The Controversial Adidas Jabulani World Cup Ball
With all the controversy surrounding this year’s Adidas World Cup ball called the Jabulani, I thought it might be interesting to repost a video I had up on the site last December called The Making of “Jabulani”.
While the ball may be slightly more lively, remember, many of these games are played at altitude and that too has a big effect on the ball. Perhaps between the two factors the ball is moving a bit more. The New York Daily News even has a story showing the Mexican National team training their keepers with American footballs to help them with the unpredictability of the ball. However, IMS friend Bruce McGuire of duNord Football was quick to point out in a recent conversation that the ball MLS is using this year is virtually the same ball with a different face. How many complaints have you heard form MLS players this year about the ball? I haven’t heard a one.
Ball controversy at the World Cup is nothing new. Every world cup there seems to be complaints about the new ball. In a post made last April at IMS, Scott Kerssen pointed out the controversy of the 1970 World Cup black and white paneled ball called the “Bucky Ball“. In 2002 and 2006 there were also complaints about the ball.
So here in all its controversial glory is the making of the Jabulani.
The Making of “JABULANI”
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I have played around with my Jabulani ball since Christmas and I think it flies truer than the ball used four years ago in Germany–now that is a ball you can bend. I guess I have not played at altitude. I think Adidas did a great job with the ball and I would buy more if they were not so expensive–and I will admit that they are kind of ugly looking.
If there is anything to complain about this time around it is those annoying vuvuzelas!
I have played with the Jabulani a few times and I think it is a terrible ball. I play keeper and notice that the ball always has an extra bit of movement. I think this ball is crap.
I’ve tried playing with the ball to and to be honest it’s not wonderful quality but at the same time we’re talking about the most skilled players in the world. The quality of the ball should have a miniscule affect on the game. I’m tired of professional players whining and crying about the ball quality when they should be able to adapt to anything. Including those stupid horns!
All the teams are using the same identical ball. Even if the ball is somehow determined to be “bad,” it is consistently “bad” and everyone plays with it for the duration of the tournament.
It is making the overall play of the tournament much lower then expected in my opinion. Look at the results of the games thus far….
The ball is round – I’m good with it!
Still amazed at the amount of human interaction required in the manufacturing process. Foreign labor is still cheap so why the heavy price tag? Still less than $15.00 in materials there.
Gouge Gouge Gouge
They may be flying off the pitch, put I bet not at retail?
MichiganMike–seriously, “an extra bit of movement?” I honestly think the ball has a truer flight.
Players are much better these days, and even your average Joe (no pun intended) soccer player can spin/bend a ball. I am a GK too, and I see no difference in this ball when compared to any other ball out there–okay, I really can’t bend the “buckyball” all that well.
The article correctly points out that this “new” ball has been around for a while and has been played in a match or two. I am still stratching my head when people started coming up with the “quirks” of this ball.
I think these complaints are really coming from overally nervous players who are ready to make excuses for lackluster performances at the World Cup and beyond. I think it might be time for you to retire, or get your eyes checked out!
I didn’t mean “bend” specifically… I mean that it knuckles and carries quite a bit more. It is a jumpy ball… It is very noticeable.
It’s definitely short sited on FIFA’s end (typical.) Instead of playing with some variant of the T90, familiar to the top leagues, they signed an exclusive with Adidas for the $$$.
Truthfully, I think it’s actually benefitting goal keepers…. Forlan is the only person I’ve seen who’s made this ball dip.
the ball is disappointing. if you watch even long driven balls knuckle a bit. it seems that all they players are certainly troubled with it thru the first round of matches, especially the attacking players up top. its certainly expected at high altitude for balls to sail a bit, but i’ve played my share of matches in denver and have never seen a variety of different ball types react the way this one does. poor job on adidas part regardless of what their marketing department says. and yes a bad ball effects everyone equally, though it also lowers the level of play. and thus far this world cup has been a mediocre display at best (and not just from a goal scoring standpoint)
I see more in the way of bad form for the errant strikes then the need of blaming the ball.
Hey, goalies catch with your hands rather than your body
a ball knuckles when struck dead-center….maybe the sweet spot is larger ??
We are talking about world class players being in bad form after completing a full season of EPL/SPL/Serie A etc… I don’t see bad form being the issue whether it be with field players or keepers.
MM- in how they are striking the ball – sorry. Not in general but in regard to how they are striking the ball when attempting to finish. Some real bad technique sending the ball sailing.
Trying to be too cute in finishing, put the ball on frame and make the goalie make a stop
Germans are doing ok with the ball
Maybe the ball is better in warmer conditions
The German Bundesliga played with these balls for the last 3-4 months of the season supposedly… I would consider that quite the advantage.
Smart move by the Krauts – being a WC designated ball I would imagine that any of the teams could have trained with them. Besides there are a whole lot of international players for other national teams playing in the Bundesliga.
I think the lower scoring in the first round was due to the old, wise adage that you don’t want to lose your first game.
we will have to agree to disagree, Hit any ball correctly and you will get the results you want