CHICAGO (CBS) — SlamBall was invented in 1999 and played in the United States until 2008. Now the hybrid sport of football, basketball and hockey with trampolines is making a comeback after signing a two-year television deal with ESPN last summer.

Willowbrook native Ryan Johnson was part of his return.

Johnson was a multi-sport athlete at Hinsdale South High School and excelled in all sports.

“I played three sports all four years: football, basketball and track. So sports have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Johnson says.

In 2015, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in business administration. A few years later, Johnson’s life changed drastically.

“In December 2020, my father died of alcoholism and at the time I was still in my sales position,” he said. “After his death, I knew there was more out there for me. I changed careers and took a job in corporate wellness.”

Today, Johnson is a coach, personal trainer and SlamBall player. It’s the sport he grew up with and one that suits his versatile skills.

“I was informed by a CBS article in March 2023 that SlamBall was coming back. When I read that, the wheels started turning and I started thinking about how I could get a chance at this thing,” he said.

So Johnson found the Altitude Trampoline Park in West Town and recorded training videos there to submit to the league as a tryout along with his athletic resume.

This led to him being drafted in the 6th round by the team called “Wrath”.

“When I was a kid watching this sport on Spike TV and dreaming of playing it myself, and then I got the chance to actually be on a SlamBall court, I remember the first time I went out there and sat on the trampolines and almost felt awe, like I thought, This can’t be true.”

The 6th SlamBall series was held in Las Vegas, where athletes from all over the country form teams that must quickly develop good chemistry.

“Seven guys on a team, there are four guys on the court at any one time and it’s hockey-style substitutions, so you’re jumping off the bench into action, your teammates are flying and you’re jumping off the trampoline onto the parquet and onto the field, so there’s a lot of action.”

Although Ryan may make it look easy, jumping on Olympic-size trampolines that catapult you 15 to 20 feet into the air is anything but easy.

“Body awareness, body control, timing – there are so many things to consider when trampolining that are such an important part of the sport itself.”

Johnson is currently training for his second season. He will have to go through the selection process again, but is confident after a year of experience.

“I was probably in the top five oldest players in the league and in the top five smallest, but I didn’t really care. I knew what I could prove and that’s what happened. Luckily, it came back and the coaches gave me a chance.”

Every time Johnson gave himself a chance, it was a no-brainer.