A volleyball is a

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but sometimes ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for s ...

used to play

indoor volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

beach volleyball Beach volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of two to four players each on a sand court divided by a net. Similar to indoor volleyball, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side o ...

, or other less common variations of the sport. Volleyballs are spherical in shape and typically comprise eighteen nearly rectangular panels made from synthetic or genuine leather. These panels are organized into six identical sections, each consisting of three panels. They are carefully wrapped around a bladder to form the complete volleyball. A

valve A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or Slurry, slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically Pip ...

permits the internal air

pressure Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and eve ...

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. Mikasa VLS300 official beach volleyball

Volleyball characteristics

''Indoor volleyballs'' are specifically designed for the indoor version of the sport, while beach volleyballs are tailored for the beach game. Indoor volleyballs come in either a solid white color or the brightest shade of yellow. They are produced in two variations: a youth version, slightly smaller and lighter than adult volleyballs, and a heavier "medicine ball" type designed for setters to enhance finger strength. Beach volleyballs are slightly larger than standard indoor balls, featuring a coarser external texture and lower internal pressure. They come in vibrant colors or a solid white option. The earliest volleyballs were crafted using leather panels over a rubber carcass.

Major brands

There are several brands of competitive volleyballs in use, including, but not limited to: * NIVIA Volleyball * Tachikara * Molten *Allsix *Copaya * Wilson
Baden Sports
* Mikasa * Mizuno * Nike * Spalding *

Beta Beta (, ; uppercase , lowercase , or cursive ; or ) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 2. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represe ...

* USSPT http://www.usspt.com * Gala (made in Czech Republic) Most of these brands also make cheaper variations for recreational (non-competitive) use.

Adopted use

*Mikasa makes the official balls of the

Fédération Internationale de Volleyball The International Volleyball Federation commonly known by the acronym FIVB (''Fédération Internationale de Volleyball''). Is the international sports governing body, governing body for all forms of volleyball. Its headquarters are located in ...

and the CEV -

European Volleyball Confederation The European Volleyball Confederation ( or ''CEV'') is the continental sports governing body, governing body for the sports of volleyball, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball and snow volleyball in Europe. Its headquarters is in Luxembourg City, ...

(beach and indoor). *Molten makes the official ball of

USA Volleyball USA Volleyball (USAV) is a non-profit organization which is recognized as the national governing body of volleyball in the United States by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committe ...

. *Molten makes the official ball of

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

indoor volleyball. *Wilson makes the official ball of the

Association of Volleyball Professionals Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...

(beach) and NCAA beach volleyball.

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.

References

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External links