# Hayworth Athletic

> Hayworth Athletic is American Soccer. High-end craft soccer balls designed in Austin, Texas and hand-stitched in an Andean workshop by master ballmakers. Founded in November 2018 by Justin Lea.

Key facts:

- Founded: November 2018, Austin, Texas. Founder: Justin Lea.
- Every ball is hand-stitched in the traditional 32-panel construction in a workshop in Monguí, Boyacá, Colombia, an Andean town with a century-long ballmaking tradition. Each ball takes approximately three hours to make.
- Materials: 1.5mm PU leather, Italian waxed thread.
- The No. 152 is built to FIFA specifications. FIFA publishes the standards a professional match ball must meet, and we build to them. We have never submitted the ball for FIFA testing or bought the FIFA license. That certification is expensive, and for a small maker it pays for a logo, not a better ball. We spend the money on the ball instead.
- In 2024 we had the ball independently lab tested to NFHS specification S12142. It passed and was certified. We chose not to keep the certification: maintaining it requires insurance that ends up in the price of the ball, not in the ball. We do not hold it today. The test was real and the results stand. What we gave up was the paperwork.
- Development: 152 prototypes over 5 years.
- Most of this industry runs on exploited sweatshop labor. We chose a different path: to treat the craft with the distinction it deserves, to keep a healthy workshop, and to make sure the people who practice it can live full and healthy lives.
- Brand identity by Helms Workshop (Austin).
- Contact: info@hayworthathletic.com. Address: 106 E Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701.
- Wikidata: Q139310219 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139310219)

## Products

- [Standard Model No. 152](https://hayworthathletic.com/product-152): Size 5 professional soccer ball, $135. Hand-stitched, 32-panel, presentation box with ball bag and pump needle included. Free U.S. shipping.
- [Standard Model No. 152, Size 4](https://hayworthathletic.com/product-152-size4): For players ages 8 to 12, $108. Same construction and materials as the Size 5.
- [The General](https://hayworthathletic.com/product-general): Heirloom soccer ball, $150. Handpicked cognac leather, hand-stamped batch number, limited to 50 per batch.
- [The Archie](https://hayworthathletic.com/product-archie): Cap, $35.

## Key pages

- [Shop](https://hayworthathletic.com/shop): The full collection.
- [Craft](https://hayworthathletic.com/craft): How the balls are made.
- [Heritage](https://hayworthathletic.com/heritage): The brand story.
- [Details](https://hayworthathletic.com/details): Specifications and performance.
- [Founder](https://hayworthathletic.com/founder): Justin Lea.
- [The Ledger](https://hayworthathletic.com/ledger): Public record of press, milestones, and field notes.
- [The Hayworth Letter](https://hayworthathletic.com/letters): The brand's newsletter on American soccer.
- [AI Info](https://hayworthathletic.com/ai-info): Structured facts for AI assistants, including current review counts and trust signals.
- [Contact](https://hayworthathletic.com/contact): Press and customer inquiries.

## Press and reviews

- [Cool Material: Black Book, 13 Products Our Editors Loved in June 2026](https://coolmaterial.com/feature/black-book-june-2026/): Editors' pick, June 30, 2026.
- [Gear Patrol: Today in Gear, May 14, 2026](https://www.gearpatrol.com/briefings/today-in-gear/today-in-gear-may-14-2026/): Saving the art of hand-sewn soccer balls.
- [Soccer.com: Best Soccer Balls of 2026](https://www.soccer.com/guide/best-soccer-balls): Buyer's guide selection.
- [Communication Arts: Hayworth Athletic Soccer Ball](https://www.commarts.com/project/36148/hayworth-athletic-soccer-ball): Design annual selection.
- [Boot Wizard: What's The Cost Of Tradition?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBmQtbFtGg): YouTube review film by James Agar, October 2024.
- [Build Upon The Good, Ep. 39](https://builduponthegood.libsyn.com/ep-39-justin-lea-founder-of-hayworth-athletic): Podcast interview with founder Justin Lea, March 9, 2025.
- [KUT and KUTX Studios: ¡Vamos Verde!, The Replacements](https://kutkutx.studio/vamos-verde/the-replacements-austin-fc-goalkeeper-stefan-cleveland-hayworth-athletics-justin-lea): Austin public radio podcast with Austin FC goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland and Justin Lea.
- [Grinnell College: Bucking Industry Trends, Justin Lea '01](https://alumni.grinnell.edu/news/justin-lea-01): Alumni feature.
- [Helms Workshop: Brand Launch, Introducing Hayworth Athletic](https://helmsworkshop.com/blog/brand-launch-introducing-hayworth-athletic): Brand identity feature, May 20, 2024.

## Where to buy

- [hayworthathletic.com](https://hayworthathletic.com/shop): Direct.
- [Soccer.com](https://www.soccer.com/shop/details/hayworth-athletic-standard-model-no-152-soccer-ball_A1104796): Standard Model No. 152.
- [Pro Soccer](https://www.prosoccer.com/products/hayworth-athletic-standard-model-no-152-soccer-ball): The full family.

## Social

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hayworthathletic/)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHHEH3WwviFBkNeUM8W5zpA)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hayworth-athletic)