Soccer balls, volley balls and the like are provided with interior reinforcing patches disposed over the stitched seems to prevent thread breakage, seam separation and water incursion while at the same time enhancing the softness and durability of the ball's structural panels.

A sports ball may include an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the bladder. The cover comprises a plurality of adjoining panels, wherein each panel defines a plurality of panel edges that each extend in a predetermined edge direction along an edge length of less than 7.5 centimeters. The cover may further define a plurality of interior channels. Each interior channel extends in a predetermined channel direction along a channel length of less than 7.5 centimeters. The panel edges and the interior channels are staggered, such that each edge direction is obliquely angled with respect to each of the other edge directions, and each interior channel direction is obliquely angled with respect to each of the other interior channel directions and each of the edge directions of the respective panel. Such an arrangement limits directional feature length and promotes a balanced topography upon the exterior surface of the ball.

A sports ball may include an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the bladder. The cover comprises a plurality of adjoining panels, wherein each panel defines a plurality of panel edges that each extend in a predetermined edge direction along an edge length of less than 7.5 centimeters. The cover may further define a plurality of interior channels. Each interior channel extends in a predetermined channel direction along a channel length of less than 7.5 centimeters. The panel edges and the interior channels are staggered, such that each edge direction is obliquely angled with respect to each of the other edge directions, and each interior channel direction is obliquely angled with respect to each of the other interior channel directions and each of the edge directions of the respective panel. Such an arrangement limits directional feature length and promotes a balanced topography upon the exterior surface of the ball.

A sports ball is provided. The sports ball may include a bladder and a cover disposed about the bladder, wherein the cover includes a plurality of adjoining panels and defines an exterior surface. The cover further defines a plurality of channels extending radially inward from the exterior surface. The plurality of channels includes a plurality of peripheral channel segments and a plurality of interior channel segments. The plurality of peripheral channel segments each define a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of panels. Each channel of the plurality of interior channel segments is provided within a central region of one or more of the panels and divide the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions.

A sports ball is provided. The sports ball may include a bladder and a cover disposed about the bladder, wherein the cover includes a plurality of adjoining panels and defines an exterior surface. The cover further defines a plurality of channels extending radially inward from the exterior surface. The plurality of channels includes a plurality of peripheral channel segments and a plurality of interior channel segments. The plurality of peripheral channel segments each define a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of panels. Each channel of the plurality of interior channel segments is provided within a central region of one or more of the panels and divide the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions.

A sports ball comprises a bladder and a contouring layer surrounding the bladder. The contouring layer includes at least one panel defining a repeating pattern of perforations configured to lower a Poisson's ratio of the contouring layer. Each of said perforations defines a reentrant shape and a constant cross-sectional width in a radial direction of the ball.

A sports ball comprises a bladder and a contouring layer surrounding the bladder. The contouring layer includes at least one panel defining a repeating pattern of perforations configured to lower a Poisson's ratio of the contouring layer. Each of said perforations defines a reentrant shape and a constant cross-sectional width in a radial direction of the ball.

Systems and devices for a team game played on an obround court includes radially symmetric barriers defining cylindrical goals having circular openings concentric with the semicircles of the obround court. An annular halt zone extends around the barriers. A free throw line extends around each halt zone. An obround judge lane extends along the perimeter of the court and is occupied by two judges or referees that monitor the game, while another judge or referee remains inside the perimeter. The court is divided by a centerline which includes a circle at the center of the court. The outer wall of the barrier includes one or more video screens. Audience members can access a computer network to display images, text or video selected by them in real-time during gameplay. The ball used for the game has a surface texture provided by a plurality of square pebbles instead of rounded pebbles.

A sports ball and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The sports ball having a bladder, an outer cover layer, and an intermediate structure disposed between the outer cover layer and the bladder. The intermediate structure includes a restriction structure comprising a plurality of overlapping layers of cross-linked polymer film wrapped about the bladder. The sports ball may be formed via the steps of surrounding the bladder, having a first initial circumferential dimension, with a plurality of overlapping layers of cross-linked polymer shrink film, such that the cross-linked shrink film forms a restriction structure in a first dimensional state; applying a heat shrinking process to the cross-linked polymer shrink film to contract the restriction structure from the first dimensional state to a second dimensional state; inflating the bladder to a second circumferential dimension; and disposing the outer cover layer and intermediate layers about the bladder and restriction structure.

A sports ball and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The sports ball having a bladder, an outer cover layer, and an intermediate structure disposed between the outer cover layer and the bladder. The intermediate structure includes a restriction structure comprising a plurality of overlapping layers of cross-linked polymer film wrapped about the bladder. The sports ball may be formed via the steps of surrounding the bladder, having a first initial circumferential dimension, with a plurality of overlapping layers of cross-linked polymer shrink film, such that the cross-linked shrink film forms a restriction structure in a first dimensional state; applying a heat shrinking process to the cross-linked polymer shrink film to contract the restriction structure from the first dimensional state to a second dimensional state; inflating the bladder to a second circumferential dimension; and disposing the outer cover layer and intermediate layers about the bladder and restriction structure.