The two primary organizations governing college athletics in the United States, the NCAA and NAIA, use the same rules for women’s basketball.
Section 16. The Ball
Art. 1. The ball shall be spherical. Spherical shall be defined as a round body whose surface at all points is equidistant from the center except at the approved black rubber ribs (channels and/or seams).
Art. 2. The ball’s color shall be Pantone Matching System (PMS) Orange 151, Red-Orange 173, or Brown 1535.
Art. 3. The cover of the ball shall be leather or composite material and consist of tiny raised protrusions densely spaced over the entire surface of each panel so as to form a pebbled appearance.
Art. 4. The ball shall have the traditionally shaped eight panels, bonded tightly to the rubber carcass. The eight panels are defined by two channels and/or seams dissecting the ball’s circumference in opposite directions and two panels that when laid flat shall have the shape of a figure eight.
Art. 5. The width of the black rubber rib (channels and/or seams) shall not exceed 1/4 inch.
Art. 6. When dribbled vertically, without rotation, the ball shall return directly to the dribbler’s hand. Small, electronic chips/devices are permitted to be affixed inside the ball as long as there is no perceptible effect on the ball when a player dribbles, passes, or tries for goal.
Art. 7. The air pressure that will give the required reaction shall be stamped on the ball. The ball shall be inflated to an air pressure such that when it is dropped to the playing surface from a height of 6 feet measured to the bottom of the ball, it will rebound to a height, measured to the top of the ball, of not less than 51 inches when it strikes its least resilient spot nor more than 56 inches when it strikes its most resilient spot.
Art. 8. The circumference of the ball shall be within a maximum of 29 inches and a minimum of 28½ inches.
Art. 9. The weight of the ball shall not be less than 18 ounces nor more than 20 ounces.
Art. 10. The home team shall provide a ball that meets the specifications listed in this section. The referee shall judge the legality of the ball and may select a ball for use provided by the visiting team when the home team cannot provide a legal ball.
Note: It is recommended that the home team provide the visiting team with warmup balls of the same type as the game ball.
References:
Basketball ‘Ball’ Rules for College Women – https://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/WBR27.pdf
Photo – www.sjcbears.com/sports/wbkb/2013-14/releases/20140218w4h25n
