How to Fix a Deflated Basketball or Sports Ball

A deflated sports ball can suck the fun right out of an afternoon at the park. Soccer balls, basketballs, kickballs, and all other inflatable sports-related balls are prone to annoying leaks and deflation. A leaky or punctured soccer ball doesn't mean you need to toss it in the trash heap and make an inconvenient trip to the store for a new ball. Save that sports ball by following these easy steps.

Before you begin, you will need:
Deflated sports ball
Bucket
Water
Masking tape
Leak repair rubber (Ball Doctor)
Syringe (a syringe usually comes with any ball repair kit)

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 1: Determine the cause of deflation:
Sports balls become deflated in one of two ways: through a hole in the ball's surface or because it hasn't been used in a while. To determine if a leak cause deflation, use a hand air pump and inflate the ball. Once inflated, bounce the ball around for a while and see if it loses pressure. If it doesn't, your ball deflated due to non-use.

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 1: Note the location of the leak:
Place the ball in a bucket filled with water. Submerge the ball and look for air bubbles. The air bubbles will lead you to the leak's location.

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 3: Dry the ball:
Mark the area near the leak spot with masking tape. Do not cover up the leak!

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 4: Fill syringe with the repair rubber substance

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 5: Squirt rubber with syringe:
Locate the ball's air valve, open it, and insert the syringe. Using the syringe, shoot the rubber sealant into the valve, just like you would if you were using the air pump.

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 6: Remove syringe and fill ball with air.
Use an air pump to avoid any unpleasant taste leftover from the rubber.

Fix a Deflated Sports Ball Step 7: Shake or bounce ball:
Shake the ball or bounce it on a hard surface a few times. This moves the rubbery substance around inside the ball to seal up the leak. Keep an eye on the leak area noted by the masking tape. The rubber substance should attach to the leaky area within a few minutes. At this point, you can remove the masking tape.

Your ball is now good to go and ready for the playground!