The hacky sack: a knitted bag, small and round, filled with pellets. If you walk around SPFHS in between blocks or find yourself in the gym, chances are you’ll find a group of students in a circle, kicking the hacky sack around. A simple concept, invented in 1972 by Mike Marshall and John Stalberger, has come so far that teenagers are now fascinated by the game.
The object of the game is to keep the hacky sack up for as long as possible. Simple as that. But some people like to add a little swagger to it. Instead of just kicking it around to each other, some groups will try tricks like “foot stalling,” “back stalling” or “around the world.” The ability to keep the hacky sack alive in the circle while pulling off these crafty moves is one that few have mastered.
The game has become popular not just in the SPFHS community, but across the state as well. Instagram pages of each town’s “hacky sack team” have popped up left and right. Even a statewide account called “NJ Hacky Sack” exists, with the account running a March Madness style tournament between each town. Teams have been sending in their best videos and waiting for the results based on a public vote. Each round, teams try to be even better than the last, seeking to hold the title of best hacky sack school in New Jersey.
For most players though, it’s more about the bonding and the experience than being great at the activity. SPFHS senior and hacky sack advocate Greg Baerson would be the first one to tell you that.
“Hacky sack is life. Dedicating yourself to the team, and improving on every step you make is what it’s all about,” Baerson said. “It’s a fun way to keep yourself occupied while also moving your body and warming yourself up for any activities you’re going to do after the hacky sack session.”
Baerson, a lacrosse player, uses hacky sack as a fun activity, as well as a warmup tool for games and practices. His teammate, Vance Slack, is also “one with the hacky sack.”
“The hacky sack drops when the focus does. It’s not just for enjoyment, but it’s constantly improving every aspect of my athleticism and focus,” Slack said.
It’s not just lacrosse players that play the game. Athletes and non-athletes can be seen every PE class kicking it around with some buddies. It really is more than just hacky sack: It’s a lifestyle.
