A method of constructing an inflatable game ball, the method comprising: removing a plurality of outer panel portions from a first material, each of the outer panel portions having a first shape, a first length in a longitudinal direction along a major axis of each one of the outer panel portions and a first width in a lateral direction along a minor axis of each one of the outer panel portions; removing a plurality of inner panel portions from a second material, each of the inner panel portions having the first shape, a second length in the longitudinal direction along a major axis of each one of the inner panel portions and a second width in the lateral direction along a minor axis of each one of the inner panel portions, wherein the second length is smaller than the first length and the second width is smaller than the first width; joining the plurality of outer panel portions to the plurality of inner panel portions along peripheral edges to form a plurality of panel segments (600, 602, 604, 606), each panel segment (600, 602, 604, 606) having a peripheral edge of one of the plurality of outer panel portions that is aligned with the peripheral edge of one of the plurality of inner panel portions; and attaching the plurality of panel segments (600, 602, 604, 606) together along the aligned peripheral edges to form a cover of the inflatable game ball, associating an inflatable bladder in a deflated condition within an interior of the cover; and inflating the inflatable bladder to a fully inflated condition, characterized in that when the inflatable bladder is in the deflated condition, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated a first distance apart from a top surface of the inner panel portions; and when the inflatable bladder is in the fully inflated condition, the interior surface of the outer panel portions is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions. removing a plurality of outer panel portions from a first material, each of the outer panel portions having a first shape, a first length in a longitudinal direction along a major axis of each one of the outer panel portions and a first width in a lateral direction along a minor axis of each one of the outer panel portions; removing a plurality of inner panel portions from a second material, each of the inner panel portions having the first shape, a second length in the longitudinal direction along a major axis of each one of the inner panel portions and a second width in the lateral direction along a minor axis of each one of the inner panel portions, wherein the second length is smaller than the first length and the second width is smaller than the first width; joining the plurality of outer panel portions to the plurality of inner panel portions along peripheral edges to form a plurality of panel segments (600, 602, 604, 606), each panel segment (600, 602, 604, 606) having a peripheral edge of one of the plurality of outer panel portions that is aligned with the peripheral edge of one of the plurality of inner panel portions; and attaching the plurality of panel segments (600, 602, 604, 606) together along the aligned peripheral edges to form a cover of the inflatable game ball, associating an inflatable bladder in a deflated condition within an interior of the cover; and inflating the inflatable bladder to a fully inflated condition, characterized in that when the inflatable bladder is in the deflated condition, an interior surface of the outer panel portions is separated a first distance apart from a top surface of the inner panel portions; and when the inflatable bladder is in the fully inflated condition, the interior surface of the outer panel portions is in contact with the top surface of the inner panel portions.