Using the right ball matters more than most people think. A ball that is too big or too heavy makes young players kick, throw or shoot with poor technique, and an adult using a youth ball in training gets the wrong feel for matches. This guide lists the official sizes set by the rule makers, IFAB for football, FIFA for futsal, FIBA for basketball, FIVB for volleyball and the IHF for handball, and the age groups that typically use each size. Age bands differ between federations and change over time, so treat them as typical and confirm with your club or league.
Football (soccer) ball sizes
The IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27 specify only the senior ball (Law 2). Smaller sizes are industry standards adopted by youth federations.
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 68–70 cm (about 27–28 in) | 410–450 g (14.5–16 oz) | Adults and teenagers, usually from about age 12–13 |
| 4 | about 63.5–66 cm (25–26 in) | about 350–390 g (12.3–13.8 oz) | Roughly ages 8–12 |
| 3 | about 58.5–61 cm (23–24 in) | about 300–320 g (10.6–11.3 oz) | Roughly ages 8 and under |
| 1 (mini) | much smaller, varies | varies | Skills and souvenir balls |
A senior size 5 ball must also be inflated to 0.6–1.1 atmospheres (600–1,100 g/cm² at sea level), according to Law 2.
Age guidance in the UK and US
- US: US Youth Soccer’s guidance is typically size 3 for U8 and under, size 4 for U9–U12 and size 5 from U13. High school (NFHS) and college matches use size 5.
- UK: the FA publishes recommended ball sizes alongside its youth formats; in grassroots football, size 3 is typical for the youngest mini-soccer groups, size 4 for older mini-soccer and 9v9 age groups, and size 5 for 11v11.
Small-sided youth formats are explained in our 7-a-side football rules guide.
Futsal ball
Futsal uses a single official ball for adult play under the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26:
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (futsal) | 62–64 cm (24.4–25.2 in) | 400–440 g (14.1–15.5 oz) | Low bounce: first bounce 50–65 cm when dropped from 2 m |
Youth futsal often uses a smaller, lighter low-bounce ball (often labelled size 3). The full futsal rules are in our futsal rules guide.
Basketball sizes
FIBA’s Basketball Equipment rules (2026) set the sizes for international play. The NBA and WNBA use the same size classes.
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 749–780 mm (about 29.5 in) | 567–650 g (20–22.9 oz) | Men and boys about 15+; NBA, NCAA men, NFHS boys |
| 6 | 724–737 mm (about 28.5 in) | 510–567 g (18–20 oz) | Women and girls about 12+; WNBA, NCAA women; many boys about 12–14 |
| 5 | about 690–710 mm (27.5 in) | about 470–500 g (16.6–17.6 oz) | Mini-basketball, roughly ages 9–11/under 12 |
| 4 / 3 | smaller | lighter | Young children, early learning |
In US youth leagues, size 5 is often called “youth”, size 6 “intermediate” or “women’s”, and size 7 “official”. The basket height for adults is 3.05 m (10 ft), but many youth programmes lower it for the youngest players.
Volleyball
| Ball | Circumference | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor (FIVB, size 5) | 65–67 cm (25.6–26.4 in) | 260–280 g (9.2–9.9 oz) | Pressure 0.30–0.325 kg/cm² |
| Beach (FIVB) | 66–68 cm (26–26.8 in) | 260–280 g (9.2–9.9 oz) | Lower pressure, softer feel |
| Youth / “lite” | similar size | lighter | Lighter balls are common for younger players |
Adult indoor and youth competition both use the same circumference in most countries; the lighter weight is what helps young players. For the rules of the game itself, see our volleyball rules guide.
Handball sizes
The IHF Rules of the Game (2025 edition) define three main sizes based on age and gender.
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 58–60 cm (22.8–23.6 in) | 425–475 g (15–16.8 oz) | Men and male youth over 16 |
| 2 | 54–56 cm (21.3–22 in) | 325–375 g (11.5–13.2 oz) | Women, female youth over 14, male youth 12–16 |
| 1 | 50–52 cm (19.7–20.5 in) | 290–330 g (10.2–11.6 oz) | Female youth 8–14, male youth 8–12 |
| 0 | smaller | lighter | Mini-handball for the youngest |
Grip matters as much as size: young players should be able to hold the ball comfortably in one hand.
Quick reference by age
| Age (approx.) | Football | Basketball | Handball (boys / girls) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 8 | Size 3 | Size 3 or 4 | Size 0 / Size 0 |
| 8–11 | Size 4 (size 3 at the lower end) | Size 5 | Size 1 / Size 1 |
| 12–14 | Size 4 or 5 | Size 6 | Size 2 / Size 1 (size 2 from 14) |
| 15–16 | Size 5 | Size 7 boys / size 6 girls | Size 2 (size 3 from 16) / Size 2 |
| Adults | Size 5 | Size 7 men / size 6 women | Size 3 / Size 2 |
Choosing and caring for a ball
- Check the panel print. Official match balls usually carry a quality mark (for example FIFA Quality or FIFA Quality Pro for football) and the size printed near the valve.
- Inflate to the printed range. The pressure range is usually printed next to the valve. An over-inflated ball stings and bounces unpredictably; an under-inflated one is heavy and slow.
- Match ball to surface. Indoor balls wear quickly on concrete; outdoor basketballs have tougher rubber covers.
- Think about the venue. Pitch size and ball size go together: smaller pitches for smaller balls and younger players. Compare pitch sizes with our soccer field dimensions tool, and keep score in training games with our online scoreboard.