

For me I always inflated footballs to the minimum recommended number which for many footballs is 8.5 / 8.7 psi. I rarely see footballs with a range of 10 to 12 psi?

The footballs with a 7-9 psi inflation range are typically used for grassroots or youth league play. This lower pressure provides a slightly softer, more malleable ball that is easier for younger or less experienced players to play with.

In contrast, the 10 to 12 psi inflation range is specified for footballs intended for more competitive, higher-level play. This higher pressure creates a firmer, more responsive ball that professional players prefer. The increased pressure also provides a more consistent bounce and flight characteristics that are important at the highest levels of the game.

The lower pressure balls are better suited for youth and grassroots use, while the higher pressure balls are designed for elite competition.

The key point is that Youth / Underage player do not like playing with a football that feels *hard* to kick.

Ultimately it is the referees call to make and provided the ball meets the required standard then the recommendation on pressure is all that can be followed.
Generally the home team supplies the match balls and the balls are already inflated with only a check required that the balls are inflated correctly.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Here we go:

Type of Ball   Playing Surface   Ideal PSI Range
Size 3 (Junior)   Grass   8.5-10.6 PSI
Size 4 (Youth)   Grass   8.5-11.5 PSI
Size 4 (Youth)   Turf   7.9-10.6 PSI
Size 5 (Adult)   Grass   8.5-15.6 PSI
Size 5 (Adult)   Turf   7.9-11.5 PSI
The reason Soccer Ball PSI is important? The pressure inside your soccer ball can significantly impact its behavior on the field, and ultimately affect your game performance.

If your soccer ball is over or under inflated, it will be harder and more challenging to control. The harder ball will bounce more erratically, making it challenging to predict where it will go. On the other hand, if the ball is underinflated, it will be softer and have less bounce, making it harder to kick and control.

In both cases, the players will struggle to play their best.
I tend to think overinflated balls which become harder and heavier can cause more significant injuries, especially concussive head injuries, even broken bones from kicking it poorly (toes or feet or ankles )to taking it on the end of your nose, or eye wear crushed into the eye socket.
Where as underinflated balls can lead to muscle strains, they require more effort to kick and control. Girls are super susceptible to ACL tears and knee damage.

It is also crucial to understand that different playing surfaces utilize different PSI ranges. Playing on grass requires a higher PSI range than playing on turf, because the grass provides more friction, slowing down the ball’s speed. Playing on turf surfaces, on the other hand, requires a lower PSI range, as the ball travels faster on the smoother surface.

It’s important to check your soccer ball’s PSI regularly, as balls can lose pressure over time due to regular use, temperature changes, and other factors. Ideally, you should check your ball’s pressure before every game or practice session to ensure it’s at the correct pressure. For a referee to not have a pump is troublesome if under inflated but I use the squeeze test and toss it into the air, if it bounces up from the ground into my hands at just below chest height it generally is good to go. If it cannot be compressed or it bounces high & feels hard let a little air out using a pen or something to depress the needle.

The referee decides if the ball is suitable but the home team often is the supplier & if they use a heavier ball but it still is within normal PSI range as long as it is not excessively dangerous home field advantage is a real thing if they train with it!

For a soccer ball to be legally used in a FIFA-sanctioned international match or high school match, it must bear a FIFA quality mark. These quality marks include FIFA QUALITY PRO, FIFA QUALITY, or FIFA BASIC.

If you’re playing high school soccer in the United States, the ball should be NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations)-approved.
For college-level soccer matches in the U.S., NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) -approved balls are necessary.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Referee Scott,

NFHS Rule 2-2-3 states the ball is to be inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. In this case the inflated pressure of 11 psi met the manufacturer's recommendation so the referee has two choices. He/she can deflate the ball one psi which meets the minimum recommended psi or leave the ball as is and tell the coach the ball meets the manufacturer's recommendation as is required by the rule. In either case, the ball must meet the manufacturer's recommendation in order to be compliant with rule and utilized in a high school game.

I know North Carolina plays boys high school soccer in the fall and girls high school soccer starting in February. I hope you have an outstanding fall season and get to work a championship game in November.