A footbag is a small bean bag or sand bag used as a ball in a number of sports and games. It is typically controlled by the feet, but in some sports every part of the body except the hands and arms may be used. The term footbag is also the generic name for the sports which use the footbag. The main varieties are freestyle footbag, footbag net, and circle kick. Both the footbag and the sports that use it are sometimes referred to as hacky sack or hackey sack, though Hacky Sack is a registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc., and refers specifically to the product with the same name.

Equipment

Shoes generally make it easier to play and some could argue that you need certain types of shoes to play, the only piece of equipment that is really required in order to play footbag is a footbag. These come in many styles, colors, and varieties. Some footbags have simple cotton exteriors, while others are made of 2 to 120+ panels of suede. Generally the more panels a bag has the more spherical its shape and the more difficult it is to stall. Some are filled with sand; others, plastic pellets. Many footbags have designs on them, either geometric or pictorial (a happy face, for example). Some footbags are specialized for footbag net; these are generally not good for playing freestyle footbag.

The footbag is generally durable and does not need much attention except for the occasional wash. After being washed or otherwise soaked, it should be left out to dry. Sometimes, the footbag may develop a hole which can easily be sewn or patched shut. The footbag can last a long time with proper care.

Part of the appeal and popularity of footbag is due to this simplicity of equipment. A footbag can be bought for under $5, easily stored in a pocket, and later retrieved for a quick game of freestyle. Most other sports, by comparison, are not nearly as portable or affordable.

Advanced equipment is available for those who want or need it. 32-panel footbags usually contain a mixed filler. Most professional stitchers use some form of a combination of Plastic Poly Pellets, BB's, steel shot, or lead shot or even tungsten shot. 32 panel bags are a little more difficult to stall, but are often truer when set for more complex tricks; these usually range from 25-35 USD. Professional footbags are usually made of a fabric called ultrasuede light, or facile. Facile is thinner than standard footbag material so the bag is softer and easier to control. Facile footbags are typically more expensive than standard footbags as the material to produce them can cost as much as $50/yd.

Additionally, many Open-level players wear Adidas Rod Laver tennis shoes, Adidas Clima Cool 1s, Dunlop Volleys or Reebok G-Unit G6s, (lowtop) while playing. These shoes are often modified in some way or specially laced. The Quantum shoe made by Planetfootbag is a newly introduced shoe, designed specifically for freestyle footbag.

Footbag freestyle

Freestyle Footbag is a footbag sport where players demonstrate their abilities by performing sequences of difficult moves, either in choreographed routines set to music, or in circles (as with circle kicking game). The objective in freestyle is to perform a series of tricks linked together. The ending position of the footbag on one trick becomes the starting position of the footbag on the next trick. Tricks (also referred to as "moves") are created by combining different components between contacts (stalls or kicks, usually stalls). Components can be spins, dexterities (using a leg to circle or cross the footbag's path in mid-air), or ducks (letting the footbag pass a few inches above the neck). Contacts are usually on the inside of the foot behind the opposite support leg (Clipper Stall) or on the toe, however many inventive possibilities remain and are used to create an endless list of tricks.

In order to make toe stalling easier, many players use special lacing patterns that pull apart the sides of the shoe near the toe area, creating a broad, rimmed platform. Some players even modify their shoes, cutting away stitching and inner materials, to allow the toe box to open up even further.

There is an annual footbag world championships held each year. The current freestyle world champion is Vasek Klouda, of the Czech Republic.

Footbag net

In footbag net, players (either playing themselves or with a partner) volley a footbag back and forth over a five-foot-high net. This game combines elements of tennis, badminton, and volleyball. The court dimensions and layout are similar to those of badminton; the scoring is similar to the old scoring system in volleyball (you must be serving to score); and serves must be diagonal, as in tennis. Footbag net games can be played to 11 or 15 points, although the winners must win by at least two points. Rallies in footbag net look a lot like volleyball (e.g., bump, set, and spike), with players spiking from an inverted position in mid-air (over the net) and opponents often digging very fast spikes into bumps or sets. Play in footbag net is very similar to Sepak Takraw, however in footbag net, it is an "upper-body foul" if the footbag touches any part of a player's body above the shin.

Field Hack

Field Hack is a very new game involving a footbag on an American Football sized field. This game is a competitive team sport that can be described as a mix of Soccer, Football, and Footbag. It requires more stamina and agility than conventional games involving a Footbag.

Circle kicking

Circle kicking is the most common game played with a footbag, and it is the game people usually refer to when they talk about "hacking." Players stand in a circle and keep it moving around the circle, without having it touch the ground or hitting it with their hands. A "hack" is achieved when every person in the circle contributes a kick. Circle kick is generally accompanied by an unwritten set of etiquette guidelines designed to keep the game fun, friendly, and open to everyone including new players, and these rules vary from circle to circle. The most basic rule is to respect all other players. Some other general guidelines include picking up the footbag after you drop it or kick it away, rather than having someone else retrieve it, not serving the footbag to yourself, and not hogging the footbag but making sure to pass it to players who have not gotten it recently. Most circles are very open to new players and will not ostracize anyone for being less coordinated or well practiced than the rest. One shouldn't apologize for this when playing but this can be hard to avoid when first starting. (This informal game is also known as Hacky Sack, referring the Wham-O brand footbag.)

Footbag World Records

The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized footbag consecutives world records since the 1980's. There are several categories of records, all variants of the "consecutives" discipline. The current records are listed below. Please report new records to info@footbag.org and contact the World Footbag Association for verification.

Women's Doubles Footbag Consecutive Constance Constable/Tricia George Total Kicks: 34,543 Total Time: 5 hrs. 38 mins. 22 sec. Date of Record: February 18, 1995 Official Event: Heart of Footbag Freestyle Tournament (Portland, Oregon, USA)

Open Doubles Footbag Consecutive Tricia George/Gary Lautt Total Kicks: 132,011 (previously 123,456) Total Time: 20 hrs. 34 mins. Date of Record: March 21 & 22, 1998 Official Event: Chico, California, USA

Open Doubles timed Ten Minute One Pass Tricia George/Paul Vorvick 1,415 kicks in ten minutes Date of Record: August 5th, 2006 Official Event: Fun in the Park, Wilsonville, Oregon

Women's Singles Consecutive Constance Constable Total Kicks: 24,713 Total Time: 4 hrs. 9 mins. 27 secs. Date of Record: April 18, 1998 Official Event: California Athletic Club (Monterey, California, USA)

Open Singles Consecutive Ted Martin Total Kicks: 63,326 Total Time: 8 hrs. 50 min. 42 sec. Date of Record: June 14, 1997 Official Event: 1997 Midwest Regionals (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Open 5-Minute Timed Consecutive Andy Linder Total Kicks in 5 Minutes: 1019 Date of Record: June 7, 1996 Official Event: Midwest Regional Footbag Championships (Mt. Prospect, Illinois, USA)

Women's 5-Minute Timed Consecutive Ida Fogle Total Kicks in 5 Minutes: 804 Date of Record: August 11, 1997 Official Event: 1997 World Footbag Championships (Portland, Oregon, USA)

Largest Footbag Circle Andy Linder and 945 of his friends Total Players: 946 Date of Record: July 6, 2001 Official Event: Cornerstone Festival (Bushnell, Illinois, USA)

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