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All fall down: Players aim not only to score goals, but to knock rivals over as frequently as possible.

Sports spectacle: Bubble soccer may be as much fun to watch as it is to play, with the audience laughing non-stop at the antics on the field.

Fighting fit: Players have a good laugh - and a good workout – as they attempt to knock each other off their feet.

Innovative importer: After discovering the game on a working holiday in Australia, Rudy Yiu recognised bubble soccer could help Hong Kong people lighten up.

Cushioned cocoon: It takes about five minutes to fully inflate a protective bubble suit.

All fall down Sports spectacle Fighting fit Innovative importer Cushioned cocoon

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Bubble soccer bursts with fun

June 15, 2014

A new game in town is fun to watch, and even more fun to play. Players don protective bubbles then aim to kick a ball into the rival team’s goal, bumping into each other and laughing all the way. In the process, they get bowled over more than a few times, and learn to get back up on their feet.

Rudy Yiu discovered the whacky game of bubble soccer on a working holiday in Australia early this year. The enterprising 26-year-old recognised it could be a great way for hardworking Hong Kongers to lighten up and have fun while being physically active.

“Hong Kong people are quite serious about everything. No matter if it's work or playing sports, they are quite competitive,” Mr Yiu said.

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Voiceover:
This is how to play bubble soccer.
There are no special rules, and no goal keeper.
To score, just kick the ball into the opposite team’s goal.

Bubble Soccer Player:
You're laughing all the time once you're in there. So you're running and laughing at the same time.

Bubble Soccer Player:
Sweat a lot. Move a lot. Be fast. Be strong. It's very fun. You should try, everyone.

Bubble Soccer Player:
In the office we’re usually nice to each other, now here you see all of them are crazy. You don't know they're crazy. Now we have to be careful in the office.

Voiceover:
Rudy Yiu discovered the joy of this game while on a working holiday in Australia.
Participants wear bubble suits to play the game, a mixture of soccer and rugby.  It is popular in Western countries including the UK, Europe, Australia and the US. So Rudy decided to introduce it to Hong Kong two months ago, to help Hong Kong people lighten up and have fun while being physically active.

Bubble Soccer Player Rudy Yiu:
We think Hong Kong people are quite serious about everything, in terms of, no matter it is work or playing sports, they are quite competitive. So the reason why we bring bubble soccer to Hong Kong is we want them to laugh or to enjoy themselves with a group of friends, rather than being competitive.

Voiceover:
It takes about five minutes to inflate a bubble suit. They come in three sizes to suit different players’ heights.

There are two shoulder straps inside the suit. It is donned in much the same way as a backpack, with handles to grasp to keep your balance. Players must keep their head inside the bubble at all times.

The suits weigh six to nine kilograms. Players work up quite a sweat  when they run with it on, so matches usually last for only eight to 10 minutes. The number of players depends on the size of the court. There can be teams of 5 on 5, 3 on 3 or even 2 on 2.

Bubble Soccer Player:
When you look at it, it's very easy, but once you're in there, it's a bit hard because the weight of the bubble is on you and then people can be quite competitive. And you cannot see the ball all the time. So it’s very hard. It’s very tiring when you're in there.

Voiceover:
The bubble provides a cushioned cocoon for players, affording them protection when they are bumped or knocked over.

Bubble Soccer Player (Translation):
Maybe I’m very light. I rolled over and over after I was knocked down. Actually I feel safe in the bubble.

Bubble Soccer Player:
I kind of thought that that would happen to me, but I didn't expect just being stuck upside down, wriggling my way through.  It was very fun.

Bubble Soccer Player Rudy Yiu:
If you’re being knocked over from any side, you can just roll forward, use your knees to balance and stand up.

Voiceover:
The ball and the bubbles are round,  so the game can instantly change direction. This makes it tough to predict which side will emerge victorious. Life is like this game: When you fall, just get back up on your feet again.

Bubble soccer has no special rules, though, and there are no goal keepers. This makes it easy for players to laugh, let go, and simply enjoy themselves. So two months ago, he introduced the game to the city, providing the bubble suits, referees and coaches.

The game can be played by as few as four people, with two on each side, up to teams of five players each, depending on the size of the court. Safely encased in a giant inflatable bubble, players are encouraged to bounce into each other and fight for possession of the ball.

‘Friendly’ matches

Over 20 staff from an international school got together in an indoor football field to give the game a go, alternating between watching and playing. When the players hear the referee’s whistle, they rush into the centre to find and kick the soccer ball, bouncing off each other, some toppling over.

“Maybe I’m very light, and I rolled over and over once I was knocked down,” a woman says with a laugh after a soft landing.

Because participants work up a sweat inside the plastic bubbles, matches are limited to about eight to 10 minutes.

“Sweat a lot. Move a lot. Be fast. Be strong. It's very fun,” a man said at the end of a match.

The audience can’t help laughing seeing players topple over like bugs with their legs wriggling in the air.

Confidence builder

The protective bubble suit weighs six to nine kilograms, and is donned like a backpack, with two shoulder straps inside, and inner handles players can grasp to keep their balance. They are designed so the head is always inside, and players must peer through the plastic to find the ball – and other players to bounce into.

“If you are being knocked over from any side, you can just roll forward, use your knees to balance, and stand up,” Mr Yiu says.

Players not only get a good laugh and a good workout. The game also boosts their confidence. He has seen many newcomers who were initially reluctant to put on the suit quickly get hooked on playing.

“Some players hesitate to wear the bubble suits the first time. They don’t know what to do, and they’re afraid of being knocked over. After they finish one or two games, though, they are really confident and motivated to push others.”

He adds the game reflects a key life lesson.

“When you fall, just get back up on your feet again.”

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Bubble soccer bursts with fun

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