Buckle Up, Folks – There’s a New Knockerball League in Flint

Talk about the perfect socially-distant activity!

I don't know about you, but I'm always up for a new activity in Flint and this looks like a hoot and a holler.

First of all, what the heck is Knockerball? According to their website:

Knockerball® is a single-chamber inflatable plastic bubble with inner handles and adjustable shoulder straps. Players get in the “donut-hole” part of the ball head-first, secure the straps (like a backpack) and hold on to the inside handles for stability and control. Once inside, the Knockerball® acts as a protective barrier with the player’s head and entire upper-body safely surrounded by the bubble. What makes a knockerball truly special, however, is that unlike a human hamster ball, the player’s legs are free. This allows them to run, bump, and play classic games like soccer, capture the flag, and musical chairs with a whole new perspective, and that’s when the fun begins!

Got it. If you need a visual, here's a video from their Livonia location:

Second question - how did it come to Genesee County?

You can thank Randall Wilburn for that. He's a Flint minster and entrepreneur who has a passion for helping young people.

"I took my students to play and I fell in love with it. It was so much fun. So much fun that I ended up purchasing my own franchise. The response has been good but more people need to see and experience. It’s a Covid-19 friendly game because each person is in their own ball and we sanitize after each use. If you play, you will love it!"

Wilburn is using his newly-acquired franchise to employ former students from Mott Community College’s Upward Bound Program and even brought one of the students on as a co-owner.

You can rent a Knockerball game for work, fun or school. On October 3rd, they're having an event called Knock Cancer at Bicentennial Park in Grand Blanc that will be used to fund the Jeffery Wilson Scholarship. It's dedicated to anyone who has been affected by cancer. They are still looking for sponsors and vendors.

If you're interested, you can email randallwilburn@yahoo.com  or call 810.447.4009. Looks like a lot of fun!