Indoor sports deals

Handball: Size and Resin

Handball is played with four sizes of ball, assigned according to age and gender. The size 0 is for the youngest players, in the baby-hand and mini-hand categories. The size 1, with a circumference of around 50 centimetres, is used by players under 11 and under 13 years old. The size 2, about 55 centimetres, is for boys under 15 and under 18 years old, and for girls aged 15 and over, while the size 3, the largest, is for male seniors. Balls featuring the colours of the French championships for both men and women or the EHF Champions League have the design of match balls.

At the high level, players coat their hands with resin, a glue that improves grip and allows for one-handed passes and spinning shots. It tends to dirty the balls and courts, hence the use of cleaning sprays like Erima Trimona Easy Clean, and the availability of washable white resins such as Select Profcare. Many gyms ban the use of resin: some balls, with a stickier surface, are designed to be used without it.

Volley and 3x3 Basketball: Official Balls

The Mikasa V200W is the official ball for competitions governed by the International Volleyball Federation since the 2019 World Cup, where it replaced a model used since the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Its 18 panels and micro-cellular surface stabilise its trajectory, even on floating serves. The Molten balls in the V5M range, including a version with the national league colours, are another competitive reference.

3x3 basketball has its own ball: it has the circumference of a size 6 ball but the weight of a size 7 ball, a combination designed for quick play both outdoors and indoors. The Wilson FIBA 3x3 in a kids' version follows this construction tailored for younger players.

Court Shoes and Protective Gear

A court shoe is distinguished by its non-marking rubber sole, which grips on wooden and synthetic floors without leaving marks, and by enhanced lateral support to handle direction changes. Handball models, such as the Puma Eliminate and Accelerate Nitro or the adidas Stabil, add cushioning at the forefoot for landing from jumps. A running shoe, which is too high and too soft on the sides, increases the risk of sprains on these supports.

Padded knee pads, Errea or Mizuno, protect against impacts on the floor, common in volleyball for defenders and in handball for goalkeepers. Compression shorts with built-in protection and arm sleeves complete the gear for the most exposed positions.

Padel and Racket Sports

Padel also features in the selection, with its pressurised balls like the tubes of three Dunlop balls, its rackets, and its shoes with specific soles, either herringbone or mixed, designed for grip on the sandy synthetic grass courts. A padel ball loses pressure over time: an opened tube should be replaced regularly to maintain a consistent bounce. Score counters and squash balls round out the racket sports offerings.

Good Deals from Other Sports

Each sport has its own selection. Football includes jerseys, balls, and club equipment, running features running shoes and watches, while fitness covers strength equipment, which is useful for physical preparation.

lifestyle includes sandals and sneakers, outdoor has outdoor gear, and golf has its own collection. Everything is on the good deals page. The major events of the year follow a stable order: the Black Friday, the year-end holidays, the winter sales, and then the French Days in spring.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age does a young handball player change ball size?

Size zero is for the youngest players in baby-hand and mini-hand, size one for those under eleven and under thirteen years old, size two for boys under fifteen and under eighteen years old, and for girls, size three for adult men.

Does the glue used by handball players really help?

The resin, or glue, improves the grip of the ball for passes and shooting in suspension. Many facilities ban or regulate its use since it dirties the floor: check with the club before purchasing it.

What ball is used for three-on-three basketball?

Three-on-three basketball is played with a specific ball, which has the circumference of a size six ball and the weight of a size seven ball. This compromise facilitates handling during dribbling while maintaining stability for shooting.

Why wear specific court shoes?

Court shoes have a rubber sole that grips the court without leaving marks and a lateral support for foot placement and direction changes. A running shoe, being too high and unstable, increases the risk of sprains.

What ball should I choose to start playing padel?

A padel ball looks like a tennis ball, with slightly lower pressure that slows down the game. For beginners, a regulated ball is perfectly suitable: change it as soon as it loses its bounce.