I have a problem, looking for perspective and tips from this group.

I run a church league, and we play High School Rules. Our official game ball is an NBA Official Ball, leather. It is pretty new, a couple of pickup games to break it in, and about a dozen games on it.

My problem is that everyone says it is too slick. I tell them that they are just used to over-tackified junk balls that all the kids play with now days. They say it is too hard to handle, and constantly lobby to play with "their ball" As I said, "their" balls are as sticky as the back side of a post-it note, and the grooves are deep enough to drive a volkswagen through.

I tell them that the ball is the same one that Shaq and Colby use, and maybe it is just their ball handling skills that are the problem, not the ball. (These guys are all my friends, I am not busting on strangers)

Anyway, do you find complaint from players "forced" to play with real leather?

Is there anything I can do to make it less slick?

Will it get less slick as it gets used more?

If "everyone" says it is too slick, maybe they have a point.
Buy a ball with the NFHS logo embossed on it, It is the ball that millions of boys and girls across the nation are using in their high school and middle school games. Then tell them, "This is the ball we are using, end of story."
They are smart not to want to emulate NBA players.