What is Bubble Football? We Explain All Here

What is Bubble Football?

Most of us know about this wild and exciting sport that nobody can get enough of, but where did it come from?

From its origins as a fun segment on a Norwegian television show to the present day, bubble football is a wonderfully cooky sport that has taken the world by storm. However, if you’ve never heard of it before, then join us as we dive into what exactly bubble football is, how its played and its why it’s so popular across the globe.


What Actually is Bubble Football?

To sum it up, bubble football is just like a regular game of football, except for the fact that players are wrapped up in gigantic inflatable bubble suits for the duration of the match! Like football, this game is played by two teams who compete to see who can score the most goals. However, instead of playing for 90 minutes, bubble football matches only last for 10 minutes, played between two 5-minute halves.

To give you a clearer picture, here's an example of what a typical game of bubble football looks like:

Why is it Called Bubble Football?

To put it simply, bubble football takes its name from the fact that this sport is almost a direct off-shoot from regular football. The “bubble” part of the name refers to the fact that players must wear inflatable zorb suits in order to take part. Other names for this sport include zorb football, bubble footy and bubble soccer.

How to Play Bubble Football?

Even if you have never tried it before, bubble football is an easy sport for beginners to learn. Just like regular football, the game is played by two teams of five people on a standard 5-a-side pitch. However, unlike football there are no set positions like goalkeeper and striker, so players will need to place themselves strategically around the pitch and prepare themselves for lots of running around and chasing the ball.

With each game lasting a total of ten minutes each, matches are split into two 5-minute halves, similar to football with its 45-minute halves. For the duration of the match, the aim of the game is to score as many goals as you can in the opposing team’s net whilst protecting your own from the other team, who will be trying to do the same!

What are the Rules of Bubble Football?

The rules for playing bubble football are not too dissimilar to the rules of football. At the start of the game, the ball will be placed in the centre of the pitch, with members of each team spaced out evenly in their respective halves. When the referee blows the whistle, the two closest players from both teams go head-to-head to get the ball to their teammates. However, there are a few elements that players will need to keep in mind and remember to avoid being penalised!

What is Bubble Football - Rules, Fouls, Penalties & Violations Infographic

How much does Bubble Football Cost?

Being experts in hosting bubble football matches, we can arrange a fantastic game of bubble football for you and the lads for just £27 per person in various cities across the UK, making this activity affordable and accessible to both new and existing players. What’s best is that this price includes everything you could possibly need on the day including pitch hire, equipment and a referee to manage the game.

What is Bubble Football called in Germany?

In Germany, Bubble Football is more commonly referred to as “Loopyball”. The reason for this isn’t entirely clear, but we would hazard a guess at the fact that this is a “loopier” version of your usual game of football, considering that players are encased in gigantic bubble suits for the duration of the game!

What is Bubble Football called in the U.S?

In the United States, bubble football is predominantly known as bubble soccer. This is due to the fact that “football” mainly refers to “American Football”, and the use of the word “soccer” is more popular for the sport we are talking about.

Why is Bubble Football also called Bubble Soccer and Zorb Football?

Bubble football is known by many names across the globe, but two of the common names for the sport that you will also hear is “bubble soccer” and “zorb football”. The first is mainly used in countries that refer to football as soccer, such as Canada and the United States. “Zorb Football” is another common name for the sport and refers to the large Zorb balls that players are encased in during the match.

Is there a Bubble Football League?

Unfortunately, as of yet there are no officially organised bubble football leagues in operation. However, this could definitely change in the future as this sport continues to grow in popularity across the globe.

Is there a Bubble Football World Cup?

In the past, there has only been one attempt to host a Bubble Football World Cup. This took place in the summer of 2018 in London with a variety of international teams taking part. At the tournament, countries that took part included the likes of Brazil, Germany, Ireland and South Africa to name a few. However, the tournament did not continue after 2018, but we think that this eclectic sport always has the potential to make a barnstorming return some time in the future.

 

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