The Complete Guide to Bubble Football
Everything you need to know about bubble football — from your first bounce to running your own hire business.
Bubble football — also known as zorb football, bubble soccer or bumper ball — has grown from a novelty clip on YouTube into a recognised sport and entertainment format the world over. Whether you are a first-time player curious about the rules, an event organiser hunting for the perfect party activity, or an entrepreneur ready to launch a hire business, this guide covers every angle. At Bubble Allstars we have been sourcing and distributing premium bubble football suits for years, which has given us a front-row seat to the industry's evolution. Below you will find our ten in-depth articles, each written to answer the questions we hear most often from customers across the UK and beyond.
Bubble football, bubble soccer, bumper ball: one sport, many names
Bubble football is football played inside inflatable suits: each player wears a large air-filled bubble over the upper body and head, the legs stay free to run and kick, and bumping into opponents is part of the game. The same sport is called bubble soccer (the usual name in the US and much of Europe), bumper ball, body zorb or zorb football, and is also known as Loopyball. Whatever the name, the kit is the same: a 1.5 m suit for adults or a 1.2 m suit for children, made of PVC or TPU.
A short history
The game began in Norway in 2011, when comedians Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden played football in zorb-like suits on a TV comedy show. The clips spread fast, early players made up the rules as they went, and within a few years leagues and event companies across Europe were playing to broadly the same rules: small teams, short halves and no charging from behind. Today it is a staple of team events, school sports days, birthday parties and rental businesses. Bubble Allstars, based in Vienna, has supplied the equipment as a certified distributor since 2008.
What Is Bubble Football?
Bubble football is a team sport in which each player wears a large inflatable suit (usually covering the torso, head and upper arms) and tries to score goals while bumping, rolling and bouncing off opponents. The game started in Norway in 2011 after a comedy TV sketch went viral, and it has since spread to more than 80 countries. Matches are usually five-a-side on a small pitch, though formats range from a knockabout in the back garden to organised league tournaments.
Why Is It So Popular?
Three things drive the popularity of bubble football: it is hilariously funny, almost anyone can play regardless of sporting ability, and it photographs and films brilliantly — which makes it a natural fit for social media. Corporate event planners, birthday party hosts and stag and hen do organisers all love the fact that bubble football delivers guaranteed laughter within minutes. The barrier to entry is low: you need a flat surface, a ball and a set of suits.
Choosing the Right Equipment
The quality of your experience depends heavily on the quality of the suits. Cheap copies from unverified suppliers often use thin PVC, weak seams and flimsy harnesses that deflate mid-match. Bubble Allstars supplies certified, heavy-duty suits in both PVC and TPU, with reinforced stitching and ergonomic internal harnesses. For a detailed breakdown of materials, have a look at our PVC vs TPU comparison article below.
Playing Formats and Variations
Classic bubble football follows simplified football rules, but the community has invented dozens of variations: Last Man Standing (a free-for-all bumping format), Bubble Sumo (one-on-one ring battles), bubble relay races, bubble bowling and even bubble royale formats. Our Rules & How to Play guide explores these in depth.
Safety First
Bubble football looks chaotic but is statistically far safer than conventional contact sports when proper guidelines are followed. The inflatable shell absorbs impacts and prevents direct body-to-body contact. Even so, surface selection, player screening and referee oversight matter. Read our Safety Tips & Maintenance article for a comprehensive checklist.
Bubble Football as a Business
Thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide have turned bubble football into a profitable hire or events business. Start-up costs are relatively low, margins are healthy and repeat bookings are common. Our Start a Bubble Football Business guide walks you through everything from the initial outlay and pricing strategy to marketing and insurance.
Bubble Football for All Ages
With junior-sized suits (1.2 m, for children of roughly 7–12 who are about 1.20–1.60 m tall) and lightweight TPU options, bubble football is now accessible to virtually every age group. Schools, youth clubs and family entertainment centres are among the fastest-growing customer segments for Bubble Allstars. Our Kids guide explains how to adapt the game for younger players safely.
Getting Started Today
Whether you want to buy a single pair of suits for backyard fun or outfit a full commercial fleet, Bubble Allstars offers flexible packages, delivery across Europe (typically 14–20 working days) and expert consultation. Browse the articles below to deepen your knowledge, then request a personalised quote — we respond within 24 hours.
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