Putting on a jersey, shoulder pads or shin guards is how many people prepare to play a particular sport, but a new group of athletes is strapping on a giant bubble.
For two nights a week a growing number of Denverites is heading to Sunken Gardens Park to play , which is garnering a small but loyal following.
Local chapter founder Jourdan DuFort has big ideas. He discovered bubble soccer while browsing Facebook.
“It’s hilarious to watch,” said DuFort, 28.
DuFort started his own league, and two months later bubble soccer is taking over part of Sunken Gardens Park on Monday and Thursday evenings.
About four people are on the field at a time wearing a large plastic bubble that covers from above the head to just below the waist. The players kick a soccer ball and try to get it into the opposing net while knocking the other team’s players off their feet. Players are often seen rolling on the ground, ramming into each other’s bubble and bouncing up off the grass.
What about rules? Or positions?
“There really aren’t any,” said DuFort, who served as “referee” at the Sept. 18 game. “We try and have some decency and not smash into people too hard.”
About 15 to 20 people were at the park Sept. 18 to play. Players pay dues of about $65 for a session; the league has a permit from Denver Parks and Recreation and asks players to sign a waiver.
The bubble adds about 25 to 30 pounds and severely reduces a person’s ability to move from side to side, leading to collisions. And that extra weight means players typically sub in and out quickly.
“People don’t last more than five or 10 minutes. It gets really hot,” DuFort said. “It’s not the easiest thing to do for sure.”
Joshua Smith found about the sport from a friend of DuFort. He watched a video online and decided it was something he needed to try.
“It seemed so ridiculous and fun and a healthy way to take out aggression,” Smith said.
Lydia Zatorski doesn’t enjoy working out but says bubble soccer serves as a nice substitute.
“It’s actually a fun workout,” she said.
Melissa Noland never enjoyed playing soccer, but when she puts on the bubble, she’s having a blast. She said she likes the fact that she can take on a player much bigger than her and knock him or her down thanks to the bubble and some momentum.
“It doesn’t really matter your size,” Noland said. “I could tackle a big guy that in any other sport, I’d look really wimpy next to.”
DuFort has 12 bubbles — six orange and six yellow — and is still tweaking how to best run the league. On Sept. 18 he served as a referee, although there were no fouls to call. He’s currently looking for an indoor facility for the winter.
Most of the players heard about the league through word of mouth or have just walked by and started asking questions. In time, DuFort hopes to expand and see how big bubble soccer can grow.
He added: “Hopefully we can dominate the market and make it go viral.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or
Bubble soccer
Where: Sunken Gardens Park, 1099 Speer Blvd.
When: 6 p.m. to dark Mondays and Thursdays
Info:
