Finding a training ball that doesn’t suck is harder than one would think. Many soccer balls out there are not made with the highest quality materials, to say the least. Some have practically zero air retention ability. Others just plain don’t feel the right size. You’d think there would be some standards to follow out there, right? Well you’d be correct. Luckily, Adidas has found such a system to ensure a high quality training ball is available to you, so you’re not stuck with a terrible ball for a training session. In short, the Adidas Speedcell Training ball is class.
Adidas has decided to adhere to a certain standard with the production of this ball, making this ball NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) approved. So what’s that mean for you? You get a spherical ball (unsurprisingly, a good characteristic of a ball!) made of leather or high quality material (in this case, leather) with excellent air retention and inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure right out of the box. Bottom line: you’ll be able to jump right in and start playing with this ball in training right out of the box. Another sweet feature of the ball is that it is also approved by the ever popular FIFA. That means you get a ball that can be used in FIFA approved competitions. You also are ensured a ball with a standard circumference, excellent feel and weight, superb water absorption quality, and some of the best rebounding characteristics in the soccer ball market. The approvals do speak for themselves, but just to make sure, I put it through some testing and the ball lived up to the hype. I felt I had excellent control on the ball, it flew with predictability and precision, and the ball just felt like a premium match ball at my feet. Perhaps my favorite feature on the ball that I have yet to mention is the fact that this ball has zero stitching. So how does the ball stay put together? The panels are heated together for optimum air retention. The technology works like a charm.
The ball looks pretty cool, too. The ball is mostly white all over and mirrors the premium Speedcell Match Ball, which will be used in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The ball has some stylish blue panels with some modern feel to it. Gray contour lines surround the ball and the blue panels, too, and look pretty professional. Plus, the ball has got the Adidas and NFHS logos, so you know you’re getting a high quality product at your feet right from the first touch of the ball. Overall, it’s a sweet ball and at under $40, you could certainly use this ball for training or matches.
Looking for SoccerProse updates? Like us on Facebook or subscribe to our RSS feed so you get your updates how you want. Sweet deal.
