As the most important tool for the sport, soccer balls must be well taken care of. Deflating them when they are not in use is an important way to do this.
If you have a kid who loves soccer and is going on a family trip with them, you may have to pack their ball. Deflating it makes it easy to pack it in a suitcase, just like pro teams deflate balls to pack for away games.
In the following sections, you’ll learn how to properly deflate a soccer ball so you don’t ruin your balls or replace them often.
How to Deflate a Soccer Ball?
Let’s take a look at how you can deflate a soccer ball.
Ensure the Ball is Clean
One thing that gives me the ick as a soccer enthusiast is a dirty soccer ball. Sure, the sport can be rough, and players will have to roll in wet grass (the best playing surface for the game) while playing, but afterward, they have to clean their balls just as they clean their boots.
This is why pro clubs employ a kitman, by the way. I digress.
You know that caring for a soccer ball means that you have to deflate it. The care starts from actually cleaning it.
Understand the material your ball is made of(synthetic or genuine leather) and use cleaning agents that won’t weaken the material. Also, disinfect the ball from germs.
Once your ball is clean, you can follow the next steps to deflate it.
Locate the Valve on the Ball
A soccer ball is filled with air, not helium. If you’ve read or heard anywhere before this article that soccer balls are filled with helium, please delete that memory from your mind as it’s false or was either done for someone’s YouTube channel experiment.
The air passes through a valve into the ball. Soccer ball valves are made with either rubber or butyl (synthetic rubber). The valve is attached to the air bladder which traps the air and inflates the ball. Once you locate the bladder, follow the next steps.
Attach the Needle to the Ball Pump
Back in the day, different means, including blowing air directly into the balls, were used to pump soccer balls. Now, they’re pumped using air needles.
Air needles are little hollow cylinders that are thin enough to allow air to pass through them. Every soccer player and parent with a kid who loves soccer should have one because it makes it easy to deflate and inflate a soccer ball.
When the time comes to deflate your ball, attach the needle to the air pump. Make sure the air pump is empty.
Moisten the Needle With Water
This step is very important because it helps to reduce the friction between the rubber valve and the needle.
If you insert the air needle directly into the valve without moistening it, you risk puncturing the air bladder and rendering your ball useless.
Moisture the needle with water or saliva, then slowly insert it into the air valve to begin deflation.
If the needle has begun to rust (in the case of ones made with metal), please change the needle because moisture will make no difference during insertion for deflation.
Once the Needle is Fully Inserted, Gently Press on the Ball
Once you have inserted your air needle into the ball and you’re certain your air pump is free of air, gently press on the ball to deflate it.
If you choose not to deflate it, air will still escape from the ball, but slowly. Also, it might not fully deflate, which is as bad as other poor soccer ball care methods.
The key is to have a friend gently apply pressure from the sides to release the air. If you’re alone, place the ball between your elbow and torso or between your feet and slowly squeeze out the air.
Carefully Remove the Needle From the Valve
Once you’re done deflating the ball, carefully remove the needle from the air valve. This is important because your soccer ball’s air bladder is even more sensitive when deflated.
When inflated, the bladder hardens to give the ball its shape. When deflated, the bladder can be easily pulled apart, torn or stretched out. So, carefully removing the needle is important because you do not want to damage the most important part of the ball.
This is also why you must moisturize your needle with water, saliva, or even oil before inserting it into the air valve to deflate the ball.
Tips and Troubleshooting
Here are some issues you might face and tips on how to deal with them.
How to Deal With a Stuck Needle?
This happens more often than you think.
When inflating or deflating a soccer ball, the needle is exposed to heavy loads. This means that the force of the air can easily snap the thin needle, which is why rusted needles and unmoisturized needles are not to be used in deflating a ball.
If your needle breaks in your ball, take it home and pull it out gently with small needle nose pliers. Another alternative is to use another needle to push the needle into the ball where it rattles for eternity or at least until the ball is taken apart.
What to Do if the Valve is Difficult to Locate or Access?
This is caused by one of two things:
The valve is broken: Careless inflation and deflation has caused the valve to wear out and fall into the bladder or the rubber to wear out making deflation/inflation difficult.
You got yourself a bad soccer ball from the store.
If number one is the case, kindly seek out the services of a professional to fix your soccer ball. You can fix it yourself, but with little experience, you’re likely to ruin it further.
If it’s number two, visit the sports goods store where you got the ball and see what can be done regarding a refund or to get a new soccer ball.
Safety Tips for Avoiding Punctures or Valve Damage
The first and most important tip is to clean your soccer ball. As I stated earlier, find out the material your ball is made of and use cleaning agents that will not eat it out faster than regular usage will.
The second one is to use needles that are the right fit for your soccer ball’s air valve. Doing otherwise is a recipe for disaster.
The third tip is to make sure your playing area is free of sharp objects that can puncture the ball.
Final Thoughts
Some people try to deflate soccer balls with things other than air needles, like paper clips and regular needles. While it’s possible, our advice is that you don’t.
Always have a pack of air needles handy because it also helps you preserve the air bladder through which air passes in and out of the ball to inflate and deflate it.
Don’t overthink deflating a soccer ball because it is simple. However, try not to force it. Always remember to slowly squeeze the air out until the ball is deflated and remove the needle once the ball is deflated to store it for safekeeping.
