Ball size lookup

What size ball should I buy for a 10-year-old?

A 10-year-old plays in the 8-12 age bracket, which uses a size 4 ball: 63.5-66 cm in circumference and 350-410 g. A size 5, the adult match ball, is oversized and overweight for that age group.

Below: the full chart by age, how to set pressure with a gauge, and how to size the pitch or court around that ball.

Quick spec — age 10

  • Ball size Size 4
  • Circumference 63.5-66 cm
  • Weight 350-410 g
  • Age bracket 8-12 yrs
  • Next size up Size 5, from age 12

Ball size and weight by sport

Circumference and weight for the ball types most used in youth and adult training
Ball / levelAge or levelCircumferenceWeight
Football, size 3Under 858-61 cm350-390 g
Football, size 4Age 8-1263.5-66 cm350-410 g
Football, size 5Age 12+ / adult68-70 cm410-450 g
Football, size 1 (skills)Close-control drills43-46 cmStays within ~1 m of foot
Basketball, size 7Men, adult74.9-78.0 cm567-650 g
Basketball, size 6Women72.4-73.7 cm510-567 g
VolleyballAll levels65-67 cm260-280 g
Netball, size 5All levels68-71 cm330-400 g
Circumference of football sizes 3, 4 and 5 Bar chart comparing average circumference: size 3 about 59.5 cm, size 4 about 64.75 cm, size 5 about 69 cm. Size 3 — 58-61 cm Size 4 — 63.5-66 cm Size 5 — 68-70 cm
Fig. 1 — Circumference by football size: size 3 spans 58-61 cm, size 4 spans 63.5-66 cm, size 5 spans 68-70 cm. Bar length is the midpoint of each range.
Weight range by football size Floating bar chart of weight ranges: size 3, 350 to 390 g; size 4, 350 to 410 g; size 5, 410 to 450 g, on a 0 to 500 g scale. 0 250g 500g Size 3 Size 4 Size 5
Fig. 2 — Weight range by football size on a 0-500 g scale: size 3 is 350-390 g, size 4 is 350-410 g, size 5 is 410-450 g.

Procedure: fit the ball to the player

  1. 1

    Confirm age and playing level

    2 min

    Typical failure: guessing the size from the team kit or older sibling's ball instead of the age bracket.

  2. 2

    Measure circumference with a tape

    3 min

    Typical failure: tape run across the ball instead of around its widest point, undercounting by several centimetres.

  3. 3

    Weigh the ball, compare to the chart

    2 min

    Typical failure: ball weighed while still holding the inflation needle, skewing the reading.

  4. 4

    Inflate to the correct psi or bar with a needle gauge

    5 min

    Typical failure: gauge read immediately after pumping, before the ball settles, overstating pressure.

  5. 5

    Re-check pressure 30 minutes before the session

    5 min

    Typical failure: ball left overnight in a cold car boot, arriving 0.04-0.05 bar under the pre-check reading.

  6. 6

    Log size, weight and pressure on the team sheet

    2 min

    Typical failure: different sizes mixed in one kit bag, wrong ball handed to the wrong age group.

Frequently asked

My 10-year-old already plays with a size 5 because his friends do. Is that wrong?
Yes, for his bracket. Size 5 is 68-70 cm and 410-450 g, built for age 12 and up. At age 10 the fitted spec is size 4, 63.5-66 cm and 350-410 g.
Can I just squeeze the ball to check the pressure?
No. Use a needle gauge. A size 5 ball runs 0.6-1.1 bar (about 9-16 psi), and a ball at 0.9 bar at 20°C can drop 0.04-0.05 bar once it cools to 5°C. Full ranges are on the pressure guide.
Does ball size change between training and matches?
No. The same age-based size applies in both settings. What changes is the pitch or court laid out around it — see pitch and court dimensions.
What if my child plays up an age group?
Size by level and coach guidance, not only birth year. Check the full breakdown on the ball size chart by age.