Lifestyle lifestyle x sports feature
BALL F A TIME?
Bubble Soccer sees players don suits which encase them in round plastic bubbles. Lifestyle Writer Laura Kartika Naland and Sports Writer Lim Wei Hao suit up in an exciting collaboration to find out all the rage behind this unconventional sport.
I
was really excited when I first heard that I was going to play in a Bubble Soccer match. For once, this actually seemed like a sport that I would enjoy. Competitive sports have never appealed to me as I have always been afraid of rough play. Bubble Soccer dispelled all my qualms about getting hurt. The bubble suit that we donned prevented us from coming into direct physical contact with others; colliding with each other would only result in harmless bumps as well as rolling around in fun and laughter. But one thing that I was unprepared for was the weight of the bubble suits — they were ridiculously heavy! Furthermore, suiting up came across as a little daunting at first due to the tight space constraints of the suit. Apart from the substantial weight, which proved to be a burden on my back, the cramped space meant a lack of proper air circulation and stifling heat. In addition, there was an uncomfortable pressure at the back of my head which bugged me for the entire game. I came to find out that it was due to my hair tie pressing against the suit. This makes Bubble Soccer a relatively inconvenient sport for girls with long hair, like myself. It took quite a while before I could get accustomed to playing in the bubble suit. The suit ended just below my knees, inevitably cutting my strides into small
shuffles. This made chasing after the ball even more tiring, and my vision was also inhibited by the suit. For someone like me who does not exercise regularly, Bubble Soccer proved to be an arduous sport and I was exhausted just 10 minutes into the game. However, despite its many limitations, Bubble Soccer also possesses elements of fun that are not present in regular soccer. The bubble suit bestowed upon me a newfound confidence — for the first time in my life, I had the guts to slam into my opponents in a bid to get the ball. I did feel a little scared the first time I was knocked off my feet — I ended up rolling around helplessly, unable to regain my balance. Thankfully, the bubble suit cushioned my fall and the tumble ultimately did no harm. In fact, after getting used to the suit, I actually enjoyed rolling around in it! It was no surprise that we eventually gave up being cordial and bumped into each other in the name of fun, even when the ball was nowhere near us. The end of the one-hour session left me feeling like I had just completed an intensive workout. Ultimately, playing this unique game once was more than enough for me, though adrenaline junkies craving a novel team-building activity should give Bubble Soccer a shot.
-Laura Kartika Naland
BALL IN THEIR COURT: Those interested in Bubble Soccer can visit Bumpz.sg for booking enquiries.
THERE are certain things in life that should be tried at least once, and Bubble Soccer falls into that category. With that being said, just playing it once was certainly good enough for me. When I found out I had the chance to try out this new adaptation of The Beautiful Game, I was a little sceptical and hesitant. Playing soccer in ridiculous-looking bubble suits would be a far cry from ‘normal’ soccer, a sport that I have been involved in since young. With more than 100 years of history, soccer has shaped the lives of many individuals across the world. Legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona and David Beckham have graced stadiums around the world and dazzled us with their ability. Men tussling with each other and chasing after a soccer ball might seem unappealing to some but playing the sport undoubtedly requires a certain level of finesse and motor skills. This often discourages people from giving soccer a try. But as I found out, Bubble Soccer bridges this gap — no athletic proficiency is required at all. In this simple five-a-side game, the general rule of outscoring your opponent remains but there is no such thing as committing fouls in this sport. The first step was getting in and out of the bubble suit, which was rather intuitive. Adopting an almost prone position, I wriggled my way into the suit and slipped
my hands through the shoulder straps. Once inside, I could grab the handles, which helped me to lift the bubble suit. While lifting the suit did not pose too much difficulty, it became quite humid after a while and admittedly, claustrophobic. Being trapped in a bubble suit also caused my vision to be limited. As we started getting better at manoeuvring, the intentional bombarding of our opponents became our main priority. The fun of the game became more about the 360-degree flips and the tumbles rather than scoring goals. However, excitement levels plateaued after a while, since actual face-to-face interaction was minimal. After we got over the initial thrill, playing the game became a little bit laboured and mundane. While I did enjoy the novelty of Bubble Soccer, a part of me felt that there was something lacking. Bubble Soccer is without doubt a game that everyone can play. Unfortunately for those seeking a true competitive sporting experience, this sport may not be the answer. Sorry for bursting your bubble.
-Lim Wei Hao WATCH Chronicle editors, Nur Amyraa and Fabian Loo, try out Bubble Soccer at www. nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg/multimedia
PHOTOS: MOHAMMAD SHYBREE