Water polo is a team water sport. The game consists of 4 quarters in which the two teams attempt to score goals by throwing the ball into their opposition’s goal, with the team that scores the most goals winning the game. A team consists of 6 field players and one goalkeeper in the water at any one time. In addition to this, teams may have substitute players, including up to one substitute goalkeeper. Water polo is typically played in an all-deep pool, and players need considerable stamina and endurance to play the game. When it comes to water polo, there is one major difference, regarding the ball, between the 2007-08 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules and the 2007-08 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a field at the center of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. Each team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, while the other team fields. United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) governs cricket play in the United States.  At the high school level, USACA works in conjunction with the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) in organizing a league for high school aged players.  The PSAL bases its Cricket Rules and Regulations on the MCC Laws of Cricket and the ICC playing conditions for One Day International matches.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the international governing body for the game of cricket, with 104 member countries as of their 2008 – 2009 roster.  The ICC plays by the MCC Laws of Cricket with certain exceptions stated in ICC Playing Conditions.  The three types of contests governed by the ICC are Test Matches, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Matches.  The changes below are the ICC exceptions to the MCC Laws of Cricket.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)has been the custodian of the Laws of Cricket since the Club’s formation in 1787.  As such, the MCC will publish 2000 Code 3rd Edition – 2008 which will become effective 1 October 2008.  This version of the Laws of Cricket remains unchanged regarding the specifications for the ball.  Other cricket councils may issue rule changes based on this primary source.

Tennis is a sport that is either played individually or in pairs. The object of the game is to play the ball so that the opponent is unable to play a return. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of the game of tennis and its duties and responsibilities include determination of the Rules of Tennis. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) comments have the same weight and force in USTA tournaments as do ITF Cases and Decisions.  The USTA Friend at Court: The USTA Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations rules that the type of ball and the ball change pattern must be consistent within a tournament.

Friend at Court, the US Tennis Association Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, defines specifications for the weight, size, rebound and deformation for four types of tennis balls.  Fast, medium, slow and high altitude types are defined.

American handball is a sport in which players use their hands to hit a small rubber ball against a wall so that it bounces off in such a way that their opponent cannot return it. As with court handball (four-wall handball), the US Handball Association governs play of the sport within the US.  One-wall handball uses the same ball as court handball and plays the same rules regarding broken balls.

Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team’s goal using a long-handled mallet.  Since 1890, the US Polo Association has governed the equestrian team sport of polo played in the United States. Over time, the composition of the ball has changed. The outdoor polo ball is typically made of a high compact plastic, but was formerly made of either bamboo or willow root.

In June 2006, the US Handball Association (USHA) issuesd changes to the rules regarding broken balls.

The last complete rulebook was released by the US Handball Association in 2005. Court Handball is a competitive game in which either hand or either fist may be used to hit the ball. It is played indoors in a court similar to a raquetball court.