World Aquatics rules
The men’s ball (size 5) is 68–71 cm around and the women’s ball (size 4) 65–67 cm; both weigh 400–450 g. Young children start with size 3 in mini polo, and boys usually move to size 5 around age 15. Pressure is printed on the ball.
Ball Size Chart
How to use
- 1Choose the sport: soccer, futsal, basketball, indoor or beach volleyball, handball, tennis, rugby or water polo.
- 2Enter the player’s age; for basketball, handball and water polo also pick male or female.
- 3Read the recommended size with circumference (diameter for tennis), weight and pressure, plus inches and ounces.
- 4Compare every size and its typical age range in the table.
Which size for which age?
US Youth Soccer guidance is size 3 for U8 and under, size 4 for U9–U12 and size 5 from U13; high school and college play size 5. In basketball, ages 9–11 use the 27.5 in size 5, girls and women and most boys aged 12–14 the 28.5 in size 6, and boys from about 15 plus the NBA and NCAA men the 29.5 in size 7. In rugby the RFU uses size 3 for U7–U9, size 4 for U10–U14 and size 5 from U15. The ITF recommends red balls up to age 8, orange from 8 to 10 and green for advanced 9–10-year-olds. Leagues vary, so treat ages as typical.
Where the figures come from
Size 5 soccer: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27 Law 2 (68–70 cm, 410–450 g, 0.6–1.1 atm). Futsal: FIFA Futsal Laws 2025/26 (62–64 cm, 400–440 g, low bounce). Volleyball: FIVB Rules 2025–2028 (65–67 cm, 260–280 g, 0.30–0.325 kg/cm²). Basketball: FIBA equipment rules, where pressure is set by a bounce test. Tennis: ITF Rules of Tennis appendix. Rugby: World Rugby Law 2. Water polo: World Aquatics. Soccer sizes 3 and 4 are industry standards.
Inflating correctly
The pressure range is usually printed by the valve. An over-inflated ball stings young players and bounces unpredictably; an under-inflated one feels heavy and dead. For basketball, drop the ball from 1.80 m (about 6 ft): a correctly inflated ball bounces back 1.20–1.40 m.
Frequently asked questions
What size soccer ball for a 10-year-old?
Size 4. US Youth Soccer recommends size 4 for U9–U12, size 3 for U8 and under and size 5 from U13.
What size basketball do men and women use?
Men use size 7 (29.5 in) and women size 6 (28.5 in). Youth players aged about 9–11 use size 5 (27.5 in).
What size is a volleyball?
Indoor volleyballs are size 5: 65–67 cm in circumference and 260–280 g. Beach volleyballs are slightly larger (66–68 cm) and played softer.
What size rugby ball for under 12s?
Size 4. Under RFU age-grade rules, U10–U14 use size 4, U7–U9 size 3 and U15 and above the full size 5.
What size is a futsal ball?
Size 4 with a low bounce: 62–64 cm and 400–440 g. Dropped from 2 m, the first bounce must be 50–65 cm.
Related guides
Need a website for your club?
Fast, SEO-friendly websites and Google Ads management for sports clubs, academies and gyms — talk to Webin Agency.