A ball is a ball that is used in different sports and games . Most balls are spherical and, due to their characteristics, they can roll and bounce (hit) against the ground or other surface used as a playing field.
Generally, the balls are elastic and are inflated with air , either using special devices (so-called inflators ) or with the mouth to pass air from our lungs. However, there are others that are more consistent and rigid. It is common for the ball, when its size is large, to be called a ball .
In those sports that are played with a ball, the participants must control and direct it with some part of their body or with some external element such as a club or a racket, which can receive different names depending on the case. Many times the goal is to send the ball towards a goal: a hole, an arc or even the enemy area, as occurs in golf, soccer and tennis, respectively.
In football , for example, the ball is a leather ball with a diameter of about 22 centimeters and a weight of no more than 450 grams. Soccer players cannot touch the ball with their hands or arms, with the exception of the goalkeeper (goalkeeper). The objective is to get the ball into the goal of the rival team.
The basic technique of soccer is the driving of the ball, that is, the force exerted on it to carry it throughout the playing field. The objective of driving is not always the same, since it can be done to evade opponents, to pass the ball to a teammate or with the intention of scoring a goal. Speed is one of the parameters that varies the most depending on the player's intentions.
To drive the ball, only your feet should be used, particularly the instep. The force with which it is struck should be moderate to prevent it from going too far; In fact, some talk about "stroking it," since we simply have to make it roll .
Another fundamental soccer technique is controlling the ball: the player holds it, dominates it or leaves it in place to perform another action. One of them can be the pass , which consists of sending the ball to a teammate. The technique of evading opponents without allowing them to get hold of the ball is called dribbling . The shot , on the other hand, consists of sending the ball towards the opponent's goal.
In basketball , on the other hand, the ball is rougher and bounces higher. In this case, athletes use their hands, and not their feet or legs. The purpose: to make the ball enter the opponent's basket (hoop).
Regarding balls that are not spherical, we can name the rugby ball, which has an oval shape. This discipline allows different types of scoring, the most important being the try (which is achieved by landing the ball in the end zone).
In addition to all the techniques and plays typical of sports, the ball can be used to perform many other exercises that require great skill, whether to include them in an acrobatic type show or simply as complementary training to keep the body agile and toned. The most skilled people are capable of doing tricks that leave their spectators speechless.
The concept of ball, on the other hand, is used to refer to any ball that is formed with a soft material (such as mud) and, in a vulgar way, to a testicle .