Because a football is filled with air, and when you kick it, the air becomes compacted allowing some give in the surface, not to mention that it is made of leather and rubber. A rock has no give, it is only filled with more rock.
Chat with our AI personalities
footballs have a larger surface area which means less pressure on one area when you get hit and are filled with air which is compressed inside on impact and absorbs some of the force, stones are solid and small which creates more pressure on an area making it hurt a lot more