by Alice McCallum
5/10/2016

It’s a crazy day when grown people—of their own free will—don giant, inflatable bubbles and bump each other around while they fight to get a soccer ball into the goal. It’s a specific crazy day, in fact: On Saturday, May 14, the Holliston Athletic Boosters Association (HABA) will host Holliston’s first bubble soccer tournament, 1:00–4:00pm at Kamitian Field, Holliston High School.

Teams will hit the turf to play for bragging rights and a first-place prize of a celebratory pizza party at Bazels Pizzas and Subs in Holliston. Teams of 6-8 players may be comprised of any adventurous souls high school age (with school ID) or older, male or female. Bubble soccer is quite different than traditional soccer, so no specific sports skills are required. As the event’s MA Sports referee attests, “The bubble is a great equalizer.”

Four players at a time line up at opposite ends of the field and a soccer ball is placed in the middle. When the whistle is blown, players charge toward the ball in an attempt to score on their opponents while knocking them out of the way. There are no goalies.

Bubble soccer started as a gag on a Norwegian TV show, but when video of it went viral on YouTube, people everywhere began to try it. It is now popular in Norway, Italy, Austria, and other countries, and has generated around 40 leagues in the U.S. (People curious about what it looks like can find videos online of Jimmy Fallon giving it a go on “Late Night” with Colin Farrell and Chris Pratt.)

Information on tournament play and registration are available on HABA’s web site. Entry is $150 per team, and proceeds benefit HABA (a nonprofit organization) and the Holliston High School athletic programs it supports. Registrations must be received by Wednesday, May 11; to allow time for preparation of brackets, no later or walk-in registrations will be accepted.

“HABA’s mission is to provide opportunities for parents, alumni, and friends to support all interscholastic sports teams at HHS,” said HABA President Jill Sykes. “We do that by providing funding for field and fieldhouse improvements and specialized sports equipment, and by supporting teams’ own efforts for events such as Senior Nights. We also provide four $500 scholarships each year to college-bound senior athletes that have been HABA members.”

Holliston and surrounding communities are invited to join HABA for the bubble soccer tournament—if not as players, as spectators. The organization invites guests to make the tournament a stop on their Holliston Stroll, and to enjoy lunch or refreshments from the concession stand, which will be open from noon until the conclusion of the tournament. Tournament plays begins at 1:00 PM. For more information, please email hababoosters@gmail.com.