ABSTRACT
The FIFA Denominations programme was devised in 1994 to regulate and assess the performance and quality of top match soccer balls. As with most ball sports the tests tend to be quasi-static and the specification does not provide for the assessment of dynamic ball performance. In order to develop dynamic ball performance tests and standards, it is necessary to appreciate ball launch values obtained from professional players. These data could then be used to enable realistic parameters to be established for dynamic ball tests. The first part of this study has endeavoured to obtain ball launch data based on three different kick types using professional players from English League clubs. The second part of the study examined the effect of valve location at impact. It is apparent that many professional soccer players believe that valve position at impact can affect the ball launch characteristics, yet no published data exist to support this theory.
