Footballs

Baseball might be the American pastime, but there's little doubt that football is truly America's favorite sport. What's keeping you from playing? Oh, you need a football, of course. This guide will give you the basics on how to get a great ball,  whether you just want it to play around with in the backyard, or if you are seriously into the sport.

Football

Age (years)

League

Foam footballs Under 6NA
K2 footballs 6-9Pee-Wee
TDJ/Junior footballs 9-12Pop Warner
TDY footballs 12-14Youth
Collegiate footballs 14 and olderNCAA
Official football 14 and olderNFL

Choosing is easy, since all you have to worry about is the size and the material. Typically, your age determines what size ball you need and the type of playing you plan to do with the ball affects the type of material you choose. For sizing, check out the chart on the right, created on E-Bay. For material choices, read on.

Leather  and synthetic leather footballs  are the two most popular types of materials used for making footballs, although rubber footballs  are available too. Why choose rubber? It's great for kids. They can play with it outside, inside, or even in the pool since it is water-resistant. In addition, rubber footballs are the most inexpensive type of ball there is. Don't bother with these balls if you are seriously into football since they don't handle well.

Now for grownup style footballs. Synthetic materials make a football durable and easy to play with. Plus they have a good grip and they are moderately priced. Full-grain leather footballs  are the top of the line. They are by far the best option for enthusiast players, adults and the pros. These are also the only choice for game play. When you are shopping, note whether the football is made of full-grain,  split-grain,  or genuine leather.  Split and genuine leather are less expensive and don't have as great a grip as full grain leather, but they are still better than synthetic.

One final note, is that once you start looking into official balls, you might notice that the shape varies from being pointy to rounded. If you are working on throwing, a pointed ball is a better choice, and for catching, a rounded ball.

Here are some visual examples of different footballs that you might want to buy.

Team Footballs 

Nerf Footballs 

Signed Footballs 

Foam Footballs 

Major Manufacturers

Popular NFL Teams

Once you get your hands around one of these footballs, you're ready to enter the world of football. If you are already a fanatic, chances are you have a favorite professional team. Here are some popular choices:

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

New England Patriots

Green Bay Packers

Arizona Cardinals
 

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