Go Tri-Cities: Bubble Soccer comes to town

▪ Editor’s note: “There’s nothing to do in the Tri-Cities.” It’s a common complaint, but it’s just not true — and we’ll prove it. In an occasional series called Go Tri-Cities, the Herald highlights activities around the region, from board game nights to art classes, hikes and salsa dancing.

Have an activity you want featured? Email news@tricityherald.com with the subject line Go Tri-Cities.

Type the name of the sport into YouTube, and you’ll find plenty of video evidence of the fun.

Everyone from Central Washington University students to Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton have taken part.

And, soon, Tri-Citians will get the chance to test their skill at Bubble Soccer.

A tournament is planned Nov. 20 in Richland.

“You can run around. When you bump into people, physics takes over. If you fall, you just bounce. If you’re down, you roll onto your knees and stand up,” said Drew Tomasino, a Richland Parks & Recreation assistant, who is helping coordinate the tournament.

The parks and recreation department has 16 bubbles on hand; they’re clear, inflatable and supported by PVC pipe, with adjustable harnesses.

The bubbles, each weighing about 18 to 20 pounds, cover the players’ heads and torsos, stopping above the knees.

Parks & Recreation department workers saw clips online and thought Bubble Soccer would be a lively activity for the Tri-Cities.

“It’s something new,” said Justin Brown, recreation coordinator. “It was something fun we could bring to the community.”

And as far as Richland officials know, their bubbles — the brand name is KnockerBall — are the first available to the public in the Northwest.

The department has demonstrated Bubble Soccer at some recent events, and a couple of recreation workers showed the Herald how it works at the city’s community center. The workers ran around, hitting each other and the floor and quickly bouncing back up.

They couldn’t help but smile. It looked like fun.

The idea behind the tournament is to introduce Bubble Soccer to a wider local audience before a league starts in January.

Players don’t need to be soccer stars to join, Tomasino said. The matches will be indoors, with shortened quarters.

It’s open to anyone ages 18 and older. Cost is $50 per team of four to six players.

For more information or to sign up for the Nov. 20 tournament or the 2016 league, go to www.richlandparksandrec.com, stop by the Richland Community Center at 500 Amon Park Drive or call 509-942-7529.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Go Tri-Cities: Bubble Soccer comes to town."