Whirlyball, a unique blend of lacrosse, basketball, and bumper cars, is only played in a handful of areas in the United States. Seattle is lucky enough to be one of these blessed locations. Players use hand held baskets to throw and pass wiffle balls to their teammates or score a goal. While this seems easy at first, the twist is that the game is played entirely on modified bumper cars called “Whirlybugs.”
While the concept for the game might seem silly and modern, the game originates from Stan Magnum, who started the game in 1960. Magnum also invented the electrified floor, which was critical to Whirlyball. Before this invention, the only way to move vehicles was through gas-powered engines or a system used in the amusement industry with a metal floor and a metal screen grid ceiling of a positive and negative circuit. The electrified floor allowed for the Whirlybug to be powered without the risk of electrocution.
One of the most compelling parts of whirlyball is the Whirlybugs, which hardcore whirlyball players insist are not the same as bumper cars. The Whirlybug is built differently, powered differently, and steered differently. It does, however, resemble a bumper car, but that is where the comparison ends. A Whirlybug is controlled by a joystick, which allows the driver to have one free hand while also giving the freedom of 360-degree control.
The rules of the game are unique as well. Even though the game seems like a combination of many sports, that is mostly due to the equipment. To score, a player must toss their ball through a hole in a board that resembles a basketball backboard. The court is separated into quarters. If the player scores within the closest quarter the goal counts for two points or “whirlics”, if the point is scored within the second half it is three whirlics, and if scored from behind the halfway mark it is worth five whirlics. The game also has many penalties which cause the opposing team to gain various amounts of points. For instance, hitting the back of another player’s whirlybug is a two to eight-point penalty depending on the speed, and grabbing the ball with a hand is a two-point penalty.
Whirlyball isn’t just a game for kids’ birthday parties. Since its invention, it has quickly spread throughout America and Canada. The sport even has its national tournament which had its 40th anniversary earlier this year. Seattle is lucky enough to have a whirlyball court and league of its own in which anyone can register a team of five for only $50. Teams play two games weekly and compete against other teams in the same league. If you are looking for a new hobby or community to join, try out whirlyball in Seattle.
