A bad training ball is worse than no ball at all. Cheap balls that don't hold air properly, that are too light in wind, or that deform on contact teach incorrect technique — players compensate for a bad ball by developing bad habits. After coaching grassroots football for 15 years, here's what I actually look for.
| Size | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Best for youngest playersSize 3 | U7-U9 — non-negotiable, preserves touch sensitivity. | A size 5 ball at this age destroys technique — don't substitute up. |
| Best all-rounderSize 4 | U10-U13 — the standard junior training ball. | Buy training-specific balls, not match balls, for technical sessions. |
| Best for older playersSize 5 | U14 and above — full match ball size. | Still worth buying training-weight balls separately from match balls. |
Size first: get this wrong and everything else doesn't matter
Size 3: U7 through to U9. Non-negotiable. A size 5 ball for a 7-year-old is like giving an adult a basketball to dribble with. Touch sensitivity disappears.
Size 4: U10 through to U13. This is the standard junior training ball.
Size 5: U14 and above. Match ball size.
Size 3 training balls: Size 3 match ball* · Nike Academy size 3*
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Match training balls vs. match balls
You don't need match balls for training — in fact, for technical sessions, a slightly heavier training ball often produces better results. The additional weight forces players to use correct technique rather than relying on momentum. For possession drills and rondos, a standard training ball is better than a lightweight match ball.
Buy match balls for match day. Buy training balls for training. The cost difference is substantial.
Size 4 training balls: Mitre Delta Max size 4* · Nike size 4 training* · Adidas Tiro League size 4*
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How many balls do you need?
As many as possible. The benchmark I use: every player should have a ball in any activity that doesn't require sharing. For a squad of 16, that's 16 size-appropriate balls available at training. In practice, 12 is workable for most sessions.
Buy in bulk where possible — individual training balls are significantly more expensive than buying a training bag set.
Ball bag sets: 12-ball training set with bag* · 10-ball carry bag set*
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Futsal balls
If you run any indoor or futsal sessions, a proper futsal ball (low bounce, weighted) is essential. Using an outdoor ball indoors negates almost all the developmental benefits of the futsal format. The futsal ball's low bounce is what forces close control.
Futsal balls: Futsal ball size 4* · Mitre futsal size 4*
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What I actually use
For outdoor training with U10–U14 squads: size 4 Mitre or adidas training balls, bought in sets of 12. For younger age groups: size 3 Nike or adidas Academy balls. For GK training: a mix of sizes to vary service height and weight.
Looking after training balls
A ball left out in wet grass overnight, or stored in a damp shed between sessions, loses air pressure and shape far faster than one dried off and stored somewhere dry. Deflating balls slightly for storage over a long close-season break, rather than leaving them fully pumped for months, also helps the bladder and stitching last longer.
When balls go missing
A training bag that started the season with 12 balls rarely still has 12 by the end of it — balls get kicked into hedges, left behind, or borrowed and not returned. A quick, casual count at the end of each session (rather than only noticing when the bag is suddenly light) catches losses early enough to actually recover the ball, rather than discovering the shortfall weeks later.