Hacky sack facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A footbag is a small, round bag, often filled with plastic pellets or sand. People kick it into the air for fun or in games. You might know it by the brand name "Hacky Sack", which became so popular that many people use it for any footbag.

The most common way to play is with two or more players standing in a circle. They try to keep the footbag from touching the ground for as long as they can. It's a great way to have fun and get some exercise!

History of Footbag Games
Footbag Equipment
- Types of Footbags
- Shoes for Footbag
Footbag Games to Play
Footbag Rules
See also

History of Footbag Games

Footbag-like games have been played for a very long time in different parts of the world. For example, there's a Japanese game called kemari and games from Southeast Asia like chinlone and sepak takraw. These games also involve kicking a ball or object to keep it in the air. Even in association football (soccer), players practice "freestyle football" or "keepie uppie" which is similar. There are also traditional Asian games where people kick a shuttlecock, like jianzi.

The modern footbag sport we know today was created in 1972. Two friends, Mike Marshall and John Stalberger, from Oregon City, Oregon, USA, invented it. They called their product "Hacky Sack." Even though Mike Marshall passed away in 1975, John Stalberger kept the business going. The game became very popular across the United States in the early 1980s. Stalberger later sold the "Hacky Sack" brand to Wham-O in 1983.

Footbag Equipment

Different types of footbags are used for different games.

Types of Footbags

For casual circle kicking, people often use a crocheted footbag. These are usually filled with small plastic beads. Sometimes, footbags are called "dirt bags" or "sand hacks" if they are filled with sand.

For freestyle footbag, where players do tricks, a 32-panel bag is very common. These bags can have anywhere from 2 to 120 panels! They are usually filled with plastic pellets, sand, or even tiny metal shots. Professional footbag makers often mix different fillers to make the bag perform better. These bags usually weigh between 40 and 65 grams. Thirty-two-panel bags are great for tricks because they set up nicely from the foot.

Professional footbags are often made from special fabrics like ultrasuede light or amaretta. These materials are strong but can be delicate.

There are also special footbags for footbag net games. These bags have a harder outer surface. They are not usually used for freestyle tricks.

You can even find fun, unique footbags! Some glow in the dark, some are made of chain mail, and some are even flame retardant so they can be set on fire and played with! (But be careful, fire footbags are banned in some places like South Australia).

Shoes for Footbag

A popular way to lace shoes for footbag freestyle players

Many advanced freestyle footbag players wear tennis shoes. A popular choice is the Adidas Rod Laver tennis shoe.

Players often change their shoes to make tricks easier. They might use special lacing patterns that pull the sides of the shoe apart near the toes. This creates a wider, flatter area called a "toe box." This flat area helps them balance the footbag on their foot.

Some players also remove layers of fabric from the inside or outside of their shoes. This helps them feel the footbag more accurately on their foot, which is important for precise tricks.

Footbag Games to Play

There are many exciting ways to play with a footbag!

Circle Kicking Fun

Circle kicking is the most popular footbag game. It's what most people think of when they hear "hacky sack." Players stand in a circle and try to keep the footbag from touching the ground.

The game starts when someone tosses the footbag to another player. That player lets it drop to their feet and kicks it to keep it in the air. Play continues until the footbag falls. Then, someone picks it up, and the game restarts. The main goal is to keep the footbag off the ground for as long as possible.

If every player in the circle touches the footbag before it hits the ground, it's called a 'hack'. If everyone touches it twice, it's a 'double-hack', and so on.

Freestyle Footbag Tricks

World champion Jan Weber performing a freestyle move

Freestyle footbag is all about doing cool tricks with the bag. Players perform one trick, and the way the footbag lands sets up the next trick. Tricks are made by combining different moves between touches. These moves can include spins, leg circles, jumps, and ducks (letting the footbag pass over your neck).

Players usually touch the footbag with the inside of their foot or their toe. But there are endless ways to create new and amazing tricks! You can find a list of freestyle footbag tricks on the official Footbag WorldWide Information Service website.

Some players even create routines to music, either alone or with a partner. They perform difficult moves in time with the music, which looks a bit like rhythmic gymnastics or figure skating.

There's even an annual Footbag World Championships! As of 2025, the current freestyle world champion in the singles category is Jan Weber from the Czech Republic.

Footbag Net Game

In footbag net, players hit a footbag back and forth over a net that is five feet high. It's like a mix of tennis, badminton, and volleyball. The court is similar to a badminton court. The scoring is like the old volleyball system, where you can only score points when you are serving. Serves must go diagonally, like in tennis.

Footbag net games are usually played to 11 or 15 points, but you must win by at least two points. The rallies look a lot like volleyball, with players bumping, setting, and spiking the footbag. Players often jump and spike the footbag over the net while upside down! A key rule is that the footbag cannot touch any part of a player's body above the shin.

Hacky Attack Teams

Hacky Attack playing field

Hacky Attack is a footbag game played by two teams, with two players on each team. It's usually played on a sand field that is 10 by 15 meters. One player, called the pitcher, tries to hit the opposing pitcher with the footbag. The other player, the catcher, picks up the footbag and passes it to their pitcher.

When a pitcher is hit, they switch places with their teammate. The first team to reach 15 points wins the game. A point is scored each time the opposing pitcher is hit.

Hit the Man (Street Ball)

This game, mostly played in Northern Italy, was started in 2009 by some university students. It involves hitting opponents with accurate and impressive shots, often played on the street or in public places. In this game, the footbag is often called "Street Ball" because it's easy to play anywhere, even in a crowd.

Other Footbag Games

The most successful footbag doubles team, multiple world champions and innovators Martin Sladek and Tomas Tucek

Eric Wulff executing a Roll spike at the 2008 Green Cup, San Francisco

Basse: This is an old Norwegian footbag game. A player defends their own circle while trying to land the footbag inside an opponent's circle. Usually, five or six players play, and everyone plays against everyone else.
Buce: In this game, teams must juggle the footbag across a field to the opponent's side. They score a goal by kicking the footbag into a small container, like a bin or pot plant. This sport was invented in Australia in 2007 and has two national competitions each year.
Hack Slap: Played with 4, 6, 8, or more people. The goal is to keep the footbag in the air using any part of the body except hands. If someone fails to keep the footbag up, hit it upwards, or get it to an opponent's square, they are out.
Footbag Golf: Players kick the footbag towards a target, usually a hoop 18 inches wide and 18 inches off the ground. A course usually has 9 or 18 "holes." The distance from the starting point (tee) to the target changes for each hole. Players toss the bag up and kick it, trying to get it as close to the target as possible. The goal is to get the footbag into the target in the fewest kicks.
Horse: This game helps improve freestyle skills. One player performs a freestyle move, then passes the footbag to the next player, who tries to do the same move. If they do it correctly, they choose a new move. If they fail, they get a letter (H, then O, R, S, E). The game continues until a player spells "Horse," and then they are out.
Kick Back: A player kicks the footbag against a wall, like a handball court wall, either alone or with others. A firm footbag works best for bouncing back. You can keep score or just play for fun.
Killer: Similar to War. The footbag is kicked around. After a certain number of kicks (often 3), a player can kick the footbag towards another player, trying to tag them. If the footbag touches them, they are out, unless they can kick it back into the circle before it hits the ground.
Knockout: Any number of players can play. Players are eliminated if they fail to hit the footbag. The footbag is passed randomly. If it lands on the ground close to a player who could have hit it, that player is out. If it goes far out of reach, the player who kicked it out is eliminated.
Number Catch: Two to four players take turns hitting the footbag as many times as possible. They must catch it for the points to count. If the bag is dropped, the player subtracts points from their score. The game can be played to a certain score or for a set time.
Numbers: Players form a circle. The first person kicks the footbag once. The next person kicks it twice, and so on. If the footbag touches the ground before a player reaches their number, they get one chance to restart. If they fail again, they pass the footbag. If the next player achieves their number, the previous player is out.
Shark: Two or more players can play. The goal is to hit the footbag a set number of times. Then, a player catches it and yells "shark!" When "shark" is called, other players must freeze. The "shark" then throws the footbag towards any player. If a player is touched, they are out or get a point against them. The last player standing wins. Players can move one foot once to dodge the footbag when "shark" is called.
War: For any number of players. The footbag is served. After a set number of kicks (usually 3) by anyone in the group, everyone tries to catch it. The person who catches the footbag throws it towards another player, who tries to dodge or catch it. If the footbag touches someone, they are out. But if they catch it, the person who threw it is out. The game can be played with any number of "outs." This game is also known by names like "Pelt" or "Red Dot."
Burn: Played with two or more players. After the footbag is hit three times between two people, one player can kick it towards another player, yelling "burn!" If the footbag touches another player, that player gets one "burn" point. They can cancel the burn by hitting it with their foot or by yelling "burn" themselves, adding another point to the footbag to try and hit someone else. You can add as many burns as you like before hitting someone or the ground. If you use your hands during play, you get one burn point.

Footbag Rules

Since there are many ways to play footbag, there aren't strict, official rules for every version. However, there are some common "unwritten" rules that players often follow.

For example, in circle kicking, players usually pass the footbag to someone standing next to them, not to themselves. If a player drops the footbag, they are responsible for picking it up. To complete a "hack" (a full circle), the footbag must pass through all players without touching the ground. One full circle is called a "hack," two circles are a "double hack," and so on.

In footbag net, there are specific rules for how many times a team can hit the footbag. For singles (one player per side), only two kicks are allowed per side. For doubles (two players per side), three kicks are allowed per side.