MINDEMOYA—When Monic Shaw began looking around for an innovative way to raise funds for her church’s Youth Team and their missionary work abroad, she went through a number of possibilities but her mind kept drifting back to one intriguing new sport—bubble soccer.
“I just wanted to bring it to the Island,” she said, “to introduce people to it.”
Ms. Shaw had happened upon the sport, one of a number of the interesting offerings provided by ProSports of North Bay.
“For the price, I thought it was quite reasonable to bring the sport to Manitoulin,” said Ms. Shaw. “It is great for fundraising.”
Bubble soccer games follow the general rules of soccer, with a key difference: the players are all wrapped in large bubble suits and seek to knock each other over. “It is hilarious good fun,” laughed Ms. Shaw.
Teams line up four to a side and play five minute games in each round. “It doesn’t sound like a lot of time,” she said, “but each game is quite a workout.”
The entry fee is $35 a person and people can register either individually or in teams. “People who sign up individually we will put together in teams,” said Ms. Shaw. “You will play several games throughout the day.”
Another diversion will be the human slingshot, where again, four people are set into a rubber band five feet wide by 20 feet long. Gameplay is simple, but amazingly fun, she points out, explaining that, in a synchronized pattern, players run toward each other and into the walls of the giant band creating the momentum necessary to catapult the other players across the confines of the slingshot. “The game continues until someone is no longer able to stand,” she said.
In addition to the games, the day will include the usual barbecue refreshment fare of hot dogs, hamburgers and such, she said.
So, if you are between the ages of 13 and 100, you will probably want to come out and play on Saturday, April 30 from 11 am to 4 pm. For more information or to register contact Monic Shaw at 705-348-0049.
