Abstract: An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

Abstract: An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

Abstract: A generally spherical basketball defining a center point and including a carcass having an outer surface and a cover assembly positioned over the outer surface of the carcass. The cover assembly includes at least one cover panel. The cover panel has an outer surface including a valley base surface and first and second sets of spaced-apart projections. Each of the projections of the first and second sets of spaced-apart projections include first and second outermost surfaces, respectively. The first set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 0.2 to 2.0 mm from the valley base surface to the first outermost surface. The second set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 15 to 175 ?m from the valley base surface to the second outermost surface.

Abstract: An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

Abstract: A generally spherical basketball defining a center point and including a carcass having an outer surface and a cover assembly positioned over the outer surface of the carcass. The cover assembly includes at least one cover panel. The cover panel has an outer surface including a valley base surface and first and second sets of spaced-apart projections. Each of the projections of the first and second sets of spaced-apart projections include first and second outermost surfaces, respectively. The first set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 0.2 to 2.0 mm from the valley base surface to the first outermost surface. The second set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 15 to 175 ?m from the valley base surface to the second outermost surface.

Abstract: An automated objective American-football evaluation system may include an American-style football, at least one sensor carried by the football, and electronics to: (a) receive a string of sensor signals from the at least one accelerometer; (b) determine a time of an initial impact of the football with a receiver based upon the received string of sensor signals; and (c) output a catch quality, the catch quality being based upon a portion of the string of sensor signals that is based upon the determined time of the initial impact of the football with the receiver.

Abstract: An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

Abstract: An automated objective American-football evaluation system may include an American-style football, at least one sensor carried by the football, the at least one sensor comprising at least one accelerometer carried by the football and electronics. The electronics are to: (a) receive a string of sensor signals from the at least one sensor; (b) determine a characteristic of a throw of the football based upon the received string of sensor signals; (c) determine an identity of a football player associated with the throw of the football; (d) assign the determined characteristic of the throw of the football to the determined identity of the football player; and (e) output the determined characteristic of the throw, the determined identity of the football player and the assignment of the determined characteristic of the throw of the football to the determined identity the football.

Abstract: A game ball configured for organized, competitive play and having a total mass. The game ball includes an inflatable bladder, a layer of reinforcing material surrounding the bladder, an elastomeric layer surrounding the bladder, and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the layer of reinforcing material and the elastomeric layer. The bladder has a bladder mass that is greater than 25 percent of the total mass. The elastomeric layer and the layer of reinforcing material have a collective mass that is less than 55 percent of the total mass. The game ball is formed without one or more of electronics, batteries and charging coils.

Abstract: An American-style football configured for direct contact with a user's hands. The football includes an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder, and a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The cover panels are formed of a natural leather and include a pebbled texture. Each of the first, second, third and fourth cover panels have an outer surface that defines cover panel outer surface areas. At least one of the cover panels includes a prep gauge portion and a non-prep gauge portion. The prep gauge portion extends over at least 5 percent, and less than 80 percent, of the outer surface area of the at least one of the cover panels. The non-prep gauge portion has a first color and the prep gauge portion has a second color that is darker than the first color.

Abstract: An automated objective American-football evaluation system may include an American-style football, at least one sensor carried by the football, and electronics. The electronics arranged to: (a) receive strings of sensor signals from the at least one sensor, wherein the characteristic of the throw of the football determined by the electronics; and (b) output throw quality. The throw quality is based upon a combination of at least two throw characteristic determined based upon the received string of sensor signals associated with a throw of the football. The at least two throw characteristics are selected from a group of throw characteristics consisting of: velocity; spin rate; time-of-flight; angle of attack; release angle; cone angle; nutation angle; spiral efficiency; and spiral decay.

Abstract: An American-style football having a major longitudinal dimension extending about a longitudinal axis and including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned about the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and a thin electronic tag. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing extends along a longitudinal plane extending through the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The tag is positioned between the lining and the cover assembly. The tag is covered by at least one of the first and fourth cover panels but not covered by the second and third cover panels. The tag is configured to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. In another example implementation, the tag is positioned between the lining and the bladder.

Abstract: A game ball supports electronics. In one implementation, the electronics sense motion of the game ball and are encapsulated by potting compound which forms an encapsulating body sized and shaped to fit within a cavity of the game ball. In one implementation, a game ball comprises an inflatable body which supports the electronics, wherein an electrical conductive line is electrically connected to electronics extends along a surface of the inflatable body at least 60 degrees about the inflatable body.