Courtesy Adirondack Knockerball
By Susan E. Campbell
Hunter Werner, owner of Adirondack Knockerball, has introduced a new recreational sport to the region.
Called Bubble Soccer, the equipment is a four-foot inflatable “knockerball” that the player straps himself inside of, encasing their body from the knee up. The sport is safe, fun, and even a novice can play, said Werner.
“You just need enough weight to hold up the ball,” said Werner,.
He said there is a smaller Knockerball for kids ages 8 through 12 and an extra large for above-average sized adults.
“In this game, being tackled and knocked off your feet gives the sensation of floating or weightlessness,” said Werner. “The only resulting pain comes from laughing so hard.”
Werner’s entrepreneurism was percolating at age 22 while a student at SUNY Adirondack.
“I always wanted to start a business, even when I was working at CR Bard,” said Werner. “One day I was watching SportsCenter after work and I saw a commercial for Knockerball. It seemed like fun.”
Werner is a sports enthusiast who was looking for a business opportunity. He did his cost and overhead analysis and purchased the franchise on his own.
That was a year and a half ago. Armed with his associates degree in marketing, Werner is focused on growing the business, he said.
“We do a halftime show at the Adirondack Thunder hockey games and people know us from that, as well as our radio spots,” said Werner.
Fundraisers also help get the word out. He sponsored a Knockerball event for Warrensburg High School, which raised $2,500 for the senior class.
“The business is going as projected,” he said. “Right now, Bubble Soccer is my only product, but there are different products to expand into, like archery tag, giant dartboards and other inflatables.”
Werner said there are “a lot of knock-off balls out there, pardon the pun.” But consumers should avoid these big-box retailer versions. “The arms and head are exposed, and that is so dangerous.”
Knockerballs inflatables weigh about 20 pounds now, down from 30 pounds for the earlier manufactured products. Werner said they are made in China and cost about $300 apiece.
He has stocked enough inventory to rent 10 balls. The average rental is one or two hours and is usually at the customer’s home, if not a park or any open space.
“Even a small backyard we make work,” he said.
Unlike a bounce house where the company drops off the equipment, inflates it, and picks it up the next day, Werner has to be on hand to set up, practice rolls and flips, and referee the games. His presence is also required for insurance purposes and he obtains signed waivers for participants and gets permissions from parents of minor children.
There are a number of games participants can play but Werner said. “The basic game is soccer without the posts. People love it, even if they don’t play.”
“As a young millennial, it’s both an advantage and a disadvantage the people haven’t heard of Knockerball,” said Warner. “I can create a market.”
Visit www.knockerballadirondackny.com for more information. He can be reached at 518-779-8458.