Sheffield Hallam strikes up partnership with Decathlon to design UEFA match balls

30th January 2025

Sports engineering experts from Sheffield Hallam University have teamed up with Decathlon UK to design and develop the official match balls for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.

The collaboration between Sheffield Hallam’s Sports Engineering Research Group (SERG) and Decathlon UK involved testing all aspects of the ball’s performance at the University’s world-leading Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC).

Utilising a range of bespoke equipment, including high-speed cameras and force platforms, a team of researchers led by Dr Katie Mills analysed the ball’s material composition and aerodynamic performance, ensuring it met the highest FIFA standards.

The results were instrumental in developing the new match balls which debuted at the start of the 2024-25 season. The UEFA-approved match balls, are now available online and in over 40 Decathlon stores across the UK, including the Sheffield store.

Will Taylor, UK Commercial Director – Teamsports at Decathlon said: “We are incredibly proud of the impact this partnership has had on professional football,” “By combining our passion for sport with Sheffield Hallam University’s cutting-edge research, we’ve created match balls that not only meet the demands of elite players but also elevate the playing experience for footballers of all levels.” 

??The collaboration extends beyond product development, with students from the School of Sport and Physical Activity at Sheffield Hallam University actively participating in the research, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in sports engineering and contributing to the advancement of the field.

Dr Simon Goodwill, Head of Research in the School of Sport and Physical Activity, said: "Our collaboration with Decathlon to test KIPSTA footballs underscores SERG's commitment to advancing sports equipment and ensuring these match balls meet the highest standards of performance, quality and consistency. It's incredibly rewarding to see our research contribute to the game at such a high level." 

About Sheffield Hallam University 

Sheffield Hallam University's vision is to become the world's leading applied university, transforming lives and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

With more than 28,000 students, it is one of the UK's largest universities and a leading provider of health education and teacher training. Sheffield Hallam also educates more students from underrepresented backgrounds than any other UK university.

The application of knowledge is at the heart of everything the University does, from students’ learning and experience to business partnerships and innovative research addressing real world challenges.   

As a university proudly of its place, Sheffield Hallam is committed to Sheffield and South Yorkshire. In recognition of its leadership both internationally and in promoting the region, the University recently received two awards at the Times Higher Education Awards (2023) – for International Collaboration of the Year and Marketing/Communications Team of the Year.

Sheffield Hallam’s award-winning approach has also seen it awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, and named the north’s best apprenticeship provider (2024) and University of the Year (2022) at the Educate North Awards.