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Soccer Ball

A soccer ball has a very distinct pattern that makes it easy to pick out of a ball lineup. It is spherical, like most balls, but it has a pattern of interlocking hexagons and pentagons that is immediately recognizable. The traditional coloring is black for the pentagons and white for the hexagons.  This format is seen far more often in practice balls as well as children’s balls.

It was also used in competition until the past quarter century. At that time the soccer ball began a gradual shift toward new designs. At first, it was merely coloration that changed. Patterns were printed on the ball; the pentagons were painted white and used as a focal point for a pattern in the hexagons. But these shifts were just the beginning.

In 2006 Adidas unveiled a revolutionary new soccer ball, which it trademarked the +Teamgeist.  Teamgeist is German for team spirit, the plus was added because the ball could not be trademarked using just the word in Germany. The balls were meant to be more aerodynamic because they used fewer panels than previous balls; in fact the number dropped from 26 to 14! The 14 panel ball has become the new competition standard for soccer balls.

 

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