What is bubble football and how does a match in inflatable balls work?

What is bubble football? It’s football in large inflatable balls that cover you from head to knees, leaving your legs free to run and kick. The one big difference from a normal match: here, crashing into each other is allowed. A standard booking is an hour of balls and pitch, with about 45 minutes of actual play.

We’ve run these matches in Krakow for over a decade, with more than 7,800 happy clients. So here’s the game as it really looks – from putting on the ball to the final whistle – plus who can play, where and for how much.

What does a bubble football ball look like?

You put the ball on like a rucksack: step in, fasten the adjustable straps and grab the two hand grips. Inflated, it weighs about 10 kg and wraps you in a cushion of air from head to knees. You can run, brake and shoot in it – not very gracefully, but that’s half the fun.

We have two sizes: 10 balls 1.5 m in diameter for players from about 150 cm tall, and 2 large 1.7 m balls for players from about 180 cm. The maximum player weight is 100 kg. Children from age 10 and adults can play.

What does a match in inflatable balls look like?

A match in inflatable balls starts before anyone kicks the football. Here’s the usual order:

1. Get changed. PE kit: shorts or a tracksuit, a T-shirt and trainers. Leave jewellery and glasses in the changing room.
2. Briefing. One of our team shows you how to put the ball on safely and adjust the straps.
3. Warm-up. In the VIP package we run a professional warm-up; otherwise, give it at least a few minutes yourselves.
4. The match. 10–12 people play at once: two teams of 5–6. As in football, the aim is to score more goals than the other team.
5. Other games. We mix the match with bubble games such as Bubble Sumo, Bubble Bowling, Bulldog, Last Man Standing and rugby. The referee picks them to suit the group and enforces the safety rules.

The first minutes go on learning to run in the ball – and on the first, surprisingly spectacular collisions. Whoever takes a hit bounces off like a snooker ball, falls over or somersaults, and teammates help them up. The pace is nothing like a normal kickabout: you run in short bursts and soon learn to love a breather.

An hour’s booking gives about 45 minutes of actual play – the rest goes on putting on the balls, the briefing and breaks. If that’s not enough, the game can be extended by 30 minutes. Bigger groups play a mini tournament in teams so everyone gets a game. Line-ups, fouls and what’s off-limits are covered in our guide to bubble football rules.

What is bumper ball? One game, many names

Bumper ball, bubble football, bubble soccer, crash ball – all names for the same game. Its Polish names translate simply as “a match in inflatable balls”, “football in inflatable balls” or “inflatable bumping balls”. The kit and the idea are the same everywhere; the organiser sets the finer points of the rules.

Zorbing is something else. There, your whole body is inside a big ball and you roll in it, usually downhill, so kicking a football is out of the question. We explain the differences in zorbing vs bumper ball – how they differ and which to choose.

What is bubble football and where did it come from?

The game is younger than you might think. According to Wikipedia, bubble football was first shown in Norway in 2011 by Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden, presenters of the TV programme Golden Goal. It then spread to the UK, New Zealand and the US, among others.

The idea was simple: take football and add the very thing that gets you a card in a normal match. It proved a great way for people who rarely play football to have fun together – because inside a bubble, technique takes a back seat.

Who can play bubble football?

Children from age 10 and adults can play, as long as the ball fits their height (from about 150 cm) and they weigh no more than 100 kg. You don’t need to be good at football or in great shape. All you need is a willingness to move and to laugh at yourself, because sooner or later everyone ends up on their back.

Younger children don’t play – for a seven- or eight-year-old’s party, choose a different activity. A bubble match does work well for stag and hen dos, teenage birthdays, company team building and class trips. Stag groups most often choose the VIP package with a game host and referee.

To be honest: the ball protects your torso and head, but your legs are outside, and falls and collisions are the whole point, so injuries do happen. We play sober, so on a stag do schedule the match before the party, not after it. Our article is bubble football safe? covers the risks and how we reduce them.

Where can you play bubble football in Krakow?

We play at the Com Com Zone hall at ul. Ptaszyckiego 6 in Nowa Huta and the hall at al. Jana Pawła II 37, but we’ll happily come wherever you like: a sports hall, an Orlik pitch (one of the free public all-weather pitches built across Poland) or grass. We work with venues all over Krakow, so if you have nowhere to play, we’ll find and book a hall.

Delivery of the balls is free within 15 km of Krakow city centre, then €0.23 per km – and we travel all over Poland. In summer, bring water and avoid playing in full sun at midday; in the heat, a hall works better. In winter or rain the choice is even simpler: a hall.

How much does a bubble football match cost?

Prices are per person, and every package includes a one-hour booking (about 45 minutes of actual play):

• Without a hall – €17/person. 10–12 balls, free delivery in Krakow and supervision by our organiser. A good choice if you already have a pitch, an Orlik or a hall.
• With a hall – €22/person. The same plus sports hall rental.
• With a VIP hall – €28/person. Adds a game host and referee, souvenir photos, a bottle of water for everyone and a professional warm-up.

For example, 12 people on the with-hall package pay 12 × €22 = €264. You can add extras to any option: a game host and referee with a speaker for music (€34/h), photo coverage (€34 for 20–25 photos plus a group photo) or a short HD video (€78). Transport for participants, catering and extended play are priced individually, and companies and institutions receive a VAT invoice.

All the options are in our bumper ball price list, and service details are on the bumper ball (bubble football) matches in Krakow page. If the match is part of a bigger celebration, we can help organise the rest of the day too: a party boat, a club booth, a restaurant table or transport from your hotel and back.

Frequently asked questions

How many people do you need for bubble football?

Ideally 10–12, because that’s how many fit on the pitch at once. We’ll price a smaller group individually, and a bigger one plays a mini tournament with teams taking turns.

Do you need to be fit to play bubble football?

No, average fitness is enough. The game is played in short bursts with breaks, and if you’re out of breath, step off for a moment and come back when you’re ready.

Can you play bubble football in winter?

Yes – indoors we play all year round, whatever the weather. Orlik pitches and grass are for the warmer months.

How quickly do you reply to booking enquiries?

We reply within 24 hours. You can send the booking form, email kontakt@bumperball-krakow.pl or call +48 509 196 229 (Sylwester).