adidas Unisex Al Rihla Training Hologram Foil Football, Multco/Panton

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Once our goalkeepers got their hands warm, we then moved on to shot-stopping, where they faced shots from outside the box at varying angles to prepare them for the small-sided games with the rest of the team.

Al Rihla is the first World Cup ball in the 92-year history of the tournament which will directly contribute to raising funds to positively impact lives across the world, with 1% of Al Rihla ’ s net sales contributed going to the Common Goal movement. With shots from close range, it’s vital the goalkeeper gets both hands behind the ball with support from the thumbs to help ease it softly into your grip. When we started using Al Rihla in April, it took a few training sessions for our goalkeepers to get used to its speed and power, leading to spills and errors from shots they normally handled with ease. Crossing summary: The ball is fairly easy to control and read but it does still have the potential to create havoc for goalkeepers if they get the timing and/or technique wrong. The launch in Qatar will be the starting point of a journey of possibility as Al Rihla travels to locations around the world to create a series of purposeful activations. Each activation aims to help improve access and equity experienced by those in the local footballing communities in locations including Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mexico City or New York, among others.

Footballs come in a whole range of styles, with new designs and manufacturing processes every season. Every tournament gives rise to a new football to be used especially for that tournament, with each competition and league following suite with their designated seasonal balls. Although this isn't something that most players need to concern themselves with, playing with a high quality football will improve the playing experience. As will a good pair of football boots, so it's important to do your research and try lots on to find the right ones for you. TRAINING FOOTBALLS We started our training with crossing exercises from various distances and angles to get warm and prepare in several different fundamentals of goalkeeping (spatial awareness, footwork, handling and distribution) while getting used to the flight and pace of the ball.

Even though our goalkeepers have been using Al Rihla for much of the year, there were times during play when they would be beaten purely because of the pace of the ball. In the moments when they got the technique wrong as well, making a save became nearly impossible.In 2020 the brand launched the adidas Football Collective – a new movement committed to creating change through football, that brings together past, current, and future initiatives aiming to empower teams and football communities around the world. SPEEDSHELL – The ball’s polyurethane (PU) skin featuring micro and macro textures and a new 20-piece panel shape, which enhances aerodynamics to improve the accuracy, flight stability and swerve of shots Once training was over, I sat down with a few of the more experienced outfield players from our team to get their thoughts and experiences with Al Rihla, and how they believe it will be received at the World Cup. This is what they said… Shot-stopping summary: The ball has a fairly normal flight, but when hit with a particular technique it is still able to wobble, dance, and swerve in the air like other Adidas World Cup balls of the past.

Designed from the inside out using data from rigorous testing in adidas labs, wind tunnels, and on-pitch, Al Rihla provides the highest level of accuracy and reliability on the field of play, due in part to its new panel shape and surface textures:Al Rihla translates as “the journey” in Arabic and has been inspired by the architecture, iconic boats, and the flag of Qatar. The launch will mark the start of Al Rihla's journey to 10 cities across the globe where adidas is creating a series of initiatives aimed at improving access and equity in sport amongst local communities.

Though the movement may not be as extreme as the Jabulani, it’s clear that Al Rihla’s movement and speed will still have the potential to cause all sorts of headaches for the goalkeeper. Small-sided game conclusion: Obstructions in front of the goalkeeper occasionally make it difficult to follow the trajectory of shots on target and catch up to the speed of Al Rihla. After using the ball for much of the past six months, I think Adidas achieved what it wanted in creating a ball that is fast, accurate and reliable for the World Cup in Qatar. As a goalkeeper who has had to deal with the unpredictability of the Telstar and Jabulani, it’s a breath of fresh air to have a more “normal” and realistic ball. I believe most of the goalkeepers at this winter’s tournament will agree.CTR-CORE – An innovative core within the ball that is tuned to improve accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention Distribution summary: It’s easy and enjoyable to distribute over both shorter and longer distances, and overall very accurate. The next video is of some goals and saves from our small-sided game so you can see what Al Rihla is able to do. Al Rihla will debut on a specially created pitch at the launch event before being transported and donated to Challenge F.C., Saudi Arabia ’ s first ever women ’ s football league champions, to become a permanent fixture in Riyadh, delivering lasting impact for this team, who are currently without a permanent training facility.