Four panels of
pebble-grained leather, eight white lacings, two white stripes. It seams
so simple when you break it down, but footballs have been at the center
of some of the most dramatic events in sports history. From the backyard
to the Super Bowl, footballs are at the core of America's game. But how
are these simple, yet complex sports balls made? Watch the following
video, to see how your favorite footballs are put together in the
Wilson Football Factory, in Ada, Ohio:
An officially sized football means that the ball meets NCAA and/or NFL standards for
football size and weight. Currently, the NCAA and NFL use the same
standards. Their official footballs used in games must meet fall within
the following ranges:
Short circumference: 20 3/4" - 21
1/4"
Longer
circumference: 27 3/4" - 28 1/2"
Weight:
14oz - 15oz
Official footballs must also be made of
four panels of pebble-grained leather, eight equally spaced lacings
(typically made of leather as well) and two 1" white stripes, spaced 3 -
3 1/4" from the end of the ball.
Leather Footballs:
Made from synthetic leather
