Dubai: It all began in 2011 when two men in Norway who for the fun of it began to dribble a football from within giant plastic bubbles. They were so kicked with the idea that they planned a full soccer match that way. By the end of the year, the event was aired on national television – more as a joke. But in no time it went viral on YouTube. Bubble soccer, as the game was known, became all the rage in Europe and spread to other parts of the world. Now it has come to Dubai as well.
“Join the bubble revolution,” says Jay Ramejkis, the man who launched the game in the city last month. “This is our tagline.”
Played at a 10,000 square foot facility in Al Quoz, the Cover Drive Sports Academy, bubble football offers a twist to traditional football. Players strap inflatable balls or bubbles to the top half of their body and run around the pitch with their hands stuck out.
But just how safe is that given the rough and tumble of the field game?
“Very safe and full of fun,” says Ramejkis. As players run around a synthetic grass pitch and collide with each other, the bubble actually protects them from getting injured. Made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a deliberately chosen robust material that considers the sweat factor, the bubbles have handles and straps that securely lock the players in. “Every bubble is cleansed after someone has used it,” says Ramejkis.
60-minute thrill
The game is played in three variations over 60 minutes. The first is a bout of traditional soccer, followed by ‘one versus one’ and the ‘last person standing’. The main aim is to score as many goals as possible.
In the one versus one battle, the ball is placed in the middle of the field with the two opponents on either side of it. Whoever smashes it first gets to score a goal. The ‘last person standing’ twist is where one person is pitched against nine others, each of whom has to run to the other side without being bumped over. The game goes on till there is just one person left.
A British football enthusiast for 20 years, Ramejkis says: “Bubble soccer can be played by everyone – it’s a different concept and ensures a great workout as well.”
Priced at Dh120 per person, the game has had many takers. “The response has been overwhelming,” says Ramejkis, adding that he has been receiving bookings from kids for birthday parties, corporates for team building exercises and just friends who want to hang out.
