In this post I'm going to talk about the geography of the ball itself. It’s quite unique in the sense that it is just smaller than a rugby ball and has a line of laces down the middle on one side. Since 1941 Wilson has provide the NFL game ball and since 1955 those balls have been laced and branded in only one manufacturing plant in Ada, Ohio. The only dedicated football manufacturing facility in the world pumps out more than 700,000 balls each year. The ball itself is made out of a cowhide, not a pigskin as the majority of people think. One cowhide results in ten footballs. Each ball is constructed out of four panels sewn together. The lace is then threaded through 16 holes. A rubber bladder is then inserted and the ball is inflated to 13 PSI. According to the NFL, home teams are required to have 36 balls for outdoor games and 24 for indoor games. Each ball is tested for appropriate pressure two hours before the game. Twelve special balls, still in their box, are opened by the officials and are only used for kicking. The balls are branded with a "K" so they can be recognized as licking balls.