Soccer Ball Sizes by Age: Size 3, 4 and 5 Explained (Chart and Circumference)

Soccer balls come in five numbered sizes, and three of them are used for matches. Size 5, at 68-70 cm (27-28 in) around, is the adult and official match ball for ages 12 and up; size 4, at 25-26 in, is the youth ball for ages 8-12; and size 3, at 23-24 in, is the ball for players 8 and under. A 6 year old plays with a size 3, a 9 year old with a size 4 and a 13 year old with a size 5.

Soccer ball sizes at a glance

Soccer ball sizes are numbered 1 through 5. The number is a label, not a measurement, so the table below lists the circumference and weight behind each one. Circumference is the distance around the widest part of the ball, and it is the figure the FIFA Laws of the Game use to define the size 5 match ball.

Only sizes 3, 4 and 5 are match balls. Sizes 1 and 2 are for footwork, juggling and promotional use, and no match weight is published for them, so those cells are left blank rather than guessed.

Soccer ball size by age chart

US Youth Soccer and AYSO use the same age chart. Age groups are written as U (under) plus a number, so U8 is the group for players under 8 on the league cutoff date. The chart also lists the small-sided format and the recommended goal for each group, because the ball, the number of players and the goal are scaled together as children grow.

Three quick reference points: a player who is 6 years old plays with a size 3 ball, a 9 year old with a size 4 and a 13 year old with a size 5. When a child sits on a boundary, such as an 8 year old moving from U8 to U9, follow the age group the child is registered in rather than the birthday alone. The league assignment decides the ball.

Size 5: the adult and official match ball

Size 5 is the only soccer ball size defined in the FIFA Laws of the Game. Law 2 requires a circumference of 68-70 cm (27-28 in), a weight of 410-450 g (14-16 oz) at the start of the match, and a pressure of 0.6-1.1 atmospheres (600-1,100 g/cm2, about 8.5-15.6 psi) measured at sea level.

Every level from U13 upward plays with a size 5. That includes high school soccer under NFHS rules, college soccer under NCAA rules, MLS, NWSL and international play. If your program fields any team age 12 or older, size 5 is the ball you are buying.

The weight is checked at the start of the match because a ball can change during play as it picks up moisture and dirt. Any requirement for a specific approval stamp or logo on the ball beyond the Law 2 specification varies by league, so confirm with your governing body before ordering match balls in bulk.

Size 4: the youth ball for ages 8-12

Size 4 has a circumference of 25-26 in (63.5-66 cm) and weighs 350-390 g (12-13 oz). It is the ball for ages 8-12, which in US Youth Soccer covers U9 through U12 and both of the intermediate small-sided formats, 7v7 and 9v9.

Size 4 covers the widest span of youth play: four age groups and two formats. A U9 player and a U12 player use the same ball even though the U9 plays 7v7 on a 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft goal and the U12 plays 9v9 on a 7 ft x 21 ft goal. That is deliberate. The ball stays constant for four seasons while the field, the goal and the number of players grow around it, so players build touch on one ball before stepping up to a size 5 at U13.

Size 3: the right soccer ball size for a 6 year old

Size 3 has a circumference of 23-24 in (58.5-61 cm) and weighs 300-320 g (11-12 oz). It is the ball for ages 8 and under, meaning U6, U7 and U8, which play the 4v4 format on a 4 ft x 6 ft goal.

If you are searching for the soccer ball size for a 6 year old, the answer is size 3. That holds whether the child plays in US Youth Soccer, AYSO or a recreation league that follows either chart. Buying a size 4 "to grow into" is a common mistake at this age. A ball that is one size too large is harder for a small player to control, kick over distance and head safely.

The size 3 exists so technique is learned before power. A 6 year old learning to strike with the laces, receive with the inside of the foot and dribble under pressure will do all of that better on a ball scaled to their body.

Sizes 1 and 2: skills and mini balls

Size 2 has a circumference of about 20-22 in. It is a skills and juggling ball, useful for close-control drills and footwork, and it is not used for matches. Size 1 is smaller still, at 18-20 in around, and is sold as a mini or promotional ball. Neither has a published match weight or pressure, and neither belongs on a game field. They are practice tools and keepsakes, not substitutes for a size 3.

Futsal balls: a size 4 that plays differently

A futsal ball is a size 4 by name, but it is built to a different specification. Its circumference is 62-64 cm (24.4-25.2 in), slightly smaller than an outdoor size 4. It weighs 400-440 g (14-15.5 oz), which puts it in the same weight range as an outdoor size 5. Pressure is 0.6-0.9 atmospheres, and the ball must show a first bounce of 50-65 cm when dropped from a height of 2 m onto a hard surface.

The combination of a smaller casing, more weight and lower pressure is what gives a futsal ball its reduced bounce, which keeps play on the floor in an indoor court. Do not use a futsal ball for outdoor youth matches or an outdoor size 4 for futsal. They share a number and nothing else.

Why the right ball size matters

The step from size 3 to size 4 and from size 4 to size 5 is timed to match how much force a player can put into the ball. A ball that is too large or too heavy for the player is harder to control on the first touch, harder to kick over distance and harder to head safely. The lighter size 3 and size 4 balls exist so that technique is learned before power, and the age chart is how leagues enforce that progression. For coaches, the practical rule is simple: practice with the ball your players will use in matches, and only go down a size, never up, when introducing a new skill.

How to measure a soccer ball

Balls lose their printed markings over a season, and donated or mixed equipment bags often contain sizes you cannot identify by eye. A tape measure settles it in a few seconds.

• Wrap a flexible tape measure around the widest part of the ball; this is the circumference.
• Read the tape in inches or centimeters and compare it to the size table: 23-24 in is a size 3, 25-26 in is a size 4, 27-28 in (68-70 cm) is a size 5.
• A reading of about 20-22 in is a size 2 and 18-20 in is a size 1; set those aside for skills work.
• Check pressure with a needle gauge before measuring, because a soft ball will read small.
• Inflate to the range printed near the valve. For a size 5 match ball that range is 0.6-1.1 atmospheres (about 8.5-15.6 psi); for a futsal ball it is 0.6-0.9 atmospheres.
• For match balls, weigh a sample: 300-320 g for size 3, 350-390 g for size 4, 410-450 g for size 5.
• Lay out training areas by age group so each group has the goal that matches its ball: 4 ft x 6 ft for size 3, 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft or 7 ft x 21 ft for size 4, and 8 ft x 24 ft for size 5.

Planning your space

Ball size and goal size travel together in the US Youth Soccer recommendations, so planning a facility starts with the age groups you serve. U6-U8 play 4v4 on a goal 4 ft high x 6 ft wide. U9-U10 play 7v7 on a 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft goal. U11-U12 play 9v9 on a 7 ft x 21 ft goal. U13 and older play 11v11 on the full-size 8 ft x 24 ft goal, which is 2.44 m x 7.32 m.

For an indoor or backyard setup, goal height sets the minimum overhead clearance. A full-size goal stands 8 ft tall, so any ceiling, netting frame or light fixture above the goal line must clear that height, and a 4v4 goal needs only 4 ft. Goal width sets the footprint along the end line: 24 ft for full size, 21 ft for 9v9, 18.5 ft for 7v7 and 6 ft for 4v4. Leave room to walk behind and beside each goal for setup and anchoring.

Field dimensions, run-off distance behind the goal line and backstop netting height vary by league and are not covered here. Check your governing body before pouring footings or ordering permanent netting.

A club that fields U8, U10 and U14 teams needs three ball sizes and three goal sizes: size 3 with a 4 ft x 6 ft goal, size 4 with a 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft goal, and size 5 with an 8 ft x 24 ft goal. Store balls in bags or bins labeled by size so a size 5 does not end up in a U8 warm-up.

Lighter training balls for younger players

Match-weight balls are not the only option for practice. The Bownet Lite Soccer Ball ($15) in the JoySport Store catalog is offered in size 3, size 4 and size 5 and is 21-29% lighter than a standard ball of the same size: 260 g for size 3, 290 g for size 4 and 320 g for size 5. It is built with a soft rubber bladder, a 3.50 mm EVA foam layer, a polyester fabric layer and a TPU outer casing, and it is designed for skill training and heading practice with younger players.

For indoor programs, the Bownet Futsal Ball ($37) is a hand-sewn regulation size 4 futsal ball weighing 408 g, with a butyl bladder stuffed with wool fiber to keep the bounce low.

Treat a lite ball as a training tool, not a match ball. The 260 g size 3 lite ball sits below the 300-320 g match range, so players should rotate back to a match-weight ball before games so the feel on the foot is familiar.

Sources

Size 5 circumference, weight and pressure come from Law 2 of the FIFA Laws of the Game. The age chart, small-sided formats and goal recommendations come from US Youth Soccer and are shared by AYSO. Use of the size 5 ball at high school, college and professional levels follows NFHS, NCAA, MLS and NWSL rules. Futsal ball specifications follow the FIFA futsal ball standard. Product weights, prices and construction details are taken from the JoySport Store catalog listings for the Bownet Lite Soccer Ball and Bownet Futsal Ball.

Shop the gear

Browse soccer balls and training lite balls for size 3, 4 and 5 match and practice balls. See soccer goals and netting systems for goals paired with backstop and containment netting. For goals alone, from 4v4 to full size, visit soccer goals.

Frequently asked questions

What soccer ball size does a 6 year old use?

A 6 year old uses a size 3 ball. Size 3 measures 23-24 in (58.5-61 cm) around, weighs 300-320 g (11-12 oz) and is used by U6 through U8 in the 4v4 format.

What ages use a size 4 soccer ball?

Ages 8-12, which is U9 through U12 in US Youth Soccer, covering the 7v7 and 9v9 formats. Size 4 measures 25-26 in (63.5-66 cm) and weighs 350-390 g (12-13 oz).

What are the official size 5 soccer ball specifications?

Under FIFA Law 2, a size 5 has a circumference of 68-70 cm (27-28 in), weighs 410-450 g (14-16 oz) at the start of the match and is inflated to 0.6-1.1 atmospheres (about 8.5-15.6 psi) at sea level.

Is a futsal ball the same as a size 4 soccer ball?

No. A futsal ball is a size 4 by name but measures 62-64 cm (24.4-25.2 in), weighs 400-440 g (14-15.5 oz), is inflated to 0.6-0.9 atmospheres and must bounce only 50-65 cm on the first bounce when dropped from 2 m onto a hard surface.

How do I measure a soccer ball to find its size?

Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of the ball and read the circumference: 23-24 in is size 3, 25-26 in is size 4 and 27-28 in is size 5. Check pressure with a needle gauge first and inflate to the range printed near the valve.

Do high school and college soccer use a size 5 ball?

Yes. Size 5 is used by everyone age 12 and up (U13 and older), including high school under NFHS, college under NCAA, MLS, NWSL and international play.

What goal size goes with each soccer ball size?

US Youth Soccer recommends a 4 ft x 6 ft goal with the size 3 ball (U6-U8), a 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft goal for 7v7 and a 7 ft x 21 ft goal for 9v9 with the size 4 ball (U9-U12), and a full-size 8 ft x 24 ft goal with the size 5 ball (U13 and older).