Zorbing

Includes: Globe-riding, sphering, harness zorbing, hydro zorbing, water walking, body zorbing , bubble football Outdoors, Adventurous activities, Water, Land

Age:
7+
Water
Land
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Roll on

Zorbs allow you to roll, bounce, flip or float across water or land. Give your girls a high-energy experience with zorbing!

Overview

Zorbing is an activity where girls move around inside a large, transparent ball.

There are several different kinds of zorbing. Girls aged 7 and above can undertake the following types:

  • Body zorbing – involves a harness that leaves your legs outside the zorb so you can run, walk, jump, flip and bounce into other body zorbers.
  • Zorbing on the flat – involves rolling on the flat without a harness.
  • Water walking – involves being zipped into an inflated ball and floated on a body of water.
  • Hydro zorbing – involves 1-3 participants sitting without a harness inside the ball with a small amount of water while the ball rotates around them. Girls must be aged 7+ for this activity

More energetic forms of zorbing have higher age restrictions:

  • Harness zorbing – involves 1 or 2 people being harnessed inside the ball. Girls must be aged 10+ for this activity.

To take your girls zorbing, you will need to find an activity provider to run a session at a local venue.

Please note that some providers may have their own height and weight restrictions

Zorbing is an adventurous activity and should follow the adventurous activity policy and procedures.

Approved: 4 March 2022
Version: 1.2

Content owner: Adventure team

Planning checklist

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps.

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your commissioner.
  • Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren’t sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
  • Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
  • Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps.

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your local commissioner.
  • Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
  • Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
  • Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
  • Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
  • Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

The instructor must have had in-house training on the equipment being used and should brief the girls on the rules and safety information for the activity.

If water walking, a suitably qualified lifeguard must be present. Please see our guidance on swimming for further information.

Check weather forecasts, as zorbing could become unsafe if there are extreme weather conditions or wind speeds exceeding 20mph. Consult the instructor if you have any concerns.

For harness zorbing,  each participant needs to bring a spare pair of socks and wears clothes suitable for the outdoors.

For hydro zorbing and water walking, ensure each participant brings a change of clothes and a towel. It is unlikely you'll get wet when water walking, but this cannot be guaranteed.

If zorbing on water, check with the qualified instructor and follow their guidance on whether buoyancy aids are needed, particularly for those with low water confidence. 

The ratios below are given as a maximum. Ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place, this leadership team adult to child ratio is mandatory.

  • Rainbows: not a Rainbow activity
  • Brownies: 1:8
  • Guides: 1:12
  • Rangers: 1 Girlguiding leader

Qualified adult/participant ratio

The qualified adult should determine what size of group is safe. There must be enough qualified adults to ensure the safety of all participants.

The number will be determined by any limitations placed on their qualification, permit or the rules of their operating organisation as well as the risk assessment. This should take into consideration the location, weather and experience of both the qualified adult and other participants. The leader should assess the risk and any concerns must be raised to them.

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