An inflatable sports ball comprising: an interior bladder; a cover disposed about the interior bladder, the cover comprising a plurality of adjoining panels and defining: an exterior surface; a plurality of channels (34, 38) extending radially inward from the exterior surface, the plurality of channels (34, 38) including: a plurality of peripheral channel segments, each defining a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of adjoining panels; and a plurality of interior channel segments, each provided within a central region each of the plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of interior channel segments divides the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions; wherein: each open polygon is missing at least one side; at least one interior channel segment defines a first linkage end point; the plurality of interior channel segments forms a linkage, wherein the linkage is defined as a continuous network of interior channel segments between the first linkage end point and a second linkage end point; the plurality of adjoining panels further comprise a topographical arrangement disposed thereon, such that the topographical arrangement is defined by the plurality of peripheral channel segments and the plurality of interior channel segments. an interior bladder; a cover disposed about the interior bladder, the cover comprising a plurality of adjoining panels and defining: an exterior surface; a plurality of channels (34, 38) extending radially inward from the exterior surface, the plurality of channels (34, 38) including: a plurality of peripheral channel segments, each defining a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of adjoining panels; and a plurality of interior channel segments, each provided within a central region each of the plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of interior channel segments divides the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions; wherein: each open polygon is missing at least one side; at least one interior channel segment defines a first linkage end point; the plurality of interior channel segments forms a linkage, wherein the linkage is defined as a continuous network of interior channel segments between the first linkage end point and a second linkage end point; the plurality of adjoining panels further comprise a topographical arrangement disposed thereon, such that the topographical arrangement is defined by the plurality of peripheral channel segments and the plurality of interior channel segments. an exterior surface; a plurality of channels (34, 38) extending radially inward from the exterior surface, the plurality of channels (34, 38) including: a plurality of peripheral channel segments, each defining a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of adjoining panels; and a plurality of interior channel segments, each provided within a central region each of the plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of interior channel segments divides the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions; a plurality of peripheral channel segments, each defining a peripheral seam between adjoining ones of the plurality of adjoining panels; and a plurality of interior channel segments, each provided within a central region each of the plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of interior channel segments divides the exterior surface into a plurality of open polygonal portions; wherein: each open polygon is missing at least one side; at least one interior channel segment defines a first linkage end point; the plurality of interior channel segments forms a linkage, wherein the linkage is defined as a continuous network of interior channel segments between the first linkage end point and a second linkage end point; the plurality of adjoining panels further comprise a topographical arrangement disposed thereon, such that the topographical arrangement is defined by the plurality of peripheral channel segments and the plurality of interior channel segments. each open polygon is missing at least one side; at least one interior channel segment defines a first linkage end point; the plurality of interior channel segments forms a linkage, wherein the linkage is defined as a continuous network of interior channel segments between the first linkage end point and a second linkage end point; the plurality of adjoining panels further comprise a topographical arrangement disposed thereon, such that the topographical arrangement is defined by the plurality of peripheral channel segments and the plurality of interior channel segments.