Replacing NeeDohs, squishy dumplings, and Labubus, hacky sack is making a comeback as Gen Z’s latest fad. The game has taken over Highland Park High School, becoming a staple of the courtyard, where students huddle in circles juggling hacky sacks during free periods and lunchtime.
A hacky sack is a small, beanbag-like footbag that players kick into the air and keep from hitting the ground. In the classic version of the game, players stand in a circle and use only their feet, knees, chest, and head — never their hands — to keep it continuously airborne. The most common touch is a quick flick from the side of the foot, often passed from player to player in a fast, rhythmic flow. Beyond group play, hacky sack can also be done freestyle, where a single player performs creative tricks, stalls, and juggling sequences.
The modern version of hacky sack was invented in 1972 by John Stalberger and Mike Marshall, though the game traces its roots to ancient kicking games played by indigenous cultures around the world. Originally, the footbag was designed as a rehabilitation tool for Stalberger after he suffered a severe knee injury. But it soon evolved into a cultural phenomenon, which became a defining feature of college campuses throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Stalberger later dedicated his life to promoting the game, founding the National Hacky Sack Association and traveling to schools across the country.
Now, hacky sack is making a generational comeback.
The resurgence is driven by viral TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, competitive trick-shot culture, and a broader push for screen-free socializing. Schoolwide cell-phone bans have also encouraged students to seek offline hobbies, and hacky sacking fits the trend perfectly. The game is inexpensive, portable, and easy to play almost anywhere.
While it may seem like a lighthearted game, Gen Z takes hacky sacking incredibly seriously. One example is the rise of interscholastic rankings, where student-run social media accounts rank rival schools based on their footbag skills. Highland Park High School even has their very own Varsity Hacky Sack account with a posted list of “The Best Hacky Sackers.” For many students, though, the appeal goes beyond competition.
“I think hacky sack is fun because it brings people together in groups and gets a ton of people involved that may not normally hang out or talk,” said senior Brody Landes. “It is a really great way to connect with new people all working towards a common goal.”
Junior Zion Wood – ranked as the sixth “Best [HPHS] Hacky Sacker” – agreed.
“I hacky sack because there is no better feeling than circling up with your boys and having a great rally.”
What started as a niche pastime decades ago has transformed into one of Gen Z’s most unexpected social trends. As schools let out and summer begins, hacky sack circles will likely continue popping up at beaches, camps, and backyards across the country.