AVID Soccer Equipment Review

Select Sport Royale Match Ball

2011-08-02T02:00:00Z

Select Sport is a Danish company that has been producing balls for more than half a century. The Royale ($60) is the recipient of all that innovation and experience.

The Royale is a match/training level ball from Select Sport. Select is the official ball of the Danish National Team, Belgium National Team and FC Copenhagen. They also provide the official NFHS (High School) ball.

We have used a number of Select balls before. All have been a fairly good value and all have lasted quite a while for their price point. The Royale is the top of Select's Club series. It is available in royal blue, forest green, navy, orange, maroon, red, black and silver and in sizes 4 or 5. The color choices make this a good team or club ball to match uniform colors.

The casing is a standard 32 panel hand sewn polyurethane. The graphics are screened on the cover. The bladder is latex for better feel with a butyl valve. The design is unique and attractive, but not terribly unusual. The AVID Soccer test team has given our samples a complete thrashing in addition to our usual scientific tests. They have held up well. Wear on grass and turf is very good. However, it is not as highly abrasion resistant to street or gravel play. The cover does a good job of shedding water and they are not unusually slippery. Even wet, it can be handled by a keeper with latex gloves.

Touch is good for a ball in this price range, but does not match the feel of a premium match ball. The Royale is on the hard side at test pressure. It is as well balanced as a hand sewn ball can be. When wet, the ball is a bit slippery on most boots. For more images, visit our facebook page.

In addition to meeting NFHS and NCAA specification, our Royale test units carry the IMS logo. This signifies that the ball meets FIFA's standards for international play. This designation indicates that the ball has been tested to FIFA standards, but the manufacturer is not paying royalties to FIFA for the "FIFA Approved" logo. The guidelines for IMS certification are listed below:

Certification Procedures for “IMS International Matchball Standard”

The following guidelines explain the procedures to obtain certification for the football denomination
“IMS International Matchball Standard”.

Manufacturers select the institute they prefer to have the tests performed amongst the institutes
designated by FIFA
Manufacturers provide test institute with documents outlined in the terms & conditions
Manufacturers submit to test institute number of footballs required by the test institute
Manufacturers pay the test fee charged by the test institute
Test institute will communicate test results to the manufacturers
Test institute will communicate positive test results to FIFA
Balls which have met the minimum requirements and which may be used in FIFA and Confederation Matches must be marked with the official word mark “IMS International Matchball Standard” as per the Graphic Guidelines provided by the test institute.
Each ball certification has a validity of 2 years (any material change of a certified ball model - renaming or different design/color excluded - is subject to re-testing).

Statistics:

Weight: 15.4 oz / 436 grams
Suggested Pressure: 11.5-14.0 psi
Tested Pressure: 13.9 psi

Calle Republic Paco Sweatshirt

2011-04-26T17:00:00Z

Calle Republic continues to define the street soccer lifestyle with their Paco ($40) sweatshirt in seafoam/pink or black/lavendar.

Calle Republic is one of the hottest street soccer brands out. As part of our annual contest, they have provided some examples of their products including this seafoam example of their Paco sweatshirt. It is a basic 80/20 cotton/poly blend in the traditional crew design. The graphics include a large Calle dead pigeon on the center of the front in a bright contrasting color. On the back, there is a Calle text logo that almost looks like a tag. The collar, waist and cuffs are all ribbed.

The paco is part of the Calle men's collection; however, we got much better response from the girls. The black version received a much better response from the guys. The fleece is soft and it washed up well. Like all of the street gear, it disappeared from our test labs even before the review was written.

Check out more pictures on our facebook page.

Pele-Sports 1283 Gameday Jersey

2011-04-25T17:00:00Z

The Pele-Sports 1283 Gameday Jersey ($60) is a bit of a misnomer. It is closer to a t-shirt than jersey. The fabric is supremely soft and comfortable.

The garment is a 95/5 Polyester/Spandex blend that feels and looks like a heather cotton. It is a wicking fabric with vents under the arms. The fabric is impregnated with odor protection. It does a good job of absorbing moisture and dries quickly. The graphics are screened using a heavy ink. The Pele logo is raised and slightly fuzzy. Everything is very high quality.

The bottom of the jersey has four inch wide strip of a different fabric. The strip design is a series of pluses (+) and circles intended to represent the goal net. The number in the name represents the 1,283 goals that Pele scored in his career. The collar and sleeves have elastic. It is not the usual ribbing, but it works well. The back is blank. There are three graphics on the side, but noticeably absent are the three stars representing Pele's WC wins.

Electronic Arts FIFA 2011

2011-02-07T22:00:00Z

Electronic Arts has produced the FIFA ($60) series for almost two decades. Each year has brought advances in graphics, game play, management, etc. Some of those advances have been worth the price of an upgrade (like adding real-time player adjustments in 2010) and some have not. During that time, they have faced some stiff competition from Konomi's Pro Evolution Soccer (Winning Eleven).

Our first question to the our testers was "If you already had 2010, would you buy 2011?" Universally, the answer was YES. The graphics in 2011 are marginally better with 360° dribbling. A new personality engine for the AI also adds to the realism and intimacy of the game. This alters the way a player dribbles, passes and shoots based on their emotional state.

One of the biggest improvements is the player/manager mode. This allows the gamer to contribute directly on the field as themselves, while still managing the team. As the manager, they handle all of the usual tasks of transfers, systems of play, game line-ups, etc. Once the game starts, they play as their player on the field for the entire game. The can call for the ball or direct passes, but they do not control the other players. The game even allows a player to be the goal keeper. Something this reviewer found very difficult, and not particularly entertaining. Others found more success and enjoyment. Remarkably, it was the forwards who liked being a keeper and keepers who insisted on playing striker.

One other enhancement that was both universally appreciated and cursed is the pro passing. As in the real world, pace on the ball makes all the difference to a successful pass. Pro passing implements those physical rules very well in the game and our testers appreciated the timing, touch and accuracy required for beautiful passing. Once a player got it down, the game was truly fun to watch. The problem was the learning the system. Until then, it could make a player look wonder why the ball went where it did or what they needed to do to send it with the right pace.

Unfortunately, we found some problems with the AI. As happens too often in the real world, player can seem lazy or distracted. Between the personality engine and the pro passing, balls seem to get intercepted far more than we would have expected. If a cross is not hit hard enough, an intermediate player will not close on the ball leaving it for an interception. These minor flaws do not detract from a great game. Hopefully the AI will react better in an update or in 2012.

On-line play is typical of the genre. None of our testers noted anything exceptional, good or bad. All of the usual features are present including private games, achievements, leader boards and pick-up games.

Note: Our tests where conducted on an XBOX 360 on a Plasma TV. There was no noticeable lags and load times were good. We expect PS3 performance to be similar. Graphics on the Wii are always lower. PC performance will depend greatly on hardware.

ASER Innovative Product of the Year 2010

2011-02-01T01:56:00Z

At AVID Soccer, we consider the Innovative Product of the Year to be our most prestigious award. We take this so seriously, that we didn't even issue the award in 2008 because we didn't find a worthy nominee.

This year, we have had no such concern. We have selected three different technologies that all have great potential to advance our sport in different ways.

2010 brought us the Microsoft Kinect. On the surface, this doesn't seem to relate to football. That is especially true for those that have played the horrible version of soccer in the Kinect Sports game. However, it has more chance to improve fitness than any other console based product we have ever seen. The amount of effort and fun that goes along with playing almost any of the Kinect games will improve fitness and explosive movement. Beyond that, the introduction of open-source PC drivers for Kinect mean that it can be developed into a true training tool for form. We have great hopes that academies will develop a goalkeeper training program that uses the Kinect to train proper form.

adidas has given us the miCoach training system. This system consists of devices (accelerometer for stride measurements, heart rate monitor, zone band, cloud based application and mobile (Blackberry and iPhone) app). These things can be used independently or in combination to achieve the desired results. The mobile app is even free. What sets miCoach apart from Nike+ or the myriad of other mobile fitness apps is the adidas Coaching Circle. This allows a coach or trainer to view the results of outside training sessions including distance, elevation changes, heart rates, etc. giving real insight into a players effort.

Moving into pure coaching, TactX is a rendering engine to training sessions. It allows the coach to build 2d drills, game simulations and set plays then render them in 3d. It is an ideal tool for creating training videos (far less than the cost of professional players to perform the same drills), developing and demonstrating tactical situations, and analyzing team tendencies. The rendered video can be viewed in 2d or 3d, from multiple angles, and customized.

Our selection, for the innovative product most likely to improve the sport is the adidas miCoach system. The combination of individual training and the coaching circle sets miCoach apart from all of the other training apps and systems.

ASER Best Lifestyle Product 2010

2011-01-28T17:00:00Z

This year, we split the category between clothes (our usual nominees) and other products. From Puma, we have a Project Pink WPS jersey. Pele Sports gives us a track jacket with their namesake. From Electronic Arts, the best soccer game of the year. Finally, we have Windows Phone. The best mobile gaming platform.

The lifestyle category is always about style and desirability. We have compared these apples and oranges on a purely subjective level. We let our testers rate each item on desirability within its category and overall "cool factor" across lifestyle.

Desirability:

Pele Sports Track Jacket is a fairly basic. The most interesting part is Pele playing across the back, tongue wagging.
Puma's Project Pink Jersey supports Breast Cancer Research. Other than color, it is a standard issue WPS jersey.
Electronic Arts FIFA 2011 is the best soccer game we tested all year.
Windows Phone is biggest change in mobile since the iPhone was released. With XBOX integration and Zune music, it pushes the gaming and lifestyle aspects.

Cool Factor:

FIFA 2011 - Great game, but it is still just a game. All of our testers would rather be outside playing most of the time.
Pele Track Jacket - As cool as Pele may be, this jacket is a light grey and not that exciting. We would have loved to see the same jacket in the bright yellow signature color of this line.
Windows Phone - A phone is still just a phones. It does everything we want it to do, but we haven't published our new app yet. That will put it over the top.
Project Pink Jersey - Florescent Pink and professional quality. Each of the WPS teams used these jerseys for one game last year. That gives them credibility and rarity.

After much deliberation, we decided social conscience should carry the day. Each of the items garnered much envy when it entered our labs. Each disappeared for "long-term testing" and some have yet to return for published reviews.

Our winner: The Puma WPS Project Pink Jersey. A special thank you to Lindsey for additional testing and modeling our winner.

Best Kit 2010

2011-01-24T17:00:00Z

This past year, AVID Soccer had the chance to sample the kit from most of the teams playing in the World Cup. We polled our staff before, during and after the cup to see which was the most desirable.

We selected the national uniforms of Spain (adidas), The Netherlands (Nike), Côte d'Ivoire (Puma) and Serbia (Nike). We ranked each on their design and their prestige.

Pre-tournament:

The Netherlands - An ASER favorite to win, but plain design
Serbia - An interesting visual with the white cross and a potential Cinderella team
Spain - Another ASER staff favorite to finish strong and the best looking uniforms of the adidas Europe group
Côte d'Ivoire - The best looking uniforms in the tournament - Puma's Africa style earns the host continent the best group kit design

During the Cup - Rated just after the group stage

Serbia - The only team we picked that finished last in the group stage... with just 3 points
Côte d'Ivoire - They tied Portugal, held strong against Brazil, beat a surprisingly strong North Korea and still finished third in the group
The Netherlands - Uninspired play from a Dutch side that won their group as if it was playing the reserves team
Spain - They lost to Switzerland... do we really need to add any more to that

Final

The Netherlands - Finally playing Dutch football against Brazil and coming to life as the tournament progressed... and, as often before, finishing in second
Spain - Winners always have a special glow...

In the end, we decided that the field results should determine our winner. Spain deserves all that they received and we will add our accolades to those already received. Spain was best on the field and the Spanish kit emerges victor here, as well.

As honorable mention, we wanted to include three teams with notably different uniforms. Denmark and France both presented unusual uniforms. Unfortunately, France completely self destructed and Denmark was forgettable in a weak pool. Uruguay also sported interestingly different kit. Thanks to Diego Forlan, they played spectacularly. Had we predicted their results, they would have displaced the Dutch.

[Editor's Note: I bleed Orange... they would would have replaced Serbia]

ASER 2010 Best Ball Award

2011-01-22T17:00:00Z

For this years Best Ball awards, AVID Soccer selected four premium match balls. We tested the best from Nike, adidas, Wilson and Select. The first three are official balls of the EPL (and la Liga), World Cup (MLS and others), and NCAA. The Select ball was included to round out the group.

Judging was based:

Playability
- The Wilson Avanti and Select Brilliant are both fairly standard 32 panel balls. They each meet the high expectations for a $100+ match ball, but add any significant new features or material.
- The Nike Total90 Tracer adds a textured surface to its 32 panels and a high visibility variant. Internal construction keeps the ball well balanced.
- Everyone heard the complaints about the adidas Jabulani/Jo'bulani ball in South Africa, but we found it well balanced and very playable.
Desirability - Without and "Official" in its name, the Brilliant Superball doesn't have any innate status. There are not many people outside of college who care about the NCAA designation (just ask Brine), so the Avanti fairs no better. Depending on your affiliations and brand preference, either the Total90 Tracer or Jabulani comes out on top.
Value
- Wilson Avanti NCAA Official Ball $120
- Select Brilliant Superball $130
- Nike Total90 Tracer Hi-Vis EPL Offical Ball $150
- adidas Jabulani World Cup South Africa Official Ball $160
- As odd as it might sound, the current street price for the Jo'bulani Official Finals Ball with the Netherlands vs. Spain markings is under $110. That makes this variant of the Jabulani the best value and adds to the desirability.
Overall Merit
- Each of these manufacturers takes a slightly different tact in their design and all have merits. The Wilson, with its standard design does not bring anything special to the table; however, it is well executed with foam padding for soft touch and under glass graphics.
- Select adds a special microfiber material in the outer shell to keep the ball compliant and playable.
- Nike adds texture to the shell for true flight and high technology to the construction for better balance.
- adidas uses fewer panels and welds them together. This creates the most spherical and balanced ball (at least according to adidas). We have not been able to verify the claim, but are inclined to agree.

After significant testing and endless discussion, we ranked the entrants as follows:

4) Wilson Avanti NCAA Official Ball - At $120 it is a respectable choice, but there just isn't anything special enough about this ball to rank it higher

3) Select Brilliant Superball - While we think "Brilliant" and "Superball" might apply singlely to this well made premium match ball, we think together they overstate the circumstances

2) Nike Total90 Tracer - This is an unparalleled 32 panel ball. Nothing more needs to be said.

1) adidas Jabulani/Jo'bulani - All WC whining aside, we have been playing with this ball for months. It is the best ball this year.

ASER Best Boot 2010

2011-01-21T17:00:00Z

Each year, AVID Soccer selects the "Best of the Best" in a variety of categories. The Best Boot award goes to the boot that provides the ideal combination of touch, comfort, quality and value. This year's entries include the adidas Predator, Nike Vapor, Puma Powercat and Pele Sports 1962.

The Predator (a perennial favorite) makes our list almost every year, both from reader feedback and our own evaluations. This years Predator X TRX is an evolutionary advancement including a redesigned heel counter, better fit properties, and new power platform.

The Nike Vapor Superfly II was the boot to have in the World Cup with purple and orange seeming to be on every foot. They are light, fast and expensive. Nike also fixed the durability problems of the first generation Superfly.

Puma's family included the lightest boots, the most comfortable boots, and a solid balanced boot. We ran each through their paces and the PWR-C 1.10 become the winner of our Boot Shoot-Out.

We, at AVID Soccer, have always prided ourselves in being supportive of new brands. Pele Sports entered the market in 2010 with a solid line-up of boots and apparel. We selected the 1962 for its balance of quality, comfort and value.

Our criteria consists of:

Playability (touch and comfort)
- 1962 was a good year for Brazil and the Pele Sport boot celebrates this with comfort and touch
- The Vapors have great touch and feel, but padding is sacrificed for weight
- Predators have always been known for soft uppers and a good fit (on wider feet) and the X is no exception
- The Puma PWR-C 1.10 is the most comfortable boot we have ever tested - until next year
Quality
- Every one of these boots is top flight... even the mid-level 1962 holds its own with quality stitching, fit and finish
- The Puma's raise the bar with innovative design and padding in all the right places
- Nike took a very light Superfly boot full of compromises and created the Superfly II with almost none
- The Predator holds a Honda like position in first place for quality that is unmatched
Value
- We loved playing in the Superfly's and they were the most desirable boots on the planet during the entire world cup, but they are twice the price of anything else on this list
- Puma's Powercat is a remarkable boot and we would wear them into any game
- Again, the Honda like quality of the Predator keeps it near the top
- At half the price of the Puma or Predator and a quarter the price of the Vapors, the 1962's are a true value leader

Looking at the results for our test categories, it is easy to see why this year's Best Boot was so difficult to decide. Pele Sports, adidas and Puma each won a category and Nike was strong in each.

We ended this year with a split decision. We are awarding the Pele Sports 1962 the Value Boot of the year, receiving 2 out of 6 votes for first place. Our over all winner is the adidas Predator X TRX with 4 first place votes and the highest overall rating.

ASER Boot Shoot-out

2010-11-15T17:00:00Z

AVID Soccer tests the best of the best boots to see who comes out on top. This year we had an amazing group of contestants from Puma, Nike and Pele Sports.

We are very late on this one. We actually ran the shoot-out in August, but we have been so busy that we haven't published much lately.

This year's challengers represent the three philosophies in boot design. From Nike, we have the super lightweight Mercurial Vapor Superfly II. This addition to the Vapor family services Christiano Renaldo and what seemed half of the players in the South African World Cup. Carbon Fiber, Teijin leather, adjustable studs and outrageous colorways give the Superfly serious contender status. These are definitely the coolest boots in the test. At less than 8 ounces, it is extremely light, but not in the same ballpark as the Puma 1.10 SL.

From Puma, we selected the PWR-C 1.10 PowerCat boot. It is a rock solid striking platform with comfortable kangaroo leather and shark tooth blades. Added padding and the best heel counter in our test group allow solid strikes all day without reduced fatigue.

The newcomer to the AVID Soccer family is Pele Sports. They blended old school styling with modern engineering to produce a great value line of boots. Celebrating Pele's third WC Victory at Mexico 1970, these top shelf boots are less than half the price of the vapors. These boots were the most comfortable in our test. Each of the little touches showed thought went into the design.

Any of these three boots could have ended up as the best in our shoot-out. Each one received at least one first place vote from a tester. In the end, there can be only one winner.

In third place, was the Pele Sports 1970. There is no question, that this is the best value, but cost is not object in our shoot-outs. These are the most comfortable of the three, but the styling didn't really hold our attention. Still, Pele would be proud.

Second, if only on sheer desirability is the Vapor. These are the best known boot by anyone what watched the world cup. The purple/orange color combination say that you better have the foot skills to be worthy of these boots because everyone is going to see what you do.

Our winner, by a very slim margin, was the Puma PowerCat. These boots have everything. They are mid-weight, but provide all of the features of a power platform. The unique cleat pattern provided the best grip of any boot. The quality of construction means these will be around for years. The comfort means we WANT them around for years. WINNER: PUMA

Disagree with our selections... let us know!

Pele Sports 1970 FG

2010-10-08T17:00:00Z

Pele Sports top boot is the 1970 ($160), named for Pele's third World Cup title. Styled with an old school look and modern design, these are extremely comfortable.

The upper is constructed of a top quality kangaroo leather that has been quilted to provide both touch and padding. The forefoot is covered in a friction material to add wet and dry touch. The heel has a stiff counter that provides good protection and stability.

The laces are covered by a tongue flap. The flap is longer than most which sets the elastic between the cleats. It is small touches like this that separate a pro-class boot from a club boot.

The insole is well padded with an EVA foam insert. The insert can be removed and replaced with orthotics. The boots have a nice arch support and a well padded collar.

The outsole is constructed of injection molded polyurethane. The design uses multiple materials to provide both stiffness and grip. The design also includes pressure dispersion channels to reduce pressure. The cleats follow a standard bladed pattern. The cleats have an l-shape to enhance grip and provide a quick release when you rotate.

Puma PWR-C 1.10 PowerCat FG

2010-10-07T17:00:00Z

Puma has released a series of outstanding boots this year. The family (seen here) includes the entire 1.10 line-up. Our latest test set includes Puma's power platform boot, the PowerCat ($230).

The PowerCat is available in both Tricks (special logos) and standard versions in a variety of colors. Our black/red test pair were quite subtle compared to the silver/black and gold/black varieties, but our favorite is the black/lime.

The upper is a very soft kangaroo leather with strategic patches of padding and a control surface. There are ridges on the forefoot to add friction and touch when striking. One of our testers found the ridges to be distracting early on, but liked the feel once he got used to them. The heel area also includes a synthetic microfiber that added both visual appeal and reduced weight. At 10.4 ounces, these are light for a power boot. Our testers raved about the feel of the boot and the comfort playing in it.

The outsole is a hard plastic solid piece that is riveted and glued to the upper. The cleats are bladed in the usual pattern with a shark tooth feel. The exception is the heel, which features six small cleats instead of the usual four. They have a rubberized tip that provides a bit more grip on harder surfaces and concrete.

The boot has a solid heel counter. This is something that we have missed in many of the lighter weight boots that we have tested lately. It also features asymmetric lacing and real padding. Also things that are noticeably absent from the lightweight speed boots.

This has been a great year for boots. Each of the lines in Puma's family have advanced over prior years. Even the 2.10 boots are better than top flight boots of a few years ago.

A note on Puma's naming convention: PWR-C 1.10

PWR-C = Family Name PowerCat
N. = Boot level 1 for pro level boot; 2 for club level boot; 3 for value boot
10 = Year released, so a 1.08 was first introduced at least 2 years before a 1.10. It still could have been manufactured in 2009 because there was no significant changes in that year.

Pele Sports 1958 Boots

2010-09-07T17:00:00Z

Pele Sports has released a family of boots that have an old school look while providing modern design and material. The 1958 ($75) is the base boot in the line.

For a value boot, the 1958 sports a great deal of quality detail. The upper is a microfiber synthetic leather that has been stitched and treated to provide ball control in wet or dry conditions. The boots have asymmetric laces to help present a clean striking surface.

The insole provides plenty of EVA foam for padding and it conforms to the players foot quickly. It is removable and can be replaced with orthotics or inserts. The outsole is one piece of TPU plastic in a traditional bladed pattern. There is also a V shaped ridge at the arch and a horseshoe ridge under the cleats for additional stiffness. The blades show the thought and detail that went into these boots. Each blade has a yellow tip with three stars representing the three WC Final wins for Pele.

Overall, these are a solid boot, but we would recommend moving up to the 1962 (middle of the range) as the best value in the line.

Check out the entire Pele Sports line on our Facebook page.

Puma 1.10 SL FG and 1.10SL Lightning FG

2010-08-27T17:00:00Z

Currently the lightest boots on the market, the 1.10 SL / Lightning ($250 / $350 respectively) from Puma are the latest salvo in the arms race.

Weighing in at a svelte 5.24 ounces, the pair is lighter than most single boots. There really is nothing too them beyond what you need to play. The upper is an ultra-thin premium synthetic. The style is very Puma with the cat replacing the stripe on the inside and appearing just below the laces. Our testers loved the color of our white/blue test examples.

The midsole is carbon fiber providing strength and stiffness across most of the foot. There is a flex point at the ball making it easy and comfortable to run. The outsole is a single piece of nylon called pebax. It is glued to most of the upper, but also stitched at the flex point for durability. Puma uses a unique bladed cleat pattern that provides a great deal of traction on firm to soft surfaces.

The special edition Lightning is named for gold metal sprinter Usain Bolt. Other than the color (green/yellow) graphics and three decorative crystals, the boots are exactly the same.

Our testers loved the feel of the boots. They were comfortable and flexible thanks to Puma's AptoLast technology. Most felt like they were playing barefoot. We did have one problem. The heal counter started to separate from the upper almost immediately. There was no further damage during our testing, so we don't know if this was a poor glue point or indicative of future failures. Any time you try to minimize material to save weight, inevitably some strength is lost. As a final note, try a pair on before you buy. Ours tested about a full size small.

As usual, there are additional Hi Res pictures on the AVID Soccer Facebook page.

Pele Sports Lifestyle Gear

2010-08-25T05:00:00Z

Pele Sports is a new company spreading the joy of the game. We had the chance to test a variety of lifestyle gear that should be available now.

Pele Sports makes both boots and off-pitch gear. We reviewed three different boots that are all a great value. The lifestyle gear consists of tees and jackets. The also have some training and futsal gear.

We have two different tees ($30 each) that received a pretty good reception from out focus group of high school and college players. The Winner shirt received the first reaction. It celebrates Pele's 1970 goal in the Final. The screen printed image on black definitely catches attention. As much as the group liked the Winner, it was the logo tee was the one everyone wanted. It is a beautiful blue with Pele's signature in the center front. Both shirts are a high grade 100% cotton fabric and should last for a long time. Both tees feature a signature yellow loop on the bottom.

We also received three jackets to test. The coolest is the track jacket ($55). It is grey/yellow or purple/yellow with the signature logo on the front and Pele dribbling across the back. The jacket is 100% polyester with a full zipper and zippered pockets. The cuffs and waist are ribbed. The collar will either stand up or fold down. We also received a zippered hoodie in the same fabric. It is almost the same without the graphic on the back.

Pele Sports also offers stronger protection for when the weather is worthy of football. The Rain Cheater ($80) is a fully lined windbreaker. The outer is a water and wind resistant polyester in white. The lining is a breathable mesh in bright Brazilian yellow. The hood and sleeves are also lined with a woven fabric. The zippers, hood strings and signature logo are all yellow for a nice contrast.

More pictures of the Pele Sports line are available on our Facebook page.

Star-Spangled Soccer (Book Review)

2010-08-09T04:41:00Z

Gary Hopkins book "Star-Spangled Soccer" ($25) is a good history of soccer in America. It provides a business point of view on the growth and professionalize of the beautiful game.

"Star-Spangled Soccer: The Selling, Marketing and Management of Soccer in the USA" tells the story of how the USA went from an absolute surprise in Italia 90 World Cup to a soccer nation. The book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of the US Soccer Federation, MLS, WUSA, USL and others over the past 20+ years.

It was a bit difficult to get into the book. Some of the text bounces around chronologically and there are references to a number of people and events that are not all detailed in the beginning of the book. The author assumes a certain level of familiarity that the reader may not have until later in the book.

Once into a few chapters, most of the players have been introduced and the politics and drama start. Make no mistake, this is as much a melodrama as any telenovela on Univision. Hopkins rewards the reader with interesting trivia and hard numbers to show the promise and missed opportunities.

The book covers all aspects of soccer in America from the National Team, CONCACAF, professional (men's and women's) leagues and youth soccer. Gary also goes on to describe how soccer has proliferated throughout our culture and why the image of the upper middle class suburban soccer mom is neither the goal nor the preferred path to expansion.

Hopkins also discusses the next steps for growth in American Soccer. One of the most interesting ideas is that Soccer does not need to be the religious experience it is in other countries to be successful here. It simply needs fans that understand the game and get out to support their team. Fans can have a tremendous experience in the new purpose built stadiums as long as teams work to connect with their communities and fan base.

We would recommend this to anyone looking to make a career in soccer as an administrator, agent, scout, owner or marketing director. It is also worth reading for the historical content. The timing of the release was unfortunate. I would have liked to hear Hopkins comparison of the South Africa World Cup and the USA 94 World Cup. Both were held in countries not considered capable of hosting - for entirely different reasons. Both, with the help and determination of FIFA were very successful in the end.

One note: as a publisher, we see a lot of written material and we produce our fair share. Everyone makes mistakes, but the editing in Star-Spangled Soccer is poor. The book is riddled with incorrect word use, incorrect dates and continuity issues. We understand that this is not a mainstream publication and does not have the budget, but a few people with red pencils could have made a world of difference.

Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II

2010-08-06T17:00:00Z

AVID Soccer tests Christiano Ronaldo's favorite boot - the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II. At 7.8 ounces, it is among the lightest boots we have ever tested. At $400 it is also among the most expensive.

For the World Cup in South Africa, Nike made a great promotional decision. Instead of giving every key player a personalized boot, they would give ALL of their endorsed players boots with the same color combination - purple/orange. This way, regardless of the boot, Total90 or Vapor, there would be an obvious Nike player on screen for very second of every game. It worked. Nike's distinctive color combination seemed to be everywhere.

Now that the Cup is over, the Vapors are available in a variety of colorways. Our test pair is purple/black, but they are also available in WC Purple/orange, yellow/black, blue/black and others.

The construction is fairly standard for a top flight boot with a carbon fiber chassis and Teijin upper. However, some of the advancements unique to the Superfly II are worth mentioning. The cleat pattern is a combination of studs and blades. The tip of the blades are fairly thin enabling them to dig into the pitch. They use a curved shape to provide more surface area and grip for lateral motion. The two studs are extendable allowing for greater penetration in wet/muddy conditions. This is probably the best engineered cleat pattern we have seen working very well on both firm and soft surfaces. There is even a serrated section on the toe for extra grip when sprinting. Three of the blades are hollow presumably for weight savings.This doesn't last long as the gaps are soon filled with dirt that doesn't release easily. These vapors are not intended for hard ground or clay.The small horizontal surface provides very little stability when they cannot dig into the pitch.

The chassis uses a woven and formed carbon fiber plate. The TEPEX outsole also provides a clear "holographic glass" surface forming one of the cleats and providing additional stiffness and strength. The two components were engineered together to provide additional energy return and light weight... and really cool aesthetics.

The original Superfly had problems with durability because of the thin upper. The second generation uses reinforcing fibers in combination with the Teijin synthetic specifically designed for the demands of soccer. Both the toe and heel also have reinforcing sections for wear and support. We had no wear problems and the boot seems to be very stout for its weight.

The final unique feature is Nike+. Unlike the running version, there is no device in the boot to log performance. The soccer version of Nike+ is personalized coaching messages based on the players style. Each pair of boots comes with a code that can be used to hear messages from a variety of advisors. The Vapor version focuses on speed as befits the boot. There is a different set of messages for the Total90 around power and striking.

Find the hi-res pictures of the Superfly and other AVID Soccer shots on our facebook page.

Ubisoft Pure Futbol (XBOX 360, PS3, PC)

2010-06-25T17:00:00Z

In the shadow of the World Cup, Ubisoft releases Pure Futbol ($60) as a 5v5 physical battle for pride. The game doesn't fit the usual model and deserves consideration. It features 230 elite players, 17 international teams and 3 legendary teams.

Before we explain what Pure Futbol, Authentic Soccer is, let us get what it isn't out of the way. This is not a full 11 side, every team in the world game like Electronic Arts FIFA or Konomi's Pro Evolution Soccer. It is also different from the street ball game focused on tricks and unrealistic physics. If I have to describe it in terms of other games, it would be NFL Blitz because of the simplified controls and dirty camera angles.

The back story is two teams that are upset about the result of a formal match. The result is a challenge of "any time any where." Five players from each team meet on a deserted pitch for a rematch. The game has the usual modes: Online play, quick/exhibition play (single player or multi-player) and story mode.

Story or Quest mode is the process of managing a team through a season. In Pure Futbol, that season is a short 28 days. Players must win two games in each venue. Win the games by certain dates and earn an extra game against a legendary team. Each venue has the same challenges. More difficult challenges earn more points for upgrading your personal player. Each game allows you to unlock player trades by completing specific in game challenges.

Online play and single player exhibition play are very much the same. Camera angles are designed to feel part of the game. They are a bit dirty, but that is the point. The play itself is quick and involving. The controls are simple and follow established standards. It is an easy game to pick up. There are a few footwork tricks that work well when dribbling. The passing/crossing system is one of the easier to use effectively. Shooting is also simplified. The PURE system provides a bonus for shots on goal guaranteeing a perfect shot when the power bar is full. Fortunately, a perfect shot does not ensure a goal, just a well struck ball. Online play was a bit difficult for us. So early in the games life, there were few other online players. The result was long waits for matches to start and unbalanced selections. This should improve over time. One cool feature is the ability to play the team you built during story mode... so if you see FC Palmdale or AVID Soccer, go easy on us.

Multi-player is where this game should excel. It is much closer to a party game than the more accurate soccer games. The simple controls and PURE system help weaker gamers making this a good party game. Unfortunately it is let down by color choices and camera angles. There are a few venues that are very orange and players can get lost on the pitch if their uniforms are the wrong color. The other problem is the camera angle. In local multi-player games, the camera is a full pitch view from the top of the venue. After playing single player, switching to multi can be confusing.

The last major feature is the player/kit designer. There are a number of different jersey/short patterns and plenty of colors. Player design is much more limited. One tester spent 20+ minutes trying to find a combination of colors and patterns that would work on every pitch and not look like another team. Something that shouldn't be required.

At $60, this is probably a 7 out of 10. At $30-40, this is probably an 8+ and a great party game. Our final evaluation: If you want to play football from your couch, buy one of the FIFA or Pro Evolution. If you want to play soccer outside, this is a good choice when you can't.

Note, ASER tested the XBOX 360 version. Pure Futbol is also available for the Playstation 3 and PC.

Calle Republic Smooth Criminal Ball

2010-06-21T14:00:00Z

Calle Republic have created a second street ball in the Smooth Criminal ($40). While still durable, it is also intended for indoor, court and all purpose use.

Calle Republic changed the street game by creating the original Primero ball. It was functional and incredibly durable, but boring. With the Smooth Criminal, the pigeon people have added style to durability. Like all street/indoor balls, it is a size 4 with a low/mid bounce design. This keeps the ball in play, while allowing enough lift for the footwork. The natural latex bladder adds to touch and feel. The combination is great for the types of quick play and tricks that make street soccer so much fun to play and watch.

The florescent green example we received as part of the AVID Soccer write in contest shows the first signs of Calle's new street soccer look. The stripes give the ball its name and unique look in flight. It has a strong polyurethane cover with almost a carbon fiber look. The stripes and dead pigeon are printed on top. The ball will scuff some, but it will hold up to gravel and asphalt reasonably well.

At ASER, we have played with just about every kind of ball available. Beach soccer balls are light and soft; Futsal balls are felted and flat (low bounce); premium match balls fly, dip and swerve; skills balls are mini baby balls; even volleyballs make it in to training for headers. For casual play away from the pitch or parking lot, the Smooth Criminal is the best combination of durability and playability. When you hit the gravel and asphalt, stick with the Primero.

adidas Jabulani Premium Match Ball

2010-06-12T17:00:00Z

One of the biggest controversies in this years World Cup is the Jabulani / Jo'bulani ball ($150) from adidas. ASER puts it through the paces and compares it to the Europass ball from 2008.

The Jabulani is very lively. When properly inflated, it bounces well and is easy to strike and trap. At 14 psi, it is a hard ball with little padding in the cover. This is exactly what we would expect from a premier match ball. It is properly weighted. At 15.4 ounces, it exactly the same weight as our Teamgeist II ball tested two years ago.

Every World Cup since 1970 has used an adidas ball. Many of those have come with some controversy. This includes the ball used in the German World Cup, the Teamgeist. At the time, many of the same complaints were leveled. These criticisms included keepers who thought the ball was too fast and players who couldn't predict the flight.

As the ball was used by the Champions League, Bundesliga, MLS and countless amateur players, it became a much sought after match ball. The updated version used for Euro 2008 changed the skin. Again, the grumbling started almost immediately. This time, the goose bumps that improved laminar flow around the ball made it "move too much in flight."

Now we have the Jabulani/Jo'bulani for 2010. The Jabulani uses a new construction process. It is three layers deep with a natural latex bladder, and inner carcass and outer grooved skin. The skin has six pre-curved panels that are thermally bonded. This process is intended to provide greater balance and provide a perfectly spherical shape. In face, adidas claims this is the most balance and spherical ball they have ever produced. Our instrumentation could not find any evidence to the contrary. We can state that the build quality is superior to the Europass ball. The Europass used glued panels to ensure balance, but the glue tended to leak at the seams.

Like the Europass, the Jabulani also has a textured surface. Unlike the older sibling, it is no longer simple bumps. The Jabulani features raised lines and cut grooves of different sizes and directions. Those lines improve the airflow around the ball accentuating any movement. This allows the ball to fly, curve and drop "with added enthusiasm." Basically, if the ball is struck perfectly, it has a perfect flight. If the ball is curved, it really moves. If you are off target or strike the ball poorly, it can make you look foolish.

Like all sports equipment, it is better each year. Those at the top of the game adapt and take advantage of the change to play better. This is what separates the best from the lower echelons. The Jabulani is no different. It is relatively new and unforgiving. There will be some amazing strikes in South Africa and some amazing mistakes. The only thing that really matters is that everyone is using the same ball. It is a fair playing field and whatever advantage/disadvantage the ball might bring is the same for every player and every team. The best will adapt and the rest will be found wanting.

adidas WC balls

Year	Location	Name
1970	Mexico	Telstar
1974	Germany	Telstar Durlast
1978	Argentina	Tango Durlast
1982	Spain	Tango España
1986	Mexico	Azteca
1990	Italy	Etrusco Unico
1994	USA	Questra
1998	France	Tricolore
2002	Korea/Japan	Fevernova
2006	Germany	Teamgeist
2010	South Africa	Jabulani

Statistics:

Weight: 15.4 oz / 436 grams
Suggested Pressure: 11.6-14.5 psi
Tested Pressure: 14 psi