The 'Off-the-Wall' Sport Being Likened to a Quirky Combination of Soccer, Sumo Wrestling and Bumper Cars

Have you heard of "bubble soccer," a relatively new sport that can perhaps best be characterized as a combination of soccer, sumo wrestling and bumper cars?

Adults in West Bloomfield, Michigan, will soon be able to take part in a new local league centered on the quirky activity, which features players wearing giant bubble suits as they engage in a traditional soccer game, but with a few twists, the Detroit News reported.

Image source: YouTube

As players work to get their soccer ball into the opposing team's net, they'll be faced with an additional challenge: trying to stay on their two feet as others intentionally bump into them. With each player encased in a nearly five-foot in diameter bubble, laughter abounds for players and spectators alike.

The Parks and Recreation Commission in West Bloomfield is joining other localities across the nation in launching the bubble soccer league September 12, with Ted Davis, recreation superintendent of the commission, noting that players aged 21 and over are welcome to join in on the fun.

"It’s like when you were a kid and played bumper cars. You wanted to run into everything that was out there," he said. "When people get out there and get that first hit out of the way, they’re going to have a blast. It’s getting over the initial fear of the unknown."

See a promo for the sport below:

Teams will be co-ed and will be comprised of five individuals. Unlike a traditional soccer game, there will be no goalies, as all members of the team will actively compete on the field, according to the Detroit News.

Davis researched other bubble soccer leagues in cities like New York and Chicago before launching the local league, expressing his own personal excitement about what's to come.

"It’s crazy, it’s off the wall (and) it looks completely ridiculous," he told the Detroit News. "I’m playing in the league and can’t wait."

We'll leave you with a longer video showing you what a real competition looks like (caution: language):

(H/T: The Detroit News)