In women’s sports, do players really need smaller balls?

Question

In women's sports news, many rugby players are unhappy with being told they have to play with smaller lady size balls. They argue they've spent years practising with mens balls, and the little ones just feel wrong. Other women like them because they're easier to hold, so they don't ruin your nails. Apparently, other sports do this too. Women's basketballs are smaller, so they go in the loop easier.

So thoughts, do women need smaller balls and what happens in mixed teams?

In women’s sports, do players really need smaller balls?

andreasderjuengere · Accepted Answer

What a beautiful new century we live in.

Adjustments to improve the overall experience are welcome though.

I would not make it one general procedure. Here are my specific suggestions:

- make table tennis (pingpong) balls smaller for ladies

- make Beach Volleyball balls for ladies 50% larger (and ban men Beach Volleyball at the same time... if it exists, that is)

- increase the size of soccer balls by 300% for both genders

- as for rugby or Americanesian football... are these even balls?

- in which case I'd opt to slightly increase the weight of a badminton ball

We can next proceed to different lady/men sizes in chess games, card games or snooker.

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

If they insist on playing by different rules, then they should stop b*tching about getting paid less. Play the same game as the boys, with the same rules, at the same level and earn the same revenues. Then you are doing “equal work for equal pay”.
Except flopping. Women should continue flopping less than men and male players should be docked and fined accordingly. F*cking p*ssies.

FreyaRed · Accepted Answer

Handball has officially smaller balls for women. Volleyball balls are the same for women and men, but they are very light and no one takes them in hand.

NoDecision · Accepted Answer

No! In softball we had bigger balls to make them easier to catch. But some say bigger balls are easier to fondle too.

Athletic Chloe · Accepted Answer

In most sports, ball size is about optimizing performance, not “protecting” women 😊

In basketball and handball, slightly smaller balls can help players with smaller hands control, pass, and shoot better, which can actually raise the level of play.

In rugby, many women trained with standard balls, so changing can disrupt skills and feel patronizing. Mixed teams usually use the standard (men’s) ball, so everyone adapts to one size.

Ideally, players should help decide, based on performance data and comfort, not stereotypes 💪🎾

AviatorTom · Answer

Women, overall, are physically smaller than men, so it makes sense that their balls are smaller. Same thing with youth sports, smaller balls because the players are physically smaller.

It's also smart marketing by the companies that make the smaller balls. More and different product improves profits.

AngryCarl3 · Answer

No they don't. They can adapt to whatever type of ball. If they don't like it they can play another sport.  There's probably something to be said for letting them play off a different tee.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

How about playing with balls in some more feminine colors? "Gold balls", as the famous genealogist Sir Hilary Bray has described them.

ohsheeT · Answer

Seems like everyone is getting in to the act

browsingthroughthe · Answer

AFL Women's does the same  I support small balls for women's Sports 👍🏻🙃

Kelly6 · Answer

@purplepoppy Nope,  that won’t qualify as ( Equal Rights) lol

EzraIsShy76028 · Answer

The question title almost sounds like a joke lol. But if it helps women in sports then I guess that's good.

pierre7i · Answer

As a former rugby player it was a dream come true when I played in a mixed team !  Showering afterwards was when it got hard !

NathanDavis · Answer

sports will do this... for the game itself if it gives better results, especially if it is more entertaining, they will change it

Lliam · Answer

Most women are expert at playing with any size balls. But female athletes shouldn't have have ever had any balls at all, no matter the size.

888theGreat · Answer

Yes, smaller basketball in WNBA. I don't know about soccer balls. Golf balls and Volley Balls are same as men.

Anonymous · Answer

It doesn't seem right that girls have any balls!

Shiprex · Answer

I think they should have the same size balls in sport and not get any special treatment for being female

MrChinaski · Answer

I don't know much about balls, but women weightlifters prefer a 25mm shaft to a standard 28mm.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

I would think they would need none at all!! Isn't that the big discussion, these days?

exitseven · Answer

when IU played rugby in college I do not remember this issue.

Jackblue · Answer

Probably best for female athletes to take a vote on whether they want bigger balls (no pun intended).

captain_voidwalker · Answer

Depends on the sport, women tend to have smaller hands than men so using a smaller ball might actualy make the sport more competitive.

shortster · Answer

Softball has a larger ball than baseball. So it isn't all women's sports. I assume golf, tennis, and volleyball all use the same sized balls.

Anonymous · Answer

Probably to make up with a high percentage of your players having testicles.

Fotia4 · Answer

Well, they don't like men in women's sports.

xawyx-3 · Answer

I don't think so... :/

RareBreedOfMan · Answer

Yes I believe so

rgb008 · Answer

Smaller balls are better tbh

KostasKouvalis · Answer

They need lighter balls

832dreamboy · Answer

Bigger boobs !!!

fish5505_87 · Answer

lol. Too funny

In women’s sports, do players really need smaller balls?

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