Volleyball (ball)

A volleyball is a ball used to play indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, or other less common variations of the sport. Volleyballs are round and traditionally consist of eighteen nearly rectangular panels of synthetic or genuine leather, arranged in six identical sections of three panels each, wrapped around a bladder. A valve permits the internal air pressure to be adjusted. In a break from the traditional construction, in 2008, the FIVB adopted as its official indoor ball a new Mikasa with dimples and only eight panels for a softer touch and truer flight.[1]

A Molten indoor volleyball
Mikasa VLS300 official beach volleyball FIVB beach events (2017)

Volleyball characteristics

Indoor volleyballs are designed for the indoor version of the sport, and beach volleyballs for the beach game.

Indoor volleyballs may be solid white or the brightest shade of yellow. They are made in two versions: the youth version is slightly smaller and weighs much less than an adult volleyball, and a heavier medicine ball type that allows setters to strengthen their fingers.

Beach volleyballs are slightly larger than standard indoor balls, have a rougher external texture, and a lower internal pressure. They can be brightly colored or solid white. The very first volleyballs were made from leather paneling over a rubber carcass.

Volleyball characteristics[2][3]
Circumference
cm (inches)		Mass
grams (ounces)		Internal pressure
kgf/cm² (psi)
Standard indoor 65-67 (25.5-26.5) 260-280 (9.2-9.9) 0.3-0.325 (4.3-4.6)
Youth indoor 63-65 (25-26) 260-280 (9.2-9.9) 0.3 (4.3)
Beach 66-68 (26-27) 260-280 (9.2-9.9) 0.175-0.225 (2.5-3.2)

Major brands

There are several brands of competitive volleyballs in use, including, but not limited to:

Most of these brands also make cheaper variations for recreational (non-competitive) use.

Adopted use

History

In 1895, the initial development of the Volleyball ball was made of a basket bladder according to William G. Morgan, the inventor of Volleyball.[4]

See also

References
  1. "New Volleyball Set For Olympics". Archived from the original on 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  2. FIVB official indoor volleyball rules
  3. FIVB official beach volleyball rules
  4. "William G. Morgan" (PDF). Holyoke YMCA. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
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