When you think of the 1999 film, “She’s All That,” what’s the first scene that pops into your head? Admit it, we’ve all seen it and love it. Aside from Rachel Leigh Cook’s random, angry expletive that had us all gasp when we saw it in sixth grade, the scene that most stands out is probably Freddie Prinze Jr.’s artsy footbag performance.
This would make one think that the footbag was a staple of the ‘90s. While the world record for most consecutive kicks of a footbag was broken in 1997 (63,326 times in eight hours!), the popular pastime of kicking a sand-filled bag has been around for quite some time in ancient China and Thailand.
The American version of the footbag, now more commonly known as the hacky sack, was invented in 1972. Two guys from Oregon City, Oregon, John Stalberger and Mike Marshall, made a little bean bag after Stalberger had a knee surgery. They kicked the bag back and forth to each other to exercise his stiff knee. They called this game “Hackin’ the Sack.”
A few years later, Marshall died, but Stalberger continued to promote the hacky sack, marketing the new toy around the U.S. He created the National Hacky Sack Association, which established rules for the game, and it eventually became an official sport — more on that later.
In 1983, Stalberger sold the rights to the hacky sack to the huge Wham-O Manufacturing Company. That’s when the popularity of the toy really took off.
While the original hacky sack was like a tiny version of a bean bag chair, there are many different kinds of footbags that are on the market now. There are leather and suede ones as well as crocheted ones. There are even some that are made of velvet. Some are filled with plastic pellets and while others are filled with metal pellets, sand or dirt.
There are even footbags that aren’t really bags at all.
A new type called a chainmail footbag has just been created that’s a mix of lightweight metal chains and rubber bands. The appeal of these is they’re virtually indestructible and easy to clean. A popular website that sells all of these different kinds of footbags is www.footbagshop.com.
A favorite amongst most footbaggers is the sand or dirt filled bags.
“I’ve played with the ones with the metal balls inside,” said 21-year-old David Williams. “But I still prefer the dirt bags.”
“Knit ones with the beans aren’t terrible once they’re broken in,” 20-year-old David Billens said.
While most people play hacky sack in a circle with their friends, some take it to a new level by playing freestyle footbag, with elaborate tricks choreographed to music. There are even tournaments dedicated to it.
As mentioned before, the NHSA established rules and made an official sport out of the game. Players attempt to kick the bag back and forth to each other over a five-foot net. Kind of like volleyball, only with your feet and a tiny bean bag. The International Footbag Committee governs over the sport, making sure no funny business is going on.
Hacky sacks are fun and nostalgic for everyone, even if you can’t do crazy tricks or kick it over a net. Once the temperatures are above freezing and people are actually enjoying being outside, look around campus and notice the circles of people playing hacky sack. Heck, join in. They’re a welcoming crowd.
