Home » What is Bossaball? Rules, Equipments, History (2024)

What is Bossaball? Rules, Equipments, History (2024)

Bossaball game
Bossaball Facts that blow your mind. (Credit: Instagram)

What is Bossaball?

Bossaball is an innovative sport that combines volleyball, football, gymnastics with music. Played on an inflatable court with trampolines, it allows players to execute impressive aerial moves while scoring points by landing the ball on the opponent’s side. Originating in Spain, it emphasizes fun, music, and teamwork.

It has grown tremendously around the world. An entire host of new, alternative games has emerged outside the traditional domains of football or cricket. It offers players fast-paced action and a great workout.

Have you ever heard of Bossaball? Read on to find out a more interesting fact about this intriguing game! 

It involved you with lots of facts. At the same time, it aims to spur positive vibrations, through sports, through music.

Sounds strange? Well, read on to discover more facts about this game!

History of Bossaball

In 2005, Filip Eyckmans of Belgium invented a sports concept for Bossaball originating in Spain. Young Eyckmans was a tennis player for the Belgian national team.

Capoeira, a Brazilian martial technique that blends dance, acrobatics, and music, was an inspiration for Eyckmans. He intended to build a sport that would be fun to watch and play for a wide spectrum of individuals.

He spends his free time attending live soccer matches and DJing at private parties. An idea that Eyckmans executed came from music with volleyball and soccer.

Within days of the discovery of Bossaball, it spread throughout Latin America and Europe. Gradually, it also increased among the countries in Asia.

Initially, the game was conceived as a fusion of numerous sports, with the goal of creating an inclusive and exciting pastime for individuals of all ages and ability levels.

Objective of Bossaball

  1. To hit the 25 points as soon as possible.
  2. Out of three sets to win, the two sets win. Out of five sets, you must win three sets.
  3. The ball you hit must cross the net.
  4. You can hit the ball on the opposite side with your hands, head, chest, and feet.
  5. The point you receive results from your opponent missing the ball and vice versa.

Pieces of equipments

The Bossaball equipment list is brief. The regulations of Bossaball made it clear, so all credit goes to them.

  1. A trampoline court, an enormous inflatable scoring area, and a ball are all you need. It needs two trampolines.
  2. Bossaball uses a similar ball to volleyball or any airtight ball. It is sufficient for the game.
  3. It is not clear what the size of a Bossaball court is, but they are usually about 50 yards long and 30 yards wide.
  4. A net is approximately 3 meters high and runs through the middle of the court. The height can be adjustable for the different tournaments.
  5. The color of the outfit should be different in color for both teams.
  6. There is no need to wear shoes or anything else. 

Governing body

Only a few countries have national Bossaball teams. It did not yet recognize the game internationally.

The reason is that it does not have a separate governing body. In their respective countries, national volleyball federations work alongside Bossaball teams. 

The FIVB invited several groups, including Bossaball International, to participate in its #VolleyballYourWay initiative at the 2016 CopaCourts during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Rules of Bossaball

Every sport has its own rules. In the same way, Bossaball has its rules. Bossaball rules discuss the following order.

Rules of Bossaball.
Basic Rules of Bossaball

Dimension of Bossaball Court Rules

  • The rule of Bossaball court size may differ due to the level of competition.
  • The ideal rule of court size is 150 feet long and 90 feet wide.
  • The area other than this inflated court is out of bounds, so players must stay inside the court boundary to avoid fouls.
  • The court is inflatable, with two pre-attached trampolines. One on each side of the court is positioned close to the other in the center and cut by the net.
  • In the center of the court, there is a hanging net. This net stands 3 meters tall.
  • Only two players from the same team use these trampolines simultaneously, each on the opposite trampoline.
  • The new player takes over his trampoline after his team scores a point. 

Position of the Players’ Rules

  • At all times, one player from each team must be on the trampoline.
  • In the remaining players, he assists his teammate (who is inside the trampoline) by redirecting an awkward ball to him using his hands, feet, head, or chest. The outside players provide support.
  • Having the inner player hit the ball towards the court of the opponent. While jumping acrobatically in a continuous motion inside the trampoline, the inside player acts as the scorer.
  • A player with the trampoline is only responsible for scoring points for his team, as he is supported by a trampoline to make high jumps and hit the ball powerfully. 
  • Each player on the team must enter the trampoline alternately. 
  • The teammate standing inside the trampoline leaves his place when his team scores a point as per rules.

Scoring Rules of Bossaball

You only score a point if your opponent makes a mistake. As per rules, you only gain a point if the ball makes contact with the ground under the trampoline and within the court’s perimeter.

If the ball remains in the bossawall, the opponent scores a point. Safety borders around trampolines are free zones. The ball would roll or bounce off of this bossawall.

If the ball is still on the bossawall, the point goes to the opposition team.

Using the volley touch to score:

  • An opponent gets 1 point when the ball hits their playing area.
  • It must play the ball directly on the opponent’s trampoline area to earn 3 points.

Using the soccer touch to score:

  • The opponent gets three points if the ball hits their playing area.
  • Taking the ball directly to the trampoline area of the opponent scores 5 points.

Penalty and Fouls Rules

Every sport has its own rules as well, Bossaball has its own. Fouls and penalties are very important to keep violence away from any sport.

Find out what we need to stay away from when playing it to avoid fouls and consequent penalties.

  • Players cannot touch the net with their body parts during the game. Any contact causes a foul.
  • Players can use their hands only once. Double contact causes a foul.
  • When the ball is in their possession, each player may touch it five times.
  • Once they have touched the ball five times, they must immediately send it to the other side. Otherwise, it is claimed that the entire team committed the foul.
  • The ball is a foul whenever it falls inside the same side from where it struck the net.

Bossaball Referee

Bossaball referees play a very similar role to volleyball referees. There are three referees for competition games, one main referee and two assistants.

Officially referred to as Samba, the main referee is positioned close to the net in the playing area. He is to make the ultimate choices and pay close attention to the net.

At the opposing corners of the court are the two assistant referees. You must determine the number of touches, if the soccer ball is in or out of bounds, and if the ball is within a certain distance.

How do you play Bossaball?

Now speak about how to play the game using Bossaball rules. Two teams consisting of four or five players play the game.

It begins with serving, where the sole objective is to impress the audience with a creative approach to serving. You can return the ball after eight touches.

Players may do double touches with any part of their bodies except their hands.

Playing Bossaball simply

Three points are given to the team if the ball lands within the trampoline section of the court. The team gets one point if it lands somewhere else.

The game continues if the ball touches bossa. Teams rotate clockwise after each point so that a different person is on each trampoline section every time.

Olympic game

Players can showcase their high-flying volleyball skills in Bossaball. Samba bands provide a fun atmosphere at the same time in Bossaball. Bossaball came into the Rio Olympics 2016 with the help of FIVB.

Bossaball had grown in popularity with the help of FIVB. The Bossaball Exhibition Cup took place in Rio during August 10-14, 2016.

Bossaball in Rio Olympics 2016

Copacabana Beach was the location for the matches. Columbia, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, and the Netherlands competed in it. In the end, the Netherlands won the Gold medal.

Argentina won the silver, and the rest of the team won the bronze medal.

World Cup

After being introduced in 2005, Bossaball made a solid knock in 2009 with the World Cup in Turkey. World Cup collaborated with WOW Hotels, a Turkish hotel chain with resorts across Turkey.

WOW, ran advertising campaigns for a chance to win trips to the World Cup in Turkey in collaboration with the travel company of Thomas Cook.

The first Bossaball world cup lasted for seven days. Brazil won the first Bossaball world cup in 2009.

Bossaball World Cup 2009

Van der Valk Plaza Beach Resort hosted the second world championship in 2013 on the Caribbean island of Bonaire.

Van der Valk Plaza Beach Resort is collaborating with ARKE TUI to offer fans Bossaball trips and special deals. Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, and Germany competed in the 2013 Bossaball world cup.

The Netherlands beat Belgium in the final and won the second Bossaball world cup championship in 2013.

Music

A big part of a Bossaball show is the music. In a festive atmosphere where dance and sports are intertwined, bodies move in rhythm with the music.

The Bossaball matches are magnificent and enjoyable for both the players and the spectators. The music makes the game much more entertaining. 

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Bossaball is its intimate relationship with music.

A DJ stationed near the court plays a varied mix of music, which adds a frenetic beat to the sport. The motions of the participants sync with the rhythm, providing a visually compelling display for both players and spectators.

Events

In collaboration with exclusive partners, Bossaball Sports S. L (Spain) is the international headquarters for Bossaball.

Bossaball Sports S.L (Spain) organizes events globally, such as international championships, travel shows, training camps, and more.

Puma and Adidas

The most popular sports footwear companies, Puma and Adidas, were part of Bossaball events in 2017 in Germany.

In the annual summer event, Puma with Adidas invited thousands of employees to the headquarters and organized a Bossaball match. 

The event had six teams registered. Following an introduction to Bossaball for newcomers, the PUMA teams began their competition.

The team PUMAlicious won the championship thanks to their expert understanding of the Bossaball rules and scoring opportunities.

UNODC

In a juvenile detention facility in Manizales, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Colombia (UNODC) uses the game Bossaball.

The Line-Up, Live Up program, promoted as an aspect of a peace-building program in two socially troubled neighborhoods of Bogota, aims to prevent crime in youth.

A new component to this methodology is the introduction of life skills as part of the Line-Up, Live Up project with UNODC.

According to UNODC, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is built around the development and engagement of young people.

Redbull

Red Bull has frequently traveled with Bossaball events and through media coverage. In a Bossaball event, Redbull made the highest sales in a year.

This Red Bull TV documentary celebrates the tenth anniversary of Bossaball. Through event activities in Tunisia, Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Kuwait, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, Redbull supported events and activations globally.

Popularity

Bossaball is popular in Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia. As well as Europe, Bossaball plays in many countries, like France, Germany, Switzerland, and many more.

In Asia, such as Qatar, Egypt, Israel, etc. The most famous club teams are the Selection of Spain and Brazil. They travel the world to promote the game through Bossaball exhibitions.

Bossaball Health Benefits

Aside from its apparent appeal as a fun game, bossaball has a number of health advantages that make it an appealing option for fitness aficionados. Now, we will look at the several health benefits of partaking in this exciting and novel activity.

Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness:

It requires continual movement, sprinting, jumping, and diving, all of which dramatically raise the heart rate and enhance cardiovascular endurance. Participating in this activity on a regular basis can improve overall cardiovascular health, resulting in a stronger heart, enhanced stamina, and improved circulation.

Increased Flexibility and Agility:

The dynamic and acrobatic character of bossaball necessitates a high level of flexibility and agility. Players are continuously expected to stretch, twist, and contort their bodies in numerous ways in order to properly execute movements and attacks. This increases flexibility, agility, and balance over time.

Muscle and Core Strengthening:

It activates many muscle groups at the same time, boosting muscular growth and strength development. Jumping, diving, and spiking constantly engages the legs, core, arms, and shoulders, resulting in general physical toning and improved muscle mass.

Weight Control and Fat Loss:

Bossaball’s intensive physical activity aids in the burning of calories and the reduction of extra fat, making it an ideal sport for weight control and fat loss. Regular physical activity, combined with a well-balanced diet, can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Stress Reduction and Mental Well-Being:

Playing bossaball gives an outlet for participants to focus their energy into the game and experience the thrill of competition. The social part of the game develops camaraderie while also improving mental well-being and lowering stress levels.

Improved hand-eye coordination:

Bossaball involves exact timing and synchronization between hand and eye movements since players must strike the ball with precision and accuracy. Regular play may improve hand-eye coordination, which is useful not just in sports but also in everyday tasks for your health and wellness.

Conclusion

Bossaball is a fascinating sport that is gradually gaining worldwide traction. It’s a unique blend of volleyball, football, and gymnastics that’s sure to get your heart racing.

It is also an excellent method to workout while having fun with friends and family. If you’re searching for a new and interesting sport to try, Bossaball is a great option.

Bossaball is a spectacular gymnastics and entertainment sport. Are You still missing out on Bossaball facts? 

You have not tried Bossaball yet!

Try it out!

Show love and support for Sports Dribble for this type of content.

Join with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and subscribe to the newsletter.


Discover more from SPORTS DRIBBLE

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Scroll to Top

Discover more from SPORTS DRIBBLE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading