Youth Development

GERMAN AND DUTCH FA PLACE STRICT GUIDELINES ON THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL

 

THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND THE LIGHT AND SUPER LIGHT RANGE: 

DESIGN A BALL THAT IS MADE IN PROPORTION TO A CHILD'S BODY WEIGHT

 

DERBYSTAR IS ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN THE DESIGN OF THE LIGHT AND SUPER LIGHT BALLS.  THIS INNOVATION HAS SEEN THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL IN THE YOUTH PROGRAMS IN GERMANY AND HOLLAND IN RECENT YEARS.  SINCE 2001, THE GERMAN FA AND THE DUTCH FA HAVE BOTH MANDATED THE USE OF LIGHT AND SUPER LIGHT BALLS.

Why use weight adjusted balls?

The benefits of a using a weight adjusted ball for children becomes most obvious when children make long passes, strike a ball on goal, and hit corner kicks or free kicks.  Areas of the game which are very difficult for a young child suddenly become achievable and they gain confidence as a result.  When a ball is too heavy and hard, a child simply learns to kick as hard as they can and are easily discouraged.  Children using a ball that is properly weighted and uses higher quality material learn faster.  They learn how to get better control of the ball, how to weight passes differently, how to shoot using different techniques, and also develop their weaker foot.

Why do the German and Dutch children begin to play with a size 4 Super Light ball?  

A larger ball is easier for a child to kick and thus scaling down the weight on a larger ball effectively helps to make the game easier for a child.  This system also allows for an earlier transition into a size 5 ball.  Instead of a child having to adjust to both size and weight changes at later stages, the child can become comfortable with the size and is only required to adjust to the weight when they make the transition into an official size 5 ball.  

Why do children learn more with light and super light balls?

Children can effectively move the ball more efficiently around the field and therefore are able to learn as a result. Developing the basic techniques of the game such as dribbling, shooting and passing are easier for a child using light and super light balls.  A heavy and hard ball will be harder for a child to kick and they will need to exert more force to kick the ball without it moving very far.  The light and super light balls allow children to move the ball at a pace that makes the game more fun and allows them to try different techniques.