Football in a Zorb: The World of Bubble Soccer

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play soccer while wearing a large, bouncy ball, Zorb football could be the sport for you.

Sometimes known as bubble football, the game involves teams of five players attempting to conduct a normal game of soccer while encased in bouncy plastic balls. As you might imagine, the ball becomes something of a sideshow as players struggle to stay on their feet.

YouTube is awash with highlight reels showing grown adults careering around bouncing into each other, and the “sport” has carved out a niche as a fun activity for bachelor parties and team-building events. Its invention has been credited to a pair of Norwegians, Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden, but Zorb football has since crossed over to the United States, where a National Association of Bubble Soccer has been set up to promote the sport.

It’s certainly a lot of fun and adds an interesting new twist to soccer. There are active bubble soccer leagues in a number of cities across the United States, ranging from Philadelphia to Anaheim. For those of you who don’t like soccer for its lack of real contact, Zorb football adds some of the physicality of gridiron to the mix while ensuring no one gets hurt.

Even if you never play a serious game, it’s something fun to try with a group of friends.