The trend of kicking around a bean-filled sack with your friends is back. Footbag, otherwise known as “Hacky Sack,” is making a major comeback in 2026 amongst high school students. The game that swept America by storm in the 1980s and ‘90s made a resurgence this month, not only at Emery/Weiner, but across the country. “Hacky Sack” is taking over high school campuses, with many students gathering in circles to kick the bean-bag sphere, resulting in soaring demand and sold-out Hacky Sacks across stores.
“Hacky Sack” is a game that was invented in 1972 by Mike Marshall and John Stalberger in Oregon City, Oregon, originally as a rehabilitation exercise for Stalberger’s knee. The game is officially known as footbag, as the name “Hacky Sack” is a trademark of the company Wham-O’s footbag. In the game, players stand in a circle doing whatever it takes to keep the “sack” off the ground. The rules are simple: the only body parts you cannot use are the hands and arms. The game usually begins with a “serve” to another player’s chest, where they then begin a rally.
This trend has taken off here at Emery in recent weeks.
Self-proclaimed “Hacky Sack” enthusiast and Junior at the Emery/Weiner School, Andres Schiller-Ordonez has taken part in this recent trend. “At Emery, Hacky Sack is about respect and kindness. In Hacky Sack, we don’t say that we’re sorry because there is nothing to be sorry for,” said Schiller-Ordonez. “The goal is to gain a connection within the community, and most of all, spread sack, not hate.”
In the game’s resurgence, social media has played a huge role in making it so popular and in bringing people together on campuses. TikToker @HacksackTrav has helped explode the popularity of “Hacky Sack.” @HacksackTrav is known for sharing beginner-friendly tips, tutorials, and tricks for “Hacky Sack” on Instagram and TikTok. According to TikTok, posts in the United States with hashtags containing “Hacky Sack” have increased by over 300% percent from April 29th to May 10th. In that same period, TikTok searchers for “Hacky Sack” have seen an increase of more than 600%.
The use of social media to draw attention towards “Hacky Sack” has also followed suit at Emery. Students of Emery who engage with and play “Hacky Sack” have formed a “Hacky Sack” club as well as accounts on Instagram and TikTok (@Emery_Sack) to show off and highlight the game at Emery. Founder of the “Ha
cky Sack” club at Emery and “Hacky Sack” enjoyer, Sasha Fitterman, has helped pave the way for “Hacky Sack” at Emery. “Social media has really helped us show off the quality of Emery-level Hacky Sack,” said Fitterman. “We love to show off our techie players like Jame [Gray]and Andres [Schiller-Ordonez]. We mainly post videos of us playing dodgeball, where you hit the sack 3 or 5 times and throw it at someone, or us just rallying and having fun. These platforms are also helping achieve our mission of spreading sack, not hate.”
(Instagram @Emery_Sack)
As “Hacky Sack” continues to spread across campuses and social media feeds, its comeback proves that simple, face-to-face activities still have a place in today’s digital world. What started as a rehabilitation exercise in the 1970s has evolved into a nationwide trend that is bringing students together through competition, teamwork, and fun. At Emery, the rise of the “Hacky Sack” club and social media accounts like @Emery_Sack show how quickly the game has become a part of student culture. Whether it is played casually between classes or showcased online,
“Hacky Sack” has created a sense of community that many students are embracing. Based on its growing popularity, this revival may be far from over.
