KIPSTASUPPLIER OF THE OFFICIAL PRO LEAGUE BALL FOR THE 2023-2027 CYCLE
Kipstathe soccer brand of DECATHLON, becomes the official ball partner of the Pro League from the 2023-2024 season.
DECATHLON and the PRO LEAGUE have signed a 5-season agreement for the Jupiler Pro League, the 1B Pro League, the Croky Cup, and the Supercup.
All matches in these competitions are played with the Kipsta match ball.
DECATHLON , also becomes a structural partner of the Pro League's Football & Community activities.
MADE IN FRANCE?
This balloon, like our entire range, is designed 100% in France, and is rigorously tested by a combination of laboratory and field tests. It therefore meets the most stringent standards and requirements, and validates a whole range of additional tests, specifically developed by Decathlon.
In addition to the normative tests, we carry out additional tests via the Kipsta Certification Unit, enabling us not only to design, but also to objectively compare products.
MADE IN ... ?
Our soccer balls are manufactured by our industrial partners in Asia (Pakistan and China for this ball).
Pakistan is known and recognized as the soccer ball capital of the world.
Quality craftsmanship dating back over 50 years, accompanied by shared commitments (with DECATHLON), focusing mainly on 2 points: respect for workers and respect for the environment.
Finally, we are working to identify future French or European industrial partners.
WHAT IS THE KIPSTA CERTIFICATION UNIT?
The Kipsta Certification Unit is a team of field test engineers, qualified and recognized for:
The implementation of specific protocols and tests linked to product use.
The recruitment of qualified testers with the level to evaluate product functions.
The objective analysis of results, using statistical tools.
These tests cover general aspects, such as durability, sustainable inflation, and functions reflecting the technical nature of the ball.
KIPSTADIUM, TOURCOING, FRANCE
To design our balloons, we have a dedicated team at our disposal, as well as a laboratory based in France. The balloon team in France is made up of product engineers, component engineers and test engineers, enabling us to control the entire balloon design chain, from component to technical validation.
OUR BALLOON LABORATORY
We've been testing balls at Decathlon for over 15 years, with the aim of validating our products during the design, industrialization and post-production phases. A laboratory 100% dedicated to ball testing was even created in 2018 at the Kipstadium site (FRANCE).
More than a dozen tests are carried out on our balls. These include the tests required by FIFA, as well as additional tests created by our engineers in the laboratory.
DECATHLON DESIGNER
Designer for 40 years, Decathlon bases the development of its products on desirability and accessibility to all, implying a notion of universality in their design (age, gender and nationality).
The aesthetic line of the group and therefore of Kipsta is a balance between our convictions (simple, technical and clever products) and our sober, universal and modern artistic direction.
DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, BUT ALSO DESIGNERS
The DNA developed for this ball (i.e. the formal base on which the graphics are juxtaposed) combines technicality and balance.
The spatial apprehension and visual effects linked to the ball during its movements are worked on so as not to cause players any visual discomfort, thus confirming this design choice.
This balloon has a story for you
It was by observing soccer players on their field of play that our design team thought up and conceived this Hybrid soccer.
Hybrid because in the design of this ball we have mixed the comfort of a machine-sewn ball with the strength of a hand-sewn ball.
What's more, we have chosen a specific bladder construction (2 kms of threads that wrap around the bladder) to guarantee longer-lasting inflation and better sphericity.
Too light? Too heavy? The weight is standardized...
This ball weighs between 410g and 450g (size 5) and meets official FIFA standards.
FIFA BASIC approval.
What size, what circumference?
The size of this ball is between 68.0cm and 70.0cm (size 5) and complies with official FIFA standards.
FIFA BASIC approval.
A round ball, really?
Here's the sphericity test:
Variation of the measured average: maximum 1.8% (FIFA BASIC approval).
We measure the sphericity of the ball at 4,500 different points and look at the deviations observed.
If the deviation exceeds 1.8% (FIFA BASIC standard), our engineers are tasked with improving the sphericity to guarantee a regular rebound.
Maximum pressure loss test: we tell you...
Here's the pressure loss test:
We inflate the balloon to the recommended pressure (i.e. 0.8 bar).
72 hours later, the balloon should have lost no more than 15% of its pressure, i.e. around 0.1 bar (FIFA BASIC approval). The pressure after 72 hours should therefore be around 0.7 bar.
This also means that it's perfectly normal for a balloon to lose pressure after a few days.
We also tested the balloon's water absorption ...
Here's the water absorption test:
In the laboratory, we simulate playing conditions in the rain by soaking the ball in 2 cm of water on a pivoting support while applying 250 compressions.
At the end of the test, the ball must not have gained more than 10% of its weight (FIFA BASIC homologation).
When the rebound goes, everything goes
Here's the bounce test:
The ball is dropped 10 times onto a steel plate from a height of 2 metres.
The variation in bounce height must be between 125 and 155 cm, with a maximum difference of 10 cm between the highest and lowest bounces per ball.
Not bad at all!
The most demanding test we put this ball through is the machine kick test.
The ball must withstand 2,500 kicks against an inclined concrete surface at 50 km/h from a distance of 2.5 m.
At the end of this test, we check:
- the general condition of the ball: the seams must withstand this test
- the circumference: it must not have increased by more than 1.5 cm.
- the sphericity: it must not have varied by more than 1.5%. sphericity: it must not have varied by more than 1.8%
- pressure: the balloon must not have lost more than 12.5%.
And what do you think?
Your opinions are essential, and help us to continually improve our products.
Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.
