Bubble soccer, also known as bubble football, can be a great recreational sport to include in family gatherings, birthday parties, or work events. This trending sport is one of many “bubble,” games to consider. Something that should be reviewed before any event is the cost of bubble soccer.
How much does bubble soccer cost to either rent or buy? On average you can expect to pay between $300 and $500 to rent a bubble soccer setup for your event, or, $20 per person. Conversely, retailers like Amazon sell bubble soccer balls for about $100 per person.
Depending on how much you enjoy bubble soccer, your best option may be to purchase it for a one time fee from sellers like Amazon. You will save a lot of money later on avoiding rental fees and just imagine being able to pull the game out at a moments notice without the hassle of scheduling a rental.
Related: Why Is Cornhole Called Cornhole?
Why Bubble Soccer is a Great Choice for Events
If you’re unfamiliar with Bubble Soccer and how it’s played, it’s pretty simple really. To play bubble soccer all you need to do is:
- Provide everyone with an inflated torus bubble to wear around their head and upper torso.
- Proceed to play soccer with all of the same rules and objectives with one added bonus, you can now directly knock opponents over on purpose.
Obviously, there are many reasons when learning what bubble soccer is as to why you might choose it for your event. You could be looking to field a few laughs and a good time from family and friends, or you might actually participate in a very competitive bubble soccer team.
With a variety of bubble soccer players across the U.S. playing for a multitude of reasons one thing is clear, this game is superb for any kind of event you may be hosting.
Where did Bubble Soccer Come From?
Bubble Soccer first made its debut in 2011 in Norway. The idea came from two friends Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden. What was initially meant as a joke between the two, immediately became a wildfire that spread across social media platforms all over the internet after video was released of them playing the sport.
Soon, the sport would be featured on numerous television shows and companies would begin to form in order to sell the appropriate equipment to those who were seeking to play.
Bubble Soccer even made a failed appearance on the popular show Shark Tank. The concept was to form a National Association of Bubble Soccer League, but the idea was never able to come to fruition. Learn more about the Shark Tank episode here.
Although the bubble soccer league was ultimately shut down, the game is still popular today among children and adults alike. You can even find an array of tournaments across the U.S.A. to take part in.
A Break Down of the Game Rules and Play
Players: Each match consists of two teams not to exceed five players. There is actually no goalkeeper in bubble soccer, instead, the players remain on the field, and can travel into the goal area, but can not remain for longer than three seconds.
Duration: A typical match will last upwards of 24 minutes, with 12 minute half sessions.
Start and Restarting: To begin a match, restart after an interval or a goal is scored, teams will proceed to line up on the baseline closest to their team’s goal. The ball is placed in the center of the field and a referee will blow the whistle to begin the match.
Out of bound ball: Contrary to most standard sports that require the use of a ball, if the ball goes out of bounds in bubble soccer, the ball is still active.
Scoring: Just like with standard soccer (football), once the ball goes over the goal line, that’s a score.
Knocked down players: Players who are knocked down, should be given the opportunity to firmly stand up again before an attempt to take them down happens again.
Best Practices: Avoid wearing jewelry and sharp objects. Also remove any personal belongings that could be damaged, such as eyewear. Consider the use of knee pads, as this part of the body remains exposed and is prone to injury when falling. Excessive bumps without the intent to gain possession of the ball or clear a path to the goal should be penalized. Practice friendly sportsmanship and remember to have fun!
Is Bubble Soccer Dangerous?
Most parents will ask this question if they are determining whether or not Bubble Soccer is safe for a child’s birthday party. The answer is, no. Bubble Soccer is actually a much safer alternative to soccer (football) itself.
Bubble soccer gives the players the ability to play soccer with little to no risk of body to body contact. You, your friends, and family are essentially playing with a giant airbag wrapped around your torso for protection. This is a top reason for parents choosing Bubble Soccer for kids birthday parties, your child will have a blast while also remaining safe.
Parents should note that one exposed element of players are legs. Precautions should be taken to protect children’s knees with pads so when falling they are less prone to injury or bruising.
Purchasing the Proper Bubble Soccer Equipment
Safety and proper equipment do go hand in hand. Additionally, if you are interested in purchasing your own bubble soccer equipment you may want to take into consideration that buying a cheaper option on marketplaces across the web could result in balls deflating easier, cheap materials, and less cushioning.
All three of these can directly relate to an increase in possible accidents or injuries. Always double check product reviews and sourcing information to determine the quality of bubble soccer balls before you purchase.
Other Bubble Variations
While bubble soccer seems like an optimal choice for your event, there are actually a few other takes on the bubble concept. These additional variations may also appeal to you.
Bubble Bowling
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to become a human bowling ball? Probably not. However, we can both agree, it would be pretty cool to find out.
Bubble bowling makes becoming a human bowling ball reality. This sport requires a much larger sphere that players can climb into. They then make a solid run and dive toward giant human-sized pins hoping to knock down more than their opponents. Check out a clip of it in action here.
Bubble Sumo
This bubble concept is more for comedic purposes than sportsmanship, and it’s guaranteed to keep your family and friends laughing for hours. If you imagined putting a bubble around your torso and then proceeding to ram into your opponent repeatedly until one of you gave up, you were spot on at identifying how bubble sumo works.
Bubble sumo is actually pretty popular with the youtube community and you can find many channels that have gained an increase in subscribers and views, just from featuring the comedic game!
Bubble Water Walking
You may have recently witnessed the hilarity of people attempting to walk on water while enclosed in an inflatable bubble. This is because you can find this funny but bizarre display at many festivals, malls, and popular recreational swimming areas as of late.
Though it really isn’t considered a game or sport of any type, and of course there are no rules, it seems many people just can not resist the urge to attempt to walk on water, in a bubble. Watch the walking on water bubble challenge here.
