From the Toysit archive
Sports Illustrated for Kids Orange Soccer Ball
Meet the orange Sports Illustrated for Kids Competitor size-three ball and invent a neighborhood passing route with three named gates.
The play at a glance
An orange ball with a destination
Orange panels, bold black “Size 3” lettering and the word “Competitor” give this Sports Illustrated for Kids soccer ball a clear visual identity. A few small soccer-ball graphics decorate the surface. For an informal game, that bright little traveler can become the visitor moving between a library, a garden and a station.
Look for the ball’s own details
The black lettering sits across the orange panels like signs on a tiny globe. Look at where the printed words fall in relation to the seams, then imagine one of those panels carrying a message from place to place. The original page identifies the ball as part of the Sports Illustrated for Kids Competitor Series.
For a ball already owned, use its own readable inflation and care instructions and check that its condition and intended use suit the players. Choose a clear, level area for gentle passing. Keep any ground markers flat and outside the players’ footing; leave plenty of room around each gate.
Try the three-gate neighborhood
This original Toysit activity makes cooperation the point of the route.
- Agree on three wide, ground-level gates in the play area. Name them the library, the garden and the station.
- One player chooses a destination and announces a reason to visit: “We’re taking a map to the library.” A partner waits beyond that gate.
- Send the ball with a gentle ground pass through the chosen opening. The receiver stops it and decides where the next message should go.
- Continue the little trip: the library lends the map to the gardener, who sends a basket of imaginary flowers to the station.
- After three visits, stop and retell the journey in order. Give the neighborhood a name and choose one new detail for a second trip.
Make the openings wider or the passes shorter to suit the group. Let a missed gate become a pause to reset the route, with the receiver helping choose the next direction.
Bring the route to the table
Draw the three gates on a sheet of paper and add an orange circle for the ball. Take turns tracing a path and supplying the message. Someone can be the station announcer while another speaks for the librarian. The same route can become a quiet map-making game, with every pass replaced by a line and a sentence.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Competitor Series Orange Soccer Ball
Sports Illustrated for Kids Competitor Series Soccer Ball: Orange Size 3
Orange soccer balls are generally allowed in conditions where the standard white soccer ball would be difficult to see. This usually occurs during winter matches when there is snow on the ground, or in other weather conditions where visibility is compromised. The bright orange color stands out against both white snow and green grass, aiding players, referees, and spectators in following the game's action. The decision to use an orange ball is typically made by the match officials and is in line with the rules and regulations set forth by soccer's governing bodies, such as FIFA, UEFA, or the specific league in which the match is taking place.
Sources and editorial notes
The original image supports the visible brand, Competitor and Size 3 markings. The exact manufacturer, pressure label and original instructions were not recovered; color and size alone do not establish age suitability, inflation pressure or visibility performance. The complete older weather paragraph is preserved as historical commentary, not a determination of current competition approval. The activity is informal, not a rules guide. No physical testing or recall clearance is claimed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.