DEAS/ 1122:2022  
ICS 61.060  
 
© EA C 2022                                                                                                                           Edition 2022   
  DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
 
Sport balls — Specifica tion — Part 1 : Outdoor Footballs   
  
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 DEAS/ 1122:2022  
 
ii © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
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© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Table of Contents  
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
4.1       General Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2       specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  2 
5 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  4 
6 Marking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  4 
Annex A  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  5 
Annex B  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  6 
Annex C  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  8 
Annex D  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  9 
Annex E  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  11 
Annex F ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  13 
ANNEX G  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  15 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  16 
 
 
 DEAS/ 1122:2022  
 
iv © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
  
Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of produ cts and  services in the East African  Commun ity. It i s envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African  Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated  to devel op and  
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private se ctor 
organizations  in the community .  
East African S tandar ds are developed through  Technical Committees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East Afr ican St andards are circulated to sta keholde rs throug h the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the principles  and procedures for developme nt of E ast African  Standards.  
East A frican Standards  are s ubject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are i mplemen ting.  
The committee responsi ble for this doc ument is Technical Committee EASC/TC 06 3, Leather and Leather 
Products  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be he ld resp onsible for identifying any o r all s uch patent  rights. 
 DEAS/ 1122:2022  
 
© EAC 2021 – All right s reserved  
  
  
Sport balls — Specifica tion — Part 1 : Outdoor 
Footballs   
 
1 Scope   
This Draft East Africa n Standard Specifies  the requirements, sampling and test methods for outdoor    
footballs .  
2 Normative referen ces  
The following documents are ref erred to in the text in such a way that some or al l of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the refe renced document (including an y amend ments) ap plies. 
ISO 2589:2016 Leather  — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of  thickness  
ISO 11640:2018  Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to cycles of to -and-fro rubbing  
ISO 11642:2012  Leath er — Tests for colour fastnes s — Colour fastness to water  
 
3 Terms and defini tions   
. 
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 
PU coate d leather   
leath er with a coating of polyurethane  
 
3.2 
PVC coated textiles  
textiles with a coating of polyvin ylchlor ide 
 
3.3  
synthetic materials  
materials made of PU, PVC and other synthetic materials which are used  as natural leather substitut e  
  
2 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
  
 
4 Requirements  
4.1 G enera l Requirements  
The footballs shall fulfil the following gene ral requirements  
a)  Have a s afety v alve t o prevent the loss of pressure  
b) Bladder shall retain the inflation pressure  
c) For footballs having panels, the latt er shall be well sewn together,  and the seams shall be intact  
 
 
   
 
4.1.1 Material requirements  
 
The footballs may be made of  stitch ed leather, stitched synthetic mate rial o r moulded material that shall 
comply w ith th e requirements given in Table 1.  
 
4.1.2 Workmanship  
Footballs shall be free from all defects which   might affect their functionality  
Footballs shall have a smoot h surfa ce finish.  
 
4.1.3 Shape, dimens ions and mass    
 
Shape, dimensions and mass for various grades shall be as given in Table 1 . 
 
4.2 specific requirements  
Table 1  — Material characteristics and  specific requirements  for outd oor football  
 
Characteristic  Materia ls and requirements   Test method 
Grade 1 
(size 5)  
(13 year 
and a bove) Grade 2 
(size 5)  
(13 year 
and a bove)  (size 4)  
(U10-12) 
 Size 3 
(U7-9 years ) 
Weight , g 420 – 445 410 – 450 350 – 390 312 –340 Annex A  
Circumferen ce, mm  685 – 695 680 – 700 635 – 660 585-610 Annex B 
Sphericity, % , Max.  1.5 1.8 1.8 1.8 Annex B  
Loss of pressure, max . 20 25 25 25 Annex C   
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  3 
 Water absorption test  
a) Average water uptake of the initial 
mass of the tested balls, %, max.  
 
b) Water uptake p er ball, %, max.  
  
10 
 
 
 
15  
15 
 
 
 
20  
15 
 
 
 
20 15 
 
 
20  
 
Annex D  
Rebound at 20  °C, 
cm 
 120 – 165 115 – 165 110 – 160 110 -  150 Annex E  
Rebound at 5  °C, cm, min . 
 120 110 110 110 Annex E  
Difference between lowest and highest 
rebound per ball tested, mm , max . 10 10 10 10 Annex E  
Shape an d size r etenti on test, including 
change of pressure (after 2  000 kicks)  
 
a)         Damage to seams and air valve  
 
b) Increase in circumference, mm, 
max.  
c) Deviation on sphericity  
d) Change of pressure, bar, max.  
 
Ball pressure , bars (+/- 0.01)  
 
Seam /Valve  
 
 
None 
 
1.5 
 
 
1.5 
 
0.1 
 
0.8 
 
No damage   
 
 
— 
 
— 
 
 
— 
 
— 
 
0.8 
 
No damage   
 
 
— 
 
— 
 
 
— 
 
— 
 
0.8 
 
No 
damage   
 
— 
— 
— 
— 
 
0.8 
 
No damage   
 
 
Annex  
F 
 
 
FIFA    
 
Visaul  
 U= Under   
4 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
 The football  cove rs sh all also comply  with the additional  requirements given in Table 2  
Table 2 - physical requirement s for the footba ll cove r  
S/N Characteristics  Requirement  Test methods  
i.  Thickness, mm, min  2.2 ISO 2589  
iii. Colour fastness to water, min  4 ISO 11642  
iv Colour fastness to rubb ing, min  4 ISO 11640  
 
5 Packaging 
 Football shall be packed in a suit able m anner so a s to pr otect it from damage du ring normal transportation, 
storage and handling  
The football  shall be packed in individ ual suitable material  and th en so packed, in suit able bulk contai ners,  as 
to protect the m from damage  during transport ation and storage.  
 
6 Markin g 
6.1 Each ball shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following ; 
 
a) Name of the material;  
b) Manufacturer’s name  and/or registered trade mark;  
c) Month and year of manufacture;  
d) country of origin;  
e) Batch numbe r. 
f) Size  
 
6.2  Bulk  Package   
 
Each b ale shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the following information:  
 
a) Name of product  as football s; 
b)  The n umber of bal ls; 
c) Name of manufacturer or local supplier’s name and/or regis tered trade mark ; and  
d) country of origin. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  5 
 Annex A  
(normative)  
 
Determina tion o f weight  
 
A.1 Principle  
 
The weight of balls is very important to ensure con sistence for t he wind resistant . 
  
A.2 Apparatus  
 
An electronic balance, c apable of measuring to the nearest 0.01 g. 
 
A.3 Procedur e 
 
Select 3 pre -conditioned balls. Wei gh them  in an  enclosed chamber to avoi d wind flow. Record the mass to 
the nearest 0.01  g. 
 
A.4 Results  
 
Record the average mass of the three balls . 
 
 
 
  
6 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Annex B  
(normative)  
 
Determination of circum ference and sphe ricity 
 
 
B.1 Principle  
 
The circumference t est ind icates  the dimen sion of the bal l as an average value measured from different axes.  
This test is critical to ensure the ball is the correct size for the gam e of football.  
 
B.2 Apparatus  
 
Equipment capable of  meas uring circumference and sphericity (ro undness ) of footballs  (see Figure B.1) . 
 
The equipment may be automated and connected to a PC monitor w ith measuring software capable of  taking 
several radii of a  ball and giving an average measure ment of the circ umference and sphericity or any other 
suitable  equipment .  
 
 B.3  Expression of r esults  
 
The results will be read off the monitor  for automatic eq uipment or any other suitable equipment display.  
  
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  7 
 
a b
c
d
e
f 
KEY 
a) Ball 
b) Grippers  
c) Tangential arms  
d) Pressur e pipe  
e) Rotating arm 
f) Control panel with display scree n 
 
Figure B.1 — A typical equi pment for circu mference and sphericity  
 
 
 
  
8 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Annex C  
(normative)  
 
Determination of  loss of pressure  
 
C.1 Principle  
 
This test measures the di fference in pressure over time. The  aim is to ensur e that the ball does not deflate too 
quickly, even  when not used.  
 
C.2 Apparatus  
 
A calibrated pressure gauge, capable of measuring  1.5 bar and an  accuracy of  ± 0.01 bar.  
 
C.3 Procedure  
 
C.3.1   Condition 3 football samples for at least 24 h in a standard atmos phere of temperature 20  °C ± 2  °C 
and relativ e humi dity 65% ±  5%.  
 
C 3.2   Measure the pressure in the balls to ensure that th ey comply with the recommended pressure before 
the test.  
 
C.3.3   Keep the samples in the same standard atmosp here of temperat ure 20°C ± 2°C and relative humidity 
65% ± 5% for 72 h.  
 
C 3.4  After this period , measure the pressure in the samples and note the  difference.  
 
C.4 Results  
 
Calculate the pressure difference and report to  the nearest 0.01  bar. 
 
  
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  9 
  
 
Annex D  
(normative)  
 
Determi nation of water absorption  
 
 
D.1 Principle  
 
The foo tball is p laced in contai ner filled with water. The ball is then compressed into the water  by appropriate 
means and left to soak in the water. The ba ll is then weighed again after 250 compression cycl es an d 
compared to the original weight.  
 
D.2 Appa ratus 
 
Equipment capable of turn ing the football in various directions between the compressions t hus, the complete 
football comes in contact with the water during the test (see Figure D.1).  
 
 
 
Figure D.1 — A typical water absorption equipment  
  
10 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
  
 
 
 
D.3 Resu lts 
 
Calculate t he weight diffe rence between the initial and final weight  
 
11 2 100
MMMY−=
 
Where 
 
M1  is the  initial weight of the sample;  
 
M2  is the weight after water absorption; an d 
 
Y    is the % weight gain (amount of water absorbed).  
  
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  11 
  
 
Annex  E 
(normative)  
 
Determination o f ball rebound  
E.1 Principle  
 
The sample ball is dr opped in a gui ded free fall with a defined velocity on to a fixed plate. The ball hits the 
surface at specif ic points in the  midd le of the panels, distributed over the surfac e of t he ball. T he panels will be 
selected such that the number of testing points is evenly dist ributed on the different panel shapes.  
 
E.2 Apparatus  
 
 Equipment capable of allowing for th e ball to free f all vertically from a height of 2.00 m ± 0.01 m (m easure d 
from the  bottom of the ball) without imparting any impulse of spin. The su rface that the  ball is to rebound on 
shall be metal for outdoor and beach  soccer b alls (see Figure E.1).  
 
E.3 Results  
 
The b all rebound height of any tested sample is the mea n of 1 0 from the  10 performed f rom each ball in 
ambient conditions. The mean value  of each of th e three samples must fall within the requirements. In 
addit ion, the difference between the hig hest and lowest means  shall be compared and shall also fall within  the 
respective requirement.   
12 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
  
 
 
KEY 
 
a) Vertical scale  
b) Ball 
c) Guidance system  
d) Ring 
e) Video camera  
f) Connecting cables  
g) Control panel complete with switches  
h) Displ ay screen  
i) Digital recording system  
j) Sensor (for dete rmining time of impact)  
k) Metal surface  
 
 
Figure E. 1 — A typical fo otball rebound test equipment  
  
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  13 
  
 
Annex F  
(normative)  
 
Determinati on of shape an d size retention  
 
 
F.1 Principle  
 
The ball is repeatedly sh ot against a metal surface automati cally (or otherw ise stated) before being returned 
into the shootin g devi ce. The nu mber of cycles simulates use over a period of time. The worn sampl es can 
then be  re-checked for size, weight and shape in order to ensure t hey do not change significantly wit h use.  
 
F.2 Appa ratus 
 
Equipment capable repeatedly throwing a bal l (200 0 times) a gainst a specif ied surface automatically or 
otherwise stated  (see Figure F.1).  
 
 
 
Figure F.1 — A typical Device for throwing balls   
14 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
  
 
F.3 Calculation and expression of result s 
 
The results f rom the tests performed after the 2000 cycles are noted as follows : 
 
a) Initial pres sure of the samples (before shooting) minus pressur e after shooti ng gives  
 
b) Pressure loss expressed in bar with 2 decimal pl aces; example -0.02 bar.  
 
c) Visual in spection of any damag e.  
 
d) Change in circumference results as per t he  pr escribed t est method . 
 
e) Change in sphericity results as per the prescribed te st method . 
 
The values of  circumference, sphericity and pressure are comp ared to the values from the previou s tests. 
The dif ference between the value obtained after the shoot er tes t and prio r to the test, is denoted as an 
absolute increase/decrease for cir cumference and  pressure a nd a percentage  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
© EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  15 
  
ANNEX G 
(NORM ATIVE)  
SAMPLING OF FOOTBALLS  
A -1 SCALE OF SAMPLIN G 
A -1.1 LOT  
In any consignment, all the balls of one ty pe manufac tured from same raw materials shall be grouped 
together t o constitute a lot.  
A – 1.2 For ascertaining the conformity of the lot to the requi rements of this standard, tests sh all be 
carried o ut for each lot separately. The number f ootballs to be s ampled fro m a lot shall be  in accordance with 
Table 3.  
A -1.3 The balls shall be selected  at random from the lot.  
A -2 CRITERIA FOR CONFORMIT Y 
A-2.1 Shape, Dimension, Mass and Finish  
The Sample balls selected as pe col 3 of Table 3 shall be tested  for shap e, dimensi ons and mass and  
examined for finish. Any balls failing in one or more of the re quirements shall be termed as defective. The lot 
shall be ac cepted if the number of defective balls i n the sample does not exceed the acceptance number 
given  in col 4  of Table 3. 
A-2.2 Prolon ged inflation test and loss of pressure , water  absorpt ion, rebound  test, shape and 
size retention test including loss of pres sure . 
The sample size given in col  5 of Table 3 sh all be subjected to prolonged inflation test a nd loss o f 
pressure , water absorpti on, rebound  test , shape and size retention test  including loss  of pressure. Any ball 
failing in one or more of the requireme nts shall be termed as defective. The lot shall be  acce pted if the number 
of defective balls in the sampl e does not  exceed the acce ptance number given in col 6 of Table 3.  
                                  Table 3  Scale of Sampling and Acceptance Number  
SI 
No. Lot size  For shape, Dimension , 
mass and visua l 
Examination  For prolonged inflation test an d 
loss of p ressure, water absorption, 
rebou nd test , shape and size 
retention test including loss of 
pressure  
  Sample size  Acceptance 
number  Sample size  Accepta nce 
number  
I Up to 500  13 1 5 0 
Ii 501 to 1000  20 2 8 0 
Iii 1001 t0 3000  32 3 13 0 
Iv 3001 t0 5000  50 5 20 1  
16 © EAC 2022  – All rights reserved  
 v 5001 and 
above  80 7 32 2 
 
 
 
Bibliography  
The assistance derived fro m these sources is hereby acknowledged.  
 
IS 417:2003, I ndian  Standard — Footballs, volleyballs, b asketball s, netballs, throw balls and water -polo 
balls — Specification Part 1: Footballs.  
IS 4207, Indian Standard — Specificatio ns for Leather for football.   
FIFA Quality Programme for Footba lls (outdoor, futsal and beach soccer f ootballs) , Manual.