Safety Handout & Tips Sheet for Participants
This one page safety reminders and tips can be handout out to participants while they wait to play.
Download Handout
Pre-Game Safety Instructions
Supervisors and game coordinators should ensure players are aware of how to use equipment and give a safety briefing like this to all inexperienced players before games.
To ensure bubbleball stays fun for all your participants ensure your coordinators and referees are adhering to these safety measures.
- All contact should be incidental to play, not intentional. This means the intention of the game should not be to hit each other, but rather to score points or achieve another non-contact objective.
- Game supervisors and coordinators should use aBBA Safety Handout (download handout & cheat sheet) to provide safety warnings to all participants verbally before any play. If coordinators do not have direct access to communicate with all participants before play, the handout should be distributed to the customer/organizer of the event in order to distribute to the participants prior to play. We recommended copies of the handout also be distributed by game coordinators on the field before play or be placed in a visible area for players to read before play.
- Players and coordinators should always ensure participants in the bubbleballs “ballers” have the bubble fully covering at least 8 inches above their head, to allow for roll overs and head protection. Usually tightening the straps will allow for more protection above the head. Players with their heads flat with the top, near the top or above the top should NOT be allowed to play and should be fitted properly, or in another bubbleball.
- Players should NOT run full speed and should only bump into players with with light to moderate speed, while approaching from a limited distance.
- Players should NOT bend down when bumping another player – what is known as “spearing”. Players should use the sides of the bubble for impact with other players, not the top. Collisions top to top of bubbles can result in serious head and face injury in the event a player is not wearing the bubbleball correctly, the size of the player is not suitable for the size of the bubbleball, or the bubbleball has not been inflated appropriately.
- Players should not lift the bubbleball via the handles except to get up. Lifting the bubbleball while running can expose more of the lower body to injury. The bubbleball should always rest on the players shoulders.
- Referees should limit the distance on direct rushes between ballers to reduce force and impact on players and the equipment. We recommend no more than 15 feet between players in a direct rush or simply not allowing them, even though it is fan favorite entertainment. Referees should not encourage any full speed collisions.
- Referees should be diligent and responsive to aggressive players. Referees should warn and penalize all players for spearing. This activity is what can lead to the most severe injury. When spearing, players bend down to charge and the top of the bubbleball is first to impact another baller vs the side of the bubbleball, exposing heads. If adhering to items 1, 3 and 4 the risk of injury is reduced. However two players spearing simultaneously risk trauma to the head, neck and face.
- Height limits should also serve as limitations on usage by players using different size BBA bubbleballs. A player too tall for a bubbleball may not have enough coverage above the head to prevent injury if they were to hit another player who also does not have appropriate head coverage or if the player were to roll over on their head. View height limits
Additional precautions:
- Players should be healthy enough for vigorous physical activity. It’s more tiring than it looks!
- Players should wear appropriate footwear. Flip flops are not appropriate
- Remove jewelry and eyeglasses unless absolutely necessary. Eyeglass straps are highly recommended
- Always use under proper adult supervision
- Always properly inflate the bubbleball before use
- Always properly adjust and wear the shoulder straps
- Only use bubbleballs on grass, astroturf, or gym floors. If playing on grass, check for sharp objects that may damage your bubbleball such as rocks of any shape, sticks and other debris
- Not for use by pregnant women or persons with any medical condition such as asthma, claustrophobia, heart conditions, seizures or neck or back problems
- Do not have more than one person inside a bubbleball
- Do not use while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Do not use on pavement or cement surfaces, near streets or roads with automobile or pedestrian traffic
- Do not use in water or anywhere near any bodies of water, including pools, lakes, ocean, or ponds
- Do not attempt any stunts, including but not limited to jumps from an elevated area. Never attempt to roll down any hill or grade while inside the a bubbleball. Dangerous stunts may result in unnecessary injury
Archive
- BBA Safety Handout and Cheat Sheet – Apr 14, 2019 (latest version)
- BBA Safety Handout – Oct 11, 2018
- BBA Safety Handout – Sep 28, 2018
- BBA Safety Handout – Sep 1, 2018
- BBA Quick Start Guide / Safety Handout – Mar 1, 2017