Soccer ball size by age
A soccer ball comes in three game sizes. In US youth soccer, players aged 8 and under use a size 3, players aged 9 to 12 use a size 4, and players aged 13 and older use a size 5, the same ball adults use.
Buy the size your child’s age group plays with, not the size they will grow into. A ball that is too big and heavy is harder to control and to kick properly.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
Soccer ball size chart by age group
| Age group | Ages | Ball size | Game | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U6, U7, U8 | 8 and under | Size 3 | 4v4 | USSF, USYS |
| U9, U10 | 9 and 10 | Size 4 | 7v7 | USSF, USYS |
| U11, U12 | 11 and 12 | Size 4 | 9v9 | USSF, USYS |
| U13 to U19 | 13 and older | Size 5 | 11v11 | USYS |
| Adults | Size 5 | 11v11 | IFAB |
USSF = U.S. Soccer small-sided standards. USYS = US Youth Soccer playing rules, December 2025. IFAB = Laws of the Game, Law 2. AYSO uses the same sizes for its 6U to 19U divisions. Typical US youth standards for the 2026-27 season; your league may differ. Checked on November 10, 2026.
How big is each ball?
The size number is printed on the ball. If it has worn off, measure around the middle with a tape.
| Ball | Around the ball | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size 3 | 23 to 24 in (58 to 61 cm) | 11 to 12 oz | USYS |
| Size 4 | 25 to 26 in (64 to 66 cm) | 11 to 13 oz | USYS |
| Size 5 | 27 to 28 in (68 to 70 cm) | 14 to 16 oz (410 to 450 g) | USYS, IFAB |
| Futsal ball | 62 to 64 cm (about 24.5 to 25 in) | 400 to 440 g (about 14 to 15.5 oz) | FIFA |
Inches and ounces are from US Youth Soccer Rule 303; the centimetres for sizes 3 and 4 are those inches converted and rounded. Size 5 and the futsal ball are the figures in the Laws. AYSO lists slightly different weights for sizes 3 and 4.
How to pick the right ball
- Go by the age group your child plays in, such as U10, not by height or by skill.
- If your child plays up an age group, use the ball that team uses in games.
- Check the number printed near the valve: 3, 4 or 5.
- For practice at home, the game size is the best choice. First touch and passing feel different with every size.
- A futsal ball is not a small soccer ball. It is heavier for its size and made to bounce low, and it is only for futsal.
Why young players use a smaller ball
- A smaller, lighter ball fits a smaller foot, so a child can strike through the middle of it.
- The Laws of the Game let youth soccer change the size, weight and material of the ball.
- U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards match the ball to the field and the number of players, so every child gets more touches.
- England’s FA uses different bands: size 3 up to under-11, size 4 at under-12 and under-13, and size 5 from under-14.
Questions about ball size by age
What size soccer ball does a 7-year-old need?
A size 3. In US youth standards every age group up to U8 plays with a size 3 ball.
What size soccer ball for a 10-year-old?
A size 4. U9 to U12 teams, which means players aged 9 to 12, use a size 4 in the U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer standards.
What age uses a size 5 soccer ball?
From U13, which means age 13 and under, upward. A size 5 is the full-size ball of the adult game: 27 to 28 inches around.
Is a size 4 ball much smaller than a size 5?
It is about 2 inches less around: 25 to 26 inches against 27 to 28. It is also lighter, at 11 to 13 ounces against 14 to 16.
What size is a futsal ball?
The Futsal Laws give 62 to 64 cm around and 400 to 440 g. That is close to a size 4 in width, but it is heavier and made to bounce less.
Free lessons to start with
- Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
- Carry or Pass? (7v7 lesson)Watch which route the defender leaves open.
- Receive: Turn or Connect (9v9 lesson)Check the space before receiving; a turn and a return solve different pressure.
- Look, Control & Choose (Futsal lesson)Look before receiving. Turn into room, or use support when pressure closes it.
Keep reading
- Soccer field size by ageField, goal and game length for each age group
- Soccer age groups explainedU6 to U19, birth dates and which game each one plays
- Substitutions and game length by ageHow long games last and how changes work
- Heading rules for kids in the USNo heading at 10 and under
- Futsal rules that differ from soccerA smaller ball, a smaller court
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.