Bubbles used to mean champagne for adults and blowing bubbles with soap in the back yard for kids. And then the pandemic gave us a few additions. Now it relates to pandemic techniques to minimize the spread of the disease by socializing with a limited cluster of people outside your household. And there are travel bubbles - agreements between two or more countries to open their borders for travel without strict quarantine. And finally the biggest of them all - the Olympics Bubble underway right now in Beijing.
But there is another Bubble - the joy of Bubble Sports. Here's how it works - we each get into a big plastic bubble that surrounds us from head to thighs, and then run around on a field and play soccer. This is a popular activity. Here are a few rules meant for only this sport:
Each player must be in a “Battle Ball” prior to stepping on the field. The equipment shall be worn fully-inflated and over the shoulders with shoulder straps that are snug to ensure that the player is secured tightly inside the ball.
Players must wear tennis shoes or turf shoes, soccer cleats will not be allowed. Shin guards and kneepads are recommended but not required.
No jewelry or other sharp objects may be worn during play or in the Battle Ball. Glasses may be used, however will need to be worn with an eyewear retainer to keep them on the player at all times.
And an interesting approach to gender in sport from one of the sites: Every individual participating in a program may compete as a member of the gender that they identify with, regardless of their gender at birth. We expect all players to be respectful and honor the spirit of this policy. We are LGBTQIA+ friendly (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and other sexualities and gender identities/expressions). This one's not getting to the Olympics any time soon.
So how is it that I missed a sport like this for more than 10 years? Bubble Soccer first made its debut in 2011 in Norway. Two friends - Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden - started it as a joke and then video was released of them playing the sport. It spread across social media platforms and became popular as a real activity. I am looking forward to finding a Bubble Soccer team this summer and watching this bouncy game.
A few more bubble sports are available:
Bubble bowling - you are completely in a bubble and walk it to the life-size pins at the end of the bouncy pad Bubble Sumo - that seems self-evident to me Bubble water walking - it is actually called zorbing. Look at it HERE.
You can buy your own bubble and join a team. I expect you can just bounce around in your back yard - it looks like fun to be bouncing off of another bumper ball wearer. One of the ads calls this a Giant Human Hamster Knocker Ball. Prices vary from $30 to $700.
Today's picture is a Miltonia Orchid. I guess I am missing the Orchid Show for another year, as it normally occurs right around Valentine's week. This plant was at Longwood Gardens a few years ago during their orchid festival.
