Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned over the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing, and an electronic circuit positioned between the lining and the cover assembly and generally aligned with the lacing. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The electronic circuit includes at least one sensor and the electronic circuit is configured to produce a signal to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use.