The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has a committee that writes the rules governing most high school football.  Both leather and rubber are approved for high school use and the ball must be marked with one of two NFHS graphic markings.

The NFL Rules Digest readily offers rules on how many balls must be provided at each game, but does not specify what makes a ball legal. This rule may be a reaction to the practice of some teams storing their own game balls at a different temperature than those to be used by their competitor.

NCAA rules for college football appear to be similar to those used by the NFL. The physical characteristics of each are the same. The differences come in the markings on the surface. The most visible exceptions are that the NCAA requires two one-inch white stripes and prohibits professional football league logos.