Football (ball)

A football is a ball inflated with air that is used to play one of the various sports known as football. In these games, with some exceptions, goals or points are scored only when the ball enters one of two designated goal-scoring areas; football games involve the two teams each trying to move the ball in opposite directions along the field of play.

The first balls were made of natural materials, such as an inflated pig bladder, later put inside a leather cover, which has given rise to the American slang-term "pigskin". Modern balls are designed by teams of engineers to exacting specifications, with rubber or plastic bladders, and often with plastic covers. Various leagues and games use different balls, though they all have one of the following basic shapes:

  • a sphere: used in Association football and Gaelic football
  • a prolate spheroid
  • Ballı

    Ballı (literally "(place) with honey") is a Turkish place name that may refer to the following places in Turkey:

  • Ballı, Ardanuç, a village in the district of Ardanuç, Artvin Province
  • Ballı, Kahta, a village in the district of Kahta, Adıyaman Province
  • Ballı, Mut, a village in the district of Mut, Mersin Province
  • List of Game & Watch games

    This is a list of Game & Watch games released by Nintendo, along with their format and date of release, if known. See lists of video games for related lists. Several of these games were collected and re-released as ports for the Game & Watch Gallery series for Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The games also were re-released as stand-alone titles for the Nintendo Mini Classics series in the late 1990s. Digital versions of the games were created as DSiWare which was released for Nintendo DSi in 2009 (2010 internationally) and for Nintendo 3DS in 2011.

    Models

    Games

    Ball

    Ball, also known as Toss-Up, is a Game & Watch game released as a part of the Silver series on April 28, 1980. It was the first Game & Watch game. It is a single-screen single-player Game & Watch.

    It was rereleased exclusively via Club Nintendo to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Game & Watch, with the Club Nintendo logo on the back. Unlike the original release, this version includes a mute switch. For members of the Japanese Club Nintendo, after an announcement in November 2009, it was shipped in April 2010 to Platinum members. For members of the North American Club Nintendo, it was available for 1200 coins from February 2011. For members of the European Club Nintendo, it was available for 7500 stars from November 2011.

    Ball (association football)

    A football, soccer ball, or association football ball is the ball used in the sport of association football. The name of the ball varies according to whether the sport is called "football", "soccer", or "association football". The ball's spherical shape, as well as its size, weight, and material composition, are specified by Law 2 of the Laws of the Game maintained by the International Football Association Board. Additional, more stringent, standards are specified by FIFA and subordinate governing bodies for the balls used in the competitions they sanction.

    Early footballs began as animal bladders or stomachs that would easily fall apart if kicked too much. Improvements became possible in the 19th century with the introduction of rubber and discoveries of Vulcanization by Charles Goodyear. The modern 32-panel ball design was developed in 1962 by Eigil Nielsen, and technological research continues today to develop footballs with improved performance.

    History

    In 1863, the first specifications for footballs were laid down by the Football Association. Previous to this, footballs were made out of inflated leather, with later leather coverings to help footballs maintain their shapes. In 1872 the specifications were revised, and these rules have been left essentially unchanged as defined by the International Football Association Board. Differences in footballs created since this rule came into effect have been to do with the material used in their creation.

    Ball (gridiron football)

    In Canada and in the United States, the term football refers to a prolate spheroid ball used in the context of playing Gridiron football. Footballs are often made of cow hide leather, as such a material is required in professional and collegiate football. Footballs used in recreation, and in organised youth leagues, may be made of rubber or plastic materials (the high school football rulebooks still allow the inexpensive all-rubber footballs, though they are less common than leather).

    History

    In the 1860s, manufactured inflatable balls were introduced through the innovations of shoemaker Richard Lindon. These were much more regular in shape than the handmade balls of earlier times, making kicking and carrying easier. These early footballs were plum-shaped.

    The football changed in 1934, with a rule change that tapered the ball at the ends more and reduced the size around the middle. This new, sleeker ball made it much easier to handle, particularly for passers.

    Properties

    American football

    American football (referred to as football in the United States and Canada, also known as gridiron elsewhere) is a sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with control of the oval-shaped football, attempts to advance down the field by running with or passing the ball, while the team without control of the ball, the defense, aims to stop their advance and take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, or else they turn over the football to the opposing team; if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs. Points are primarily scored by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins.

    American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of association football and rugby football. The first game of American football was played on November 6, 1869, between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton, under rules based on the association football rules of the time. During the latter half of the 1870s, colleges playing association football switched to the Rugby Union code, which allowed carrying the ball. A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football," established the snap, eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs; later rule changes legalized the forward pass, created the neutral zone, and specified the size and shape of the football.

    Football 1

    Football 1 (Football until December 2013) is the first specialized TV channel in Ukraine, dedicated exceptionally to football broadcasts. Football 1 and Football 2 broadcast Ukrainian and European club competitions, international matches and other football events.

    Coverage

    Football TV Channel is available in packages of more than 500 cable operators all over Ukraine and on the satellite television platform Viasat. Technical coverage of the TV channel in cable networks exceeds 85% according to Gfk data.

    About the channel

    The channel started broadcasting on 18 November 2008 Football TV channel is the official broadcaster of the Ukrainian Premier League. Other national leagues which are broadcast include: England, Spain, Germany, France, Brazil; as well as national cup matches of Italy and England. Alexander Denisov is the Director of Football TV-Channel, commentators are: Sergey Panasyuk (until 2015), Andrey Malynovskiy, Kyrylo Krutorogov, Viktor Vatsko, Oleksandr Myhaylyuk and Roberto Morales. Sergiy Morozov, Yozhef Sabo and Vadym Yevtushenko are invited as experts of the channel.

    Podcasts:

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    Latest News for: football (ball)

    Myles Lewis-Skelly’s secret weapon is Lomu-like hand-off

    The Daily Telegraph 01 Apr 2025
    Comparisons between rugby and football rarely work, but in the case of Lewis-Skelly there are legitimate parallels to be drawn ... Lewis-Skelly’s ability to protect the ball and win fouls makes him the footballing equivalent of a pressure valve.

    'Hands Off!' march in Louisiana to protest President Trump and Elon Musk. What to know

    Gonzales Weekly Citizen 01 Apr 2025
    WATCH. UL football holds first Spring practice of the off season. UL football has officially started spring ball kicking off spring practices on March 25. Here are some running back drills featuring RB Zylan Perry ... until 5 p.m.

    2026 World Cup : Chukwuma Blasts NFF for Failing Nigerians 

    This Day 31 Mar 2025
    A former Vice-chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and Proprietor of Gabros ... “The money that President Tinubu gave the football authorities to prosecute the World Cup is a pure waste.

    Guardiola makes first selection for FA Cup semis

    Jamaica Star 31 Mar 2025
    "I need these types of players against a team I thought we need a lot of ball (against)." ... RASHFORD HAVING A BALL ... I feel like I've slowly been getting fitter and playing better football since I've been here," Rashford said.

    FIFA exhibit marks 44th anniv. of Japan manga "Captain Tsubasa"

    Kyodo 31 Mar 2025
    ... and illustration of Takahashi in celebration of 100 years of Japanese football, the original "Captain Tsubasa" manga series, and a ball dedicated to Tsubasa Ozora, the series' main character.

    The tush push is the hottest topic at the NFL league meetings

    Penn Live 31 Mar 2025
    By ROB MAADDI, AP Pro Football Writer ... “I don’t think the first thing you can do is try to take it out of the ball game because that takes away the creativity of everybody trying to do everything else ... AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.

    Coroner considers football

    BBC News 31 Mar 2025
    An inquest into the death of a former England footballer has considered whether his career could have been a factor in his death ... "He was renowned for being one of the best for heading the ball in his career," she said.

    Tush push is the hottest topic at the NFL league meetings — and a vote is ...

    Baltimore Sun 31 Mar 2025
    “I don’t think the first thing you can do is try to take it out of the ball game because that takes away the creativity of everybody trying to do everything else ... AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed .

    Tush push is hottest topic at NFL league meetings

    Wilmington News Journal 31 Mar 2025
    “I don’t think the first thing you can do is try to take it out of the ball game because that takes away the creativity of everybody trying to do everything else ... AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.

    Oklahoma's Brent Venables defends decision to assume command of Sooners defense: 'Very natural space for me'

    CBS Sports 31 Mar 2025
    Oklahoma coach Brent Venables defended his choice to take over defensive playcalling during a wide-ranging interview with "Josh Pate's College Football Show." ... Our Latest College Football Stories. 2025 college football spring game schedule .

    Future of the 'tush push' on the line at NFL league meetings

    TSN Canada 31 Mar 2025
    “I don’t think the first thing you can do is try to take it out of the ball game because that takes away the creativity of everybody trying to do everything else ... AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.

    'We take it personal': How Houston basketball built a historic defense to return to Final Four

    IndyStar 31 Mar 2025
    Tennessee's all-time assists leader, Zakai Zeigler, had two shots punched like a football out of a six-pack until he moved his 5-foot-9 frame off the ball in search of any life.

    Giants QB Jameis Winston ready to bring his giddy charm to a team in need ...

    Newsday 31 Mar 2025
    It’s the “paradigm shift” the ever-grinning Winston wants to be a starter for, not necessarily the football team although he wouldn’t mind both ... in New York City and being a New York Football Giant.”.

    How the Penn State wrestling dynasty just got better again. Welcome, Rocco Welsh

    The Record Herald 31 Mar 2025
    Penn State football players ball out at Pro Day 2025. 10 Nittany Lions participated in drills and tests in front of NFL scouts Friday in State College ... The prodigious Penn State wrestling team just got stronger, stunningly so ... ...

    Kevin De Bruyne transfer point made as Man City handed Bournemouth FA Cup verdict

    Yahoo Daily News 31 Mar 2025
    Matheus Nunes continued to struggle at full-back, being at fault for the home side's goal ... READ MORE ... READ MORE ... Reader Skps says ... "Possessional football needs players whom are quick, comfortable on the ball ... Commenter De Bruyne Blue writes ... .
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